Arbitral Insights

Cayman Islands open doors to their first regional arbitration center

Reed Smith international arbitration lawyers Daniel Ávila (Houston) and Bridgette Lehman (Philadelphia) host Megan Paget-Brown, CEO and co-founder of the Cayman International Mediation and Arbitration Centre (CI-MAC), for an exclusive interview regarding the CI-MAC's recent opening and its rules. The group also discuss the history of arbitration in the Cayman Islands, recent arbitral law, the demand for arbitration in the Caribbean, and future goals of the institution.

Women in Arbitration: A conversation with Dr. Natalia Perova

International arbitration partner and Astana Office Managing Partner, Suzie Savage, welcomes Head of International Dispute Resolution at Lamb Chambers, Dr. Natalia Perova, to discuss Natalia’s background, what led her to the law, and her career mentors. The duo then explore the positives that come from having diverse arbitral tribunals, how things have improved for women in arbitration in general, and how they see the practice of arbitration changing in the next 10 years.

Spotlight on … Indian Women in International Arbitration founder Niyati Ahuja

Host Gautam Bhattacharyya welcomes the founder of the Indian Women in International Arbitration (IWIA) group Niyati Ahuja to discuss the genesis of this initiative, the IWIA’s objectives, and plans for the future. The duo then discuss Niyati’s career, her inspirations and mentors, and what more can done to ensure better recognition and awareness of Indian women in arbitration in India and internationally, both as practitioners and arbitrators.  

The England and Wales Arbitration Act under review

Senior associates Jane Miles (Dubai) and Bartek Rutkowski (London) set the scene for the Law Commission of England and Wales’ consultation on the Arbitration Act 1996. The duo discuss some of the key areas under review and in relation to which recommendations for legislative change may be on the horizon later this year. Topics include confidentiality, independence and impartiality, immunity, discrimination, scope for national court intervention, emergency arbitrations, challenges to arbitration awards, and Section 69 appeals.

The Middle East and Singapore: New hubs for India-related arbitration

India Business Team Chair Gautam Bhattacharyya hosts our Middle East office managing partner, Sachin Kerur and Singapore partner and International Arbitration in Singapore: Legislation and Materials author Timothy Cooke to discuss the respective roles of the Middle East and Singapore for India-related arbitrations. The trio explore how India-related business has impacted the Middle East and Singapore generally, the subsequent bearing this has had on disputes in those regions, and what the key benefits are of conducting India-related arbitrations there.

The crossroads of arbitration and other ADR

Former chairman of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, Chris Newmark, joins Paris-based international arbitration lawyer Andrew Tetley to discuss the place of arbitration in the wider landscape of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The duo offer predictions on what ADR may look like – and what its users may be like – in the future.

What’s on the horizon for 2023 investment treaty arbitration?

Suzie Savage and Patrick Beale discuss key developments in the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) landscape in 2022 and look ahead to 2023. The duo’s third horizon-scanning instalment covers the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), including various EU states’ intention to leave and what this means for the future of the ECT; the review of the 1996 English Arbitration Act; the availability of USC section 1782 in aid of ICSID arbitrations; the African Continental Free Trade Agreement; the progress of UNCITRAL Working Group III on ISDS reform; and whether the pandemic led to an uptick in ISDS claims.

The main changes to the ICSID Rules

Paris-based Guillaume Aréou welcomes Aïssatou Diop (legal counsel, ICSID) and Professor Arnaud de Nanteuil (Université Paris-Est Créteil) to discuss the main changes to the ICSID Rules, which came into force in July 2022. Aïssatou Diop presents ICSID’s perspective, while Professor de Nanteuil shares his expertise as an academic and legal practitioner. The trio analyze the implementation of the ICSID Mediation Rules, the extension of the ICSID Additional Facility Rules and the issue of third party funding under the ICSID mechanism.

This episode is in French.

Spotlight on … Lubna Shuja

Lubna Shuja – the first Asian, the first Muslim and only the seventh female president of the Law Society of England and Wales – joins Gautam Bhattacharyya to discuss her career path, inspirations, and overcoming obstacles. The duo then explore Lubna’s achievements in representing the solicitors’ profession, what The Law Society presidency means to her, and what she aims to do in this new role – before discovering a mutual love of 80s pop and classic cinema.

What’s new for investment arbitration in Africa?

ICSID Secretariat Team Leader and Legal Counsel Paul Jean Le Cannu joins Paris-based international arbitration partner Clément Fouchard to discuss investment arbitration in Africa . The discussion covers African participation in ICSID proceedings, the impact of the 2022 ICSID rule amendments for Africa, discernable trends in recent intra-African BITs and the AfCFTA.