The Dispute Appointment Service (DAS) Convention has been designed to gather members of the judiciary, together with a distinguished group of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) experts, to engage in a high-level discussion of selected topics in the areas of arbitration, mediation and construction adjudication.

This flagship event aims to provide ADR practitioners and businesses with a forum to address and discuss practical issues associated with the role performed by dispute resolution professionals.

The theme of the eighth DAS Convention is 'Handling disputes in an era of uncertainty'.

The events of 2020 have demonstrated just how fragile and unpredictable the world can be. From commercial contracts to working practices and global commerce, COVID-19 has disrupted every aspect of our economic and social lives. What’s more, this crisis has emerged against a backdrop of much broader, long-term disruptions, such as the impact of automation, the changing landscape of global supply chains and global heating. In this environment, it is more important than ever that businesses are equipped with the knowledge and options to handle disputes effectively, and that the disputes profession itself adapts to new economic terrain.

Over the course of the event, participants will hear from experts across sustainability, technological innovation and the business community on how the profession is leading the way in innovation, and how the COVID-19 crisis has accelerated the process of change and adaptation. Most importantly, the discussion will emphasise the role of disputes professionals as a catalyst for commerce and prosperity, and examine how the profession can better meet the needs of business.

Programme (subject to change):

• 1.00pm     Welcome and introduction
  • Francis Xavier SC PBM C.Arb FCIArb, President, CIArb
• 1.10pm     Keynote address
  • Professor Dr Mohamed S. Abdel Wahab MCIArb, Member, CIArb Board of Trustees
• 1.45pm     Panel session 1: Lockdowns, sustainability and technological innovation – where next for dispute resolution?
  
  • Lewis Johnston ACIArb, Head of Policy and External Affairs, CIArb (chair)
  • Lucy Greenwood C.Arb FCIArb, Member, CIArb Board of Trustees
    
  • Funke Adekoya C.Arb FCIArb, Founding Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution Practice Group, ǼLEX
    
  • Michael Lee MCIArb, Twenty Essex
• 2.45pm     Panel session 2: Mediation – how can we broaden our understanding of mediation and meet the challenges and opportunities ahead?
  
  • Jane Gunn FCIArb, Chair, CIArb Board of Management (chair)
    
  • Wolf von Kumberg FCIