Jason Fry, Secretary General of ICC International Court of Arbitration said that the ICC Court is delighted to welcome young arbitration practitioners and corporate counsel to learn from some of the worlds most distinguished arbitrators and professionals. This is the first of what we hope will be an ongoing programme of events tailored to the new generation of arbitration professionals.

The conference is an opportunity for young lawyers and in-house counsel working in international arbitration to receive training from world-renowned arbitrators, members of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, and the ICC Secretariat. The weekend course will offer six hours of academic training with the stars and rising stars of arbitration. Plenary sessions, informal debates, and workshops held in parallel have all been designed for in-house counsel and lawyers.

The 2008 International Forum on Online Dispute Resolution will take place in Victoria, British Columbia. This important conference will held at venues including Royal Roads University, and the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific on Vancouver Island June 18-19, 2008. The photograph is of Hatley Castle at Royal Roads University. The Forum has as its purpose the bringing together of the world’s leading practitioners, academics, theorists, and online negotiation application developers, to share information, and to create a vehicle for ODR education.

The 2008 International Forum on Online Dispute Resolution in Victoria will build on the research, applications and field development discussed at other international ODR meetings and workshops that were held in Geneva (2002 and 2003), Edinburgh (2003), Melbourne (2004), Bologna (2005), Brussels (2005), Cairo (2006), and Palo Alto (2007), Liverpool (2007) and Hong Kong (2007).

The 2008 International Forum on Online Dispute Resolution will consist of two days of plenary sessions and breakout sessions. The Forum brings together the world’s leading practitioners, academics, students, and civil society to discuss the resolution of disputes using online technologies. These disputes may range from b2c (Business to consumer) to the prevention of human rights violations in conflict regions, to reconciliation of opposing groups in armed conflict, to disputes over intellectual property on the internet. It also brings together the leading technology developers who design conflict resolution platforms for use legal, commercial, or insurance related disputes (i.e. PayPal). Keynote Speakers The organizing committee of the 2008 International Forum on Online Dispute Resolution notes that we have invited two special keynote speakers, Dr. Vinton Cerf, inventor of the Internet, and Dr. Jose Ramos Horta, Pax Nobel 1996 and President of East Timor). The presence of these notable persons on the world stage as our special guests indicates the importance and relevance of the Forum’s deliberations. The keynote speakers will add their unique perspectives on the possible uses of technology and the Internet to resolve disputes and create peace.

Agenda of the 2008 International Forum on Online Dispute Resolution

Wednesday June 18, 2008

0900 – 0930 Opening ceremony
0930 – 1000 What is ODR
1000 – 1040 Key note address for the day The Internet and Resolving Disputes
1040 – 1100 coffee break
1100 – 1200 The Uniform Domain Resolution Policy
1100 – 1200 Press conference
1200 – 1300 Lunch
1300 – 1500 Breakout groups

1) Technology presentations and demonstrations
2) Social – cultural aspects of ODR – assimilating cultural approaches to language, process, bidding to an online environment

1500 – 1520 coffee break
1520 – 1630 Breakout groups
ODR and Environmental concerns
ODR and Health Care
1630 – 1700 Day 1 summary
1700 – 1830 Reception

Thursday June 19, 2008
0800 – 0900 continental breakfast coffee
0900 – 0915 Housekeeping welcoming
0915 – 0945 ODR and First Nations
0945 – 1030 Keynote address Dr Ramos Horta, Peace and the internet
1030 – 1050 Coffee break
1050 – 1200 ODR and Business
1200 – 1300 Lunch
1300 – 1500 Breakout sessions
1) ODR and the Legal environment
2) ODR and Peace
3) ODR and developing nations
1520 – 1520 Coffee break
1520 – 1600 ODR Education
1600 – 1700 Plenary session
2008 International Forum on Online Dispute Resolution
More information: 2008 International Forum on Online Dispute Resolution

Besides the workshop and forum, Schonewille used her visit in Israel to promote mutual efforts to advance awareness, acceptance and the use of international arbitration and mediation in the MEDA countries (Israel, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and West Bank & Gaza), with special attention to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The intention of the European Commission’s initiative is to assist SMEs to resolve international commercial disputes arising from business transactions between Middle Eastern countries and EU-based companies, in order to enhance business transactions between companies based in two or more Middle East countries.

In order for the good intentions to materialize, Schonewille met different people from the business and legal community. Among them, Judge Edna Bekenstein (President of Magistrate Courts of Tel Aviv, Israel and a District Judge); Dr. Peretz Segal (Ministry of Justice, former director of the National Center for Mediation and Dispute Resolution); advocate Yori Geiron (president of the Israel Bar), Advocate Shai Porat (head of the mediation committee of the Israel Bar); Omri Gefen (CEO of Gevim mediation center from Herzliya); and many more, including myself, who had the pleasure of having her over at my home to light Hanukka candles.

These meetings should encourage creating and strengthening a working collaboration between Israeli Arbitration/Mediation Centers and the EU Arbitration/ADR Centers. Moreover, it could make a first encounter with existing MEDA counterpart institutions, bearing in mind that the European Commission’s project is intended to integrate local initiatives, without creating assistance-dependent services.

In 2005, the European Commission sponsored a three-year project dedicated to facilitating foreign investment and international trade, across the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean, through the promotion of Alternative Dispute Resolution in the 10 MEDA countries. At the concluding event of this project, a conference was held in Rome at the end of September. Representatives from the 27 EU member states participated alongside representatives from the 10 MEDA countries.

The project was designed specifically to assist SMEs, the backbone of most MEDA country economies, to develop greater skill and ease in dealing with counterparts in other countries. Therefore, the project worked primarily with bar associations, jurists, local arbitration and other ADR groups, chambers of commerce, federations of industry, trade promotion agencies and other organizations, which relied upon by SMEs for advice and related services. The trainings on international contracts and dispute resolution were aimed at creating a group of highly specialized mediators and arbitrators who will increase the availability of specialized services. The intensive training workshop Training for International Commercial Mediators and Arbitrators were geared toward local business lawyers of the MEDA countries.

Most intermediary institutions, like chambers of commerce and entrepreneurial associations, perform the function of informally helping local and foreign entrepreneurs to amicably settle disputes. Many firms, especially SMEs, have had positive experiences with regard to receiving assistance from an intermediary institution in settling problems/disputes arising from a given contract. Establishing links among all institutional centers and promoting and managing arbitration and ADR in the EU and MEDA countries through networking is instrumental in promoting the use of such dispute settlement methods among entrepreneurs.

The preliminary step that should be taken now is creating informal networks. If the network is set out well, it could make for a good platform to enhance business and financial transactions between private entities in Israel and the other MEDA countries that may use the EU roof to try to normalize commercial connections with their Israeli counterparts.

The active Israeli dispute resolution centers could use this opportunity to enter into cooperation agreements with institutions in the EU and in Arab countries surrounding Israel. In instances where the potential for formal cooperation agreements is demonstrated following the cultivation of a relationship, the agreement may result in a formal Memorandum of Understanding between local organizations. The cooperation should include exchange of experience and information, and may also include cooperation in provision of services, such as in the case of co-mediation. In this process, rather than choosing a mediator from a third country, international litigants can each pick a mediator from a mediation organization in their own country. The neutrals then undertake to work together to facilitate settlement negotiations.

While recourse to two neutrals may add some cost, this approach generally increases confidence in the process. Also, it can be effective when there is need for a mediator who speaks a certain language or has a specific background. For such reasons, co-mediation can make settlement more likely, so parties often find it worthwhile.

Source: Jerusalem Post, Israel – Dec 11, 2007

Bahrain will host a 10-day conference on arbitration which is expected to be attended by international experts. The event, beginning on November 10, will focus on settling commercial disputes between Islamic financial establishments and will offer solutions based on Islamic law.

Speakers include UN General Assembly president Shaikha Haya bint Rashid Al Khalifa, International Court of Arbitration chairman Pierre Tercier and president of the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce Institute of International Business Law Serge Lazarev.

Justice and Islamic affairs Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ali bin Abdullah Al Khalifa said the ministry will support the event. He said the ministry encourages alternative methods to resolve financial and commercial disputes.

We hopes be invited to attend this forum.

