North American Branch

2008 Annual Report by Ann Ryan Robertson, Branch Chairman.

The year 2008 brought about an unexpected change when the Chair of the North America Branch, Leonard Ricchetti, was appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice for the Province of Ontario, Canada. As a result of his appointment to the bench, Judge Ricchetti resigned his post as chair.

Murray Smith, of Vancouver, Canada, who has been a steadfast member of the branch, and a former chair, stepped in and assumed the mantle of chair until Ann Ryan Robertson's selection in October 2008. The North America Branch is most grateful to Murray for his commitment to the organisation and congratulates Judge Ricchetti on his appointment.

The North America Branch has continued to strengthen its ties with the Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution by jointly offering a Fast Track (Accelerated) Membership program this past year. In addition, in October 2008, the branch conducted a Fast Track (Accelerated) Membership program in Washington, D.C.

The North America Branch, through its Chicago Chapter, was a sponsor of the 2008 Vis Mini-Moot held at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. As Larry Schaner, Chair of the Chicago Chapter, has noted: "Sponsoring a pre-Vis Mini-Moot is an effective way to bring CIArb to the attention of leading local lawyers, the law schools and their professors and students. Today's students are tomorrow's members." As previously, the branch was a sponsor of the Annual Spring Conference of the ABA's Section of Dispute Resolution, which was held in Seattle, Washington in April 2008.

The branch also welcomed two new chapters: the Northern California Chapter chaired by Suzanne Nusbaum and the Cayman Island Chapter chaired by Jeremy Walton.

Last Updated: 08 March 2010