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

MONDAY October 15, (Kick Off at 00.00 GMT/UTC) – A preview on the new SmartSettle One software and an e-Negotiation contest

TUESDAY October 16, 17.00 GMT/UTC – Online Dispute Resolution: Remedy of Choice in the Global Digital Marketplace (InternetBar Organization Webcast): The Real Opportunity for Neutrals to Build Business in the Global Marketspace of Online Dispute Resolution

TUESDAY October 16, 21.00 UTC/GMT- Online Mediation Role Play Workshop: Live role play demonstration utilizing audio conferencing, desktop sharing, and a collaborative web platform to deliver an interactive presentation to demonstrate online mediation and mediator training.

WEDNESDAY, October 17, 19.00 UTC/GMT – 40 ADR web sites in 60 minutes: Panel presentation with Geofff Sharp, Diane Levin, Robert Ambrogi, Colm Brannagan, Gini Nelson and John DeBruyn utilizing audio conferencing, desktop sharing, and a browser tour of the 40 sites.

Cyberweek Plenary Discussions – (1) Cardinal Issues of ODR – Keynote plenary Monday with Dan Rainey, head of Mediation Services with the National Mediation Board ; (2) Access to Justice; (3) EHealth and Digital Medical Records; (4) ODR Training; (5) IBO Discussions

More information about Cyberweek events will be posted soon.

Ethan Katsh
National Center for Technology and Dispute Resolution at the University of Massachusetts

More information: 10th annual Cyberweek website.

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.