Best Unconventional Project for Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises

- Victorian Employer’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Australia
- Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka
- Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Liverpool Chamber of Commerce and Industry, United Kingdom
- Chamber of Economy of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Massif Central Chambers of Commerce and Industry Union, France

Best International Cooperation between Chambers

- Chamber of Industry and Trade of Stuttgart, Germany/Chamber of Industry, Commerce, Services and Tourism of Santa Cruz, Bolivia
- Confederation of Brazilian Commercial and Business Associations, Brazil
- Barcelona Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation, Spain
- Chamber of Commerce for Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
- Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry, United Kingdom

Best New Membership Recruitment

- Anguilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Anguilla
- Chamber of Economy of Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Vancouver Board of Trade, Canada
- Goderich & District Chamber of Commerce, Canada
- Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Best Skills Development Programme

- The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bangladesh
- Tampere Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Finland
- Iraqi American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Iraq
- County Carlow Chamber, Ireland

This year also sees the inclusion of a special recognition award for the best project from a chamber of a developing country. The award will recognize an exceptional project from within the group of applicants that demonstrates achievement and success in a challenging business environment, and will be awarded along with the other categories at the World Chambers Congress in Istanbul on 6 July 2007.

Profiles of all finalists can be found on the World Chambers Competition website: www.worldchamberscompetition.com
For further information, please contact :
Catherine Foster
Communications Assistant
Tel: +33 1 49 53 28 22

The 5th Anniversary International Competitions for Online Dispute Resolution are open for registration! The free competitions offer law students worldwide an opportunity to practice and demonstrate their ADR and litigation skills working in a technological environment on the international plane.

The only requirements are that students have access to the internet and permission of a faculty member to participate. Student competitors are evaluated anonymously by experienced professionals from ADR and Litigation from around the world
.
The competitions will run over the following periods:
Litigation: January 20 – March 20, 2006
Arbitration: February 1 – March 31, 2006
Mediation: Round One : February 6-13,
2006; Round Two February 16-23, 2006
Negotiation: Round One: February 27-March 6; Round Two March 10-17, 2006

Problems for the negotiation and mediation competitions are graciously provided by the Harvard Program on Negotiation. Problems for the arbitration and litigation competitions are graciously provided by the International Chamber of Commerce Institute of World Business Law.
We are pleased to once again have West Workspace/Erooms Technology as our sponsor and platform provider for the competition.
To see previous competitions please visit the ICODR portal.
As part of this 5th anniversary ICODR celebration, please note the call for papers for the University of Toledo Law Review International Symposium on April 21-22, 2006 in Toledo, Ohio entitled “Enhancing Worldwide Understanding through Online Dispute Resolution.

Questions or comments? Please contact Ben Davis (bdavis8(at)UTNet.UToledo.Edu) or Alan Gaitenby (gaitenby@disputes.net)

The Center for Information Technology and Dispute Resolution at the University of Massachusetts (CITDR) invites you to participate in the seventh annual online dispute resolution Cyberweek.

This is an all-online Web based conference with no fee for participation and registration. A few of the opportunities planned for Cyberweek include:

* Release of the new ODR library and database

* Discussions with leading practitioners and theorists about the present and future of ODR

* Report on the UN Forum on ODR 2004

* The 2005 International Competition on Online Dispute Resolution (presently ongoing)

* Seminar on the challenges in planning and implementing ODR efforts – examples from Sri Lanka, the Phillipines and Great Britain

* Panel discussion on teaching ODR * Seminar on public sector ODR – the University of Massachusetts/National Mediation Board/National Science Foundation project

* Demonstration of teaching and collaborating in groups with Moodle

* Simulated dispute resolution processes

* Demonstrations involving ConflictLab.com, SmartSettle.com, Info-Share.org and others.

All that the student needs is access to the internet with a browser and permission of a faculty member to participate. Schools in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore and the United States have expressed interest so far. For further information about fielding teams or acting as an evaluator, please go to http://www.odr.info/icodr2005.php or contact Alan Gaitenby at gaitenby(at)disputes.net or Benjamin Davis at ben.davis(at)utoledo.edu.

