Annual Report 2009 - Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Annual Report 2009Membership and Fellowship courses in collaboration withMiddle Eastern and European Branches (a regional event)and the forming of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)among Middle Eastern branches.■MALAYSIA BranchChairman: Leon Weng SengThe principal Malaysia Branch officers for 2009 were: LeonWeng Seng (Chairman), Saprudin Mohd Sharif (HonorarySecretary) and Catherine Chau Siew Ping (Honorary Treasurer).In July 2009, the Malaysia Branch held its “ADR Conferenceon Medical Negligence 2009” on new directions in resolvingmedical disputes in Malaysia, looking at whether ADR is aviable option. The two-day conference was a joint effort withthe International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).This collaboration came about because of CIArb’srecognition of IIUM’s undergraduate programme. Itsgraduates who elect arbitration as one of their subjects areeligible to become Associate members of CIArb.About 90 participants attended, including 65 per cent whowere medical professionals keen to further their knowledgein ADR and looking forward to employing it in disputeresolution.The Malaysia Branch also held an Introduction to ArbitrationCourse for the Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) inKuching, Sarawak in November. JKR is a large governmentalorganisation involved in building and infrastructure projectsthroughout the largest state of Malaysia. Attracting 50participants, the one-day programme has opened up theminds of many planners, architects, engineers and quantitysurveyors who were exposed for the first time to the idea ofarbitration as a dispute resolution mechanism. As a result, thebranch expects to see a greater promotion and use of arbitration.Other events organised by the branch included: a talk byProfessor Robert Volterra on ICSID investor-state dispute inMay, a visit to Malaysia Medical Association (MMA) in June,a multimedia University Consultative Session (MMU) in July,a meeting with the Advocate Association of Sarawak inNovember and, on the membership and training side, afurther Introduction to Arbitration course in October, whichattracted 17 participant■NORTH AMERICA BranchChairman: Ann Ryan RobertsonThe principal North America Branch (NAB) officers for 2009were: Ann Ryan Robertson (Chairman), John Bowman (ViceChair) and JJ Pierson (Honorary Treasurer).The year 2009 was a busy year for the North America Branch.In its continuing efforts not only to reach out to the currentmembership by creating opportunities for its members tobecome better acquainted with one another, but also toincrease membership in the branch, the NAB welcomed twonew chapters: the Southeast Chapter and the NorthwestChapter, bringing the total number of chapters to eleven.And the NAB Chapters were busy.The Chicago Chapter was a sponsor of the pre-Vis Mootcompetition held at Loyola Chicago. The Northern CaliforniaChapter held its inaugural meeting in connection with theFourth Annual California International Arbitration Conference.The Southeast Chapter, in conjunction with the InternationalLaw Section of the Georgia Bar, conducted a day-long seminarstyled “The Three-D’s of International Business: Dealing,Drafting and Dispute Resolution.” John Campbell QC,President of CIArb was the keynote speaker. While in Atlanta,John Campbell took the opportunity to record a podcast styled“Address to the Americas” which is available on the NorthAmerican Branch at www.internationalarbitrators.orgIn November, the Washington DC Chapter hosted the CIArbTrustees’ meeting. The luncheon speaker was Bill Slate ofAmerican Arbitration Association (AAA) and the guest speakerfor the evening dinner was Dr Matthew Burrows, Counsellorat the US National Intelligence Council (NIC).The North American Branch also sponsored and exhibitedat the ABA Dispute Resolution section’s annual meeting inNew York City in April where over 1000 people were inattendance. The branch has traditionally participated in theevent to help increase its profile. This past year it was joined inits marketing efforts by Nicki Alvey and Sue McLaughlin fromthe Membership and Marketing team at Bloomsbury Square.The branch held its Entry Level and Fast Track to FellowshipTraining in New Orleans, Louisiana in October. There were25 participants from nine US states and Canada, Mexicoand Nigeria.The Northern California Chapter started its activities with abang on 23 October. Its first organisational meeting was heldin conjunction with the Fourth Annual California InternationalArbitration Conference.CIArb Annual Report 2009: International Branch ReportsPage 21