Annual Report 2009 - Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

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Annual Report 2009An innovation for the year was the provision of a short trainingsession at the end of each committee meeting provided bya committee member, but open to the membership.The branch has continued its experimental steps to expandmembership participation by holding events in Lincolnshireor closer to the Lincolnshire border, albeit without obviousresult. The branch re-introduced a Spring Dinner in order toprovide a social event, which seemed well received by thosewho attended. The branch actively seeks 'new blood' on itscommittee.The branch offered itself as a 'guinea pig' for the new CIArbbranch websites and most communication with members isnow done electronically.■LONDON BranchChairman: Stephen Bickford Smith QCThe principal branch officers for 2009 were: StephenBickford Smith QC (Chairman), Hew Dundas and AndrewKasriel (Vice Chairs), Irvinder Bakshi (Honorary Secretary),Bruce Leahy (Honorary Treasurer) and Paul Rose (PublicRelations Officer).London Branch has had a busy year and continues to workhard for its members. Since the branch’s area includes theCity of London we are fortunate to be able to invite manyfigures with great expertise in law and commerce to sharetheir knowledge with us. We try also to bear in mind thatmost members are dealing with less exalted matters in theirdaily professional lives. So the aim is to offer a programmewhich has something for everyone.We are also keen to play our full part in promoting the Cityas a commercial and legal centre, and of course toshowcase CIArb as the leading body providing training andqualifications in arbitration and dispute resolution.London Branch is increasingly seeking to learn from othercultures with whom those in the commercial and legalcommunities need to learn to work on equal terms. On 12May we held a meeting on Islamic Dispute Resolution atRegent’s Park Mosque, organised by committee memberMark Hoyle, who has since left London to head up thecommercial department of a law firm in the Gulf. This was arevelation, particularly for those whose ideas of Islam hadhitherto been derived from UK and American official sources.On 24 November, Baker and McKenzie hosted a seminar onArbitration in the People’s Republic of China. We benefittedfrom the knowledge of Andrew Aglionby of Baker andMcKenzie who has hands-on experience, and of Hew Dundas.Another first was the highly successful seminar on currentissues in international arbitration, our 5th Annual JointSeminar with the LCIA, hosted in September 2009 bySkadden Arps in their impressive Canary Wharf offices. Allthe speakers and the chair were women, and even the voteof thanks was proposed by Dr Emilia Onyema. The eventwas also organised by a woman, in this case our HonSecretary, Irvinder Bakshi.Other highlights have included the annual mediation seminarheld at the offices of Clyde and Co at the beginning of July,and the biennial joint event with LMAA hosted by Ince & Coat which the speakers included Lord Clarke of Stone-cum-Ebony.On more domestic matters we held a seminar on adjudicationin June sponsored by Fenwick Elliot, with speakers includingSir Peter Coulson from the Technology and ConstructionCourt and author of the leading textbook on the topic.A seminar on expert evidence in October was sponsored bythe CIArb London Branch, with speakers Michael Cohenand Philip Newman. Finally, and perhaps topically, there wasa seminar on Alternative Dispute Resolution and Finance,hosted by Bird & Bird, timed for Guy Fawkes Night on 5November. As always, we record our thanks to those,whether or not mentioned above, who generously host andsponsor our events and provide speakers.Socially, the main event was the annual dinner on 17thNovember held at Master Cutlers Hall. Around 100members and guests attended and the speech was givenby Sir Bernard Rix. We were pleased to organise this as ajoint event with Bloomsbury Square.This year we again have given a speakers dinner for thosewho have provided speakers and/or sponsorship for branchevents. This was held on 11 March at the Ivy. We also had acruise on the Thames in June. We have a full and excitingprogramme planned for 2010.On my retirement after two busy but rewarding years aschairman, I would like to thank the officers and committee fortheir hard work and support. All have played their part but Iwould mention in particular Irvinder Bakshi, our HonorarySecretary, and Bruce Leahy our Honorary Treasurer, and alsoElinor Pritchard, our administrator. Under its next chairman,the branch will, I am sure, find itself in capable hands. ■Page 24CIArb Annual Report 2009: United Kingdom Branch Reports