Best regards,

Benjamin Davis
Associate Professor of Law
University of Toledo College of Law
2801 W. Bancroft Street
Toledo, Ohio 43606
Tel.: 1 419 530 5117
Fax: 1 419 530 2439
E-mail:ben.davis(at)utoledo.edu

To participate, law students need only have 1) access to the internet through a browser and 2) permission of a faculty member. The competitions are free of charge. This year we will again have online negotiation, mediation, and arbitration competitions. As a new development we will also hold a prototype online litigation competition.
ICODR Registration (schools and evaluators)
ICODR 2005 Negotiation Competition Rules and Schedule
ICODR 2005 Mediation Competition Rules and Schedule
ICODR 2005 Arbitration Competition Rules and Schedule
ICODR 2005 Prototype Litigation Competition Rules and Schedule

The Process:

Over the past three years we have held online negotiation, mediation, and arbitration competitions between teams from law schools around the world. Law students have opportunities to role play as advocates for claimants and respondents as well as neutrals in each of the competitions. Hypothetical cases used have been designed by law professors or been provided by the Harvard Program on Negotiation. Distinguished professionals from around the world have participated as evaluators.

Through ICODR 2004 ten technologies have been graciously provided free of charge including Online Resolution, West Workspace/Erooms Technology, Squaretrade.com, and several in the eNegotiation group (SimpleNS, MeetingOne, WebNS, The Negotiating Room, and Negoisst, Inspire, Family_Winner, and SmartSettle).

The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, the International Chamber of Commerce International Court of Arbitration, the Arbitration and Mediation Centre of the World Intellectual Property Organization, the London Court of International Arbitration, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague, and the International Centre for Dispute Resolution of the American Arbitration Association have permitted us over the past years to make reference to them when students are appointed neutrals in the arbitration competition ? to help the realism of the experience.

To participate law students express interest through faculty members (i.e. coaches), in each competition team(s) are assigned roles and given hypotheticals to prepare, and then the students participate anonymously by accessing a platform in cyberspace for conducting conflict management.
Student roles in 2005 will be as advocate for their client in the negotiation competition, as advocate for their client or as mediator in the mediation competition, as advocate for their client or arbitrator in the arbitration competition, and as advocate for their client or judge in the prototype litigation competition.

Evaluators have access to the rooms in which the students are acting and can read what the students submit to evaluate the effectiveness of each student team. The most effective teams in each role in each competition are recognized.

Schedules and other information:

Hypotheticals are scheduled to be handed out in early January 2005.
The Online Negotiation competition will be held in two rounds in February and March 2005. Round 1 (February 20-27), Round 2(March 2-5), Results posted April 15.
The Online Mediation competition will be held in two rounds in February 2005. Round 1 (February 6-13), Round 2(February 16-20), Results posted April 15.

The Online Arbitration competition will be held in one round over two months in February and March 2005. Round: February 1 ? March 31, Results posted May 15. Advocates will participate as Claimant in one room and Respondent in another room. To the extent possible student arbitrators will serve in two rooms and – depending on numbers – in arbitral tribunals of 3 members.
The prototype Online Litigation competition will be held over two months in February through April 2005. Round: February 15 ? April 15, Results posted May 15. Advocates will participate as Plaintiff/Claimant in one room and Defendant/Respondent in another room. To the extent possible student judges will serve in two rooms.

West Workspace/Erooms Technology has accepted to be the technology for the ICODR 2005 competitions. To explore a past year of the competition on this platform, please go to

https://www.westworkspace.com/eroom/icodr2003

Username: observer2004
Password: observer2004

If prompted click on browser only
For more information please contact:

Alan Gaitenby
Assistant Director
Center for Information Technology and Dispute Resolution
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, Massachusetts
Tel.: 1 413 577 1394
email: gaitenby@disputes.net

Benjamin Davis
Associate Professor of Law
University of Toledo College of Law
2801 W. Bancroft Street
Toledo, Ohio 43606
Tel.: 1 419 530 5117
Fax: 1 419 530 2439
E-mail:ben.davis(AT)utoled

Harvard won the right to represent the northeast region of the United States in international competition after claiming victory in the regional championship held in February. This year marked the sixth consecutive year that a team from Harvard Law School has attended the international rounds, which this year included 94 teams from 80 nations. Those competitors were drawn from 529 teams from 85 countries.

