Dubai Chamber leads in arbitration training in region

Held in association with Center for Transnational Law (CENTRAL) based at University of Cologne School of Law, Germany, the first-of-its-kind training course in international commercial arbitration in the region was attended by lawyers, government officials, business executives, advanced young practitioners and others wishing to familiarize themselves with the different global dispute resolution techniques.

Dr Hussam Talhuni, Director, Dubai International Arbitration Center, informed that this training course consolidated the position of the Dubai International Arbitration Center as a leading dispute resolution center in the region. It also reaffirmed the Center's position as a main source of grooming qualified arbitrators in alternate dispute resolution based on best international standards.

He pointed out that the Center has been organizing training courses based on lectures and presentations with England's King's College but this was the first time that a practical training course was organized in the Arab world which saw a direct and active participation by the attendees who took up the roles of arbitrators, lawyers and the disputing parties and were trained in handling the cases by cross examining the witnesses and even passing judgments on various disputes.

The director of the Center further said the workshops and the mock exams at the extensive training course that was supported by video screening, valuable books and summary papers allowed the participants to get a very realistic picture of the practice of international arbitration under the guidance of highly experienced professionals. He further added that the Center was contemplating the organizing of a similar course in Arabic for the benefit of people from the Arab countries.

Conducted by Professor Dr. Klaus Peter Berger of the Center for Transnational Law, University of Cologne and Professor Martin Hunter, Barrister, Professor of International Dispute Resolution, Nottingham Law School and Chairman of DIAC Board of Trustees, the training included the methods of starting arbitration proceedings, the submission of an application, the way to study and analyze the subject of the dispute, its principles and articles in the framework of international arbitration. The course also discussed the division of the arbitration proceedings and their timings so as to complete the cases in the given time frame and the drafting and discussing of the arbitration decision, the verdict and its implications.

The training course came as part of Dubai International Arbitration Center's efforts in introducing the unique aspects of international commercial arbitration in Dubai and to promote the latest means of resolving trade disputes which will go a long way in stimulating the business environment in the Emirate.