We are thinking about new lines of action in the field of research and development in order to implement cutting edge technologies in commercial mediation and arbitration processes and in e-business. Will be a complete new E-Arbitration-T initiative.

Although our “natural area of influence” is the European Union, we believe it could be possible to envisage contributions, mutual cooperation, knowledge agreements or joint-venture agreements with qualified partners from any country of the world.

Please, send your proposals to us, as well as your ideas to strengthen the legal environment, to implement technological improvements in ODR systems, to spread the arbitral spirit throughout the world…

We are planning to participate in a new European project within the Sixth Framework Programme of the European Commission. We would also be willing to consider other very interesting possibilities of research funding.

We are very much interested in keeping the excellent relations we have developed over the past six years with a vast network of contacts with mediators, arbitrators, ADR centres, key European organizations in most countries of the world. We will be very glad that you keep in contact.

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