Widely recognized as the most prestigious international law moot court competition in the world, the Jessup was co-founded by Harvard Law school in 1959. This year’s problem addressed the jurisdiction and admissibility of cases before the International Criminal Court, as well as the legality of Security Council actions.

Advanced Round Results

Run-Off Rounds
Harvard Law School, USA, defeated University of Georgia, USA
Columbia University, USA, defeated University of Texas, USA
Friedrich-Schiller-U., Jena, Germany, defeated Kyiv International University, Ukraine
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico, defeated University of Copenhagen, Denmark
International Islamic University, Malaysia, defeated Seoul National University, Korea
National Law School of India University, India, defeated University of Toronto, Canada
University of Indonesia, Indonesia, defeated Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Monash University, Australia, defeated Kyrgyz-Russian Slavonic University, Kyrgyzstan

Octafinal Rounds
Harvard Law School, USA, defeated Columbia University, USA
Ateneo de Manila, Philippines, defeated Friedrich-Schiller-U., Jena, Germany
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico, defeated Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, Venezuela
Monash University, Australia, defeated University of Melbourne, Australia
International Islamic University, Malaysia, defeated University of Michigan, USA
University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, defeated National Law School of India University, India
National University of Singapore, Singapore, defeated University of Indonesia, Indonesia
University of Vienna, Austria, defeated University of Otago, New Zealand

Quarterfinal Rounds
National University of Singapore, Singapore, defeated Harvard Law School, USA
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico, defeated University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Ateneo de Manila, Philippines, defeated Monash University, Australia
University of Vienna, Austria, defeated International Islamic University, Malaysia

Semifinal Rounds
National University of Singapore, Singapore, defeated Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico
Ateneo de Manila, Philippines, defeated University of Vienna, Austria

Shearman & Sterling Jessup Cup Championship Round
Ateneo de Manila, Philippines, defeated National University of Singapore, Singapore
Jaikanth Shankar, Singapore, adjudged Best Oralist in the Championship Round”

The expectation is that online technology will speed up and reduce the cost of international arbitration proceedings. It is expected to remove the need for sending large quantities of paper through courier services and replace face-to-face meetings by cheaper and easier online video conferencing. This seminar will ask the question “How realistic are these expectations?”

For the last two years the E-Arbitration-T team of lawyers and technologists have been looking at these issues. A key feature of international arbitration is that it delivers a result – the award – that national courts will recognise and enforce. We cannot simply substitute Internet and computer technology without considering the criteria courts will apply in deciding that the award was made properly and fairly within the intent of relevant international law. This seminar will look at the technological options and the rules and procedures necessary to exploit them. It will also examine the need for change in the international legal framework to reap the full technological benefits.

E-Arbitration-T cannot give an unqualified endorsement of these expectations. We have carried out careful analysis of different options and in some key areas the procedures adopted have much more impact on the speed and cost of dispute resolution than the choice of technology. At the seminar we will present these findings and show where we believe technology can deliver real advantages. The seminar is free-of-charge and is being presented on two alternative dates: Thursday January 16 or Friday January 17.

Programme

9:30 Registration and coffee (SJ004)
10:00 Welcome to DISC at Brunel (SJ008)
A walk through the process
10:15 Electronic transmission of documents
- Getting started with the request and answer
- Exchanging claims, defences and other documents

11:15 Coffee
11:30 Other online support
- Tribunal formation
- Hearings
- Rendering the award
12:45 Lunch (SJ004)
Perspectives
1:45 Managing the proceedings (SJ008)
- Extending the rules
- Specifying the timetable and events
- Other neutral roles
3:00 Coffee (SJ004)
3:15 The legal framework and Harmonisation
3:45 Open discussion
4:30 Close

Practical Arrangements

It will take place in the Department of Information Systems and Computing, The St. John’s Building, Brunel University, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, U.K.

To register to attend contact Julie Eatock, by email fax (+44 1895 251686) or phone (+44 1895 203259) with your name, affiliation and contact details so we can allocate you a place and send you full joining instructions.

Year 2002