Annual Report 2009NORTH EAST BranchChairman: Andrew EssamThe principal North East Branch officers for 2009 were:Andrew Essam (Chairman), Damian Wilkinson, (ViceChairman), Richard Piper (Honorary Secretary), DerekMasters (Honorary Treasurer) and Phil Morrison (PublicRelations Officer).As chairman, Andrew has presided over and guided thecompletion of the Yorkshire Arbitration Scheme, thedevelopment of the North East branch website W:www.arbitratorsnortheast.co.uk and an increase inelectronic communication with the branch members.The Yorkshire Arbitration Scheme is the first UK branchdeveloped scheme under the new Branch Model Rules toreceive approval by the Panels Management Group (PMG) inBloomsbury Square. The scheme has generated muchinterest from other branches nationally and internationally.It was drafted by North East branch members Paul Beeversand Michael Joyce and, with the support of BloomsburySquare, the scheme gained the approval of the PMG in July2009. Paul, a Chartered Arbitrator, solicitor and DeputyDistrict Judge and Michael, a well known geotechnicalengineer and Chartered Arbitrator, gave their timegenerously to develop a cost effective form of resolving lowvalue commercial disputes by arbitration, details of whichcan be found on the scheme website W:www.theyorkshirearbitrationscheme.org.ukBranch events in 2009 commenced in January with anengaging discussion entitled “Ascertaining the facts and thelaw” by Abdul Jinadu, barrister at Keating Chambers. Thiswas followed in March by an entertaining mock mediation,“the Battle of the Guerneys” by Anthony Glaister, followed bya fascinating discussion hosted by Martin Burns of RICSDRS on how the credit crunch is affecting adjudication.In September we were fortunate to have the President, JohnCampbell QC, visit the branch. In October, Richard Cockramof Addleshaw Goddard LLP gave a very informative talk onthird party rights, and December saw Abdul Jinadu return toprovide a construction law update.These achievements would not have been possible withoutthe support and tireless help of the North East BranchCommittee members, the Branch Secretary, Richard Piper,the invaluable support of Angela Procter at GordonsSolicitors and all of those who gave their time generously tosupport the North East Branch’s activities.■NORTH WEST BranchChairman: Daniel BrawnThe principal North West Branch officers for 2009 were: DrDaniel Brawn (Chairman), Ian Williams (Vice-Chairman),Michael Conway (Honorary Secretary), Mike Evans (HonoraryTreasurer) and James Burns (Public Relations Officer).The branch has a full programme of education eventsrunning through to April 2011. We hold an arbitrators andadjudicators’ surgery (this year conducted by SimonMcKenny) and a mediators’ surgery (this year conducted byMark Mattison) once a year. We also organise an annualdinner and we hold one dinner jointly with the North EastBranch. We publish a newsletter twice a year.Our plans to run the entry level adjudication course onbehalf of the Institute, leading to Associate status, havebeen put on hold for the moment, due to the state of theeconomy. We will continue to run the entry level mediationcourse. We have agreed with the North East Branch to runcourses jointly with them, probably in Leeds.As part of our commitment to achieving a closer associationwith other professional groups, particularly surveyors, architects,engineers and lawyers, with whom our membership hasconsiderable overlap, Michael Pye kindly agreed to act asour Intersociety Liaison Officer. He has produced a list ofevents of mutual interest and intends to liaise with othergroups with a view to promoting each other’s work.We have agreed with the North East Branch to join theirArbitration Scheme. We already run various events jointlyand hold an annual dinner together.SCOTLAND BranchChairman: Brandon NolanThe principal Scotland Branch officers for 2009 were:Brandon Nolan (Chairman), John Hunter (Vice Chair) andAlistair Dean (Honorary Secretary).Without doubt the single most important development thattook place over the last year was the Arbitration (Scotland)Act 2010 which is anticipated to come into force in May2010. The Act flows out of 315 years of essentially commonlaw development following the Act of 1695!The Bill was first published on 30 January 2009 following anextensive consultative process. The Scottish Branch not only■CIArb Annual Report 2009: United Kingdom Branch ReportsPage 25
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Annual Report 2009 - Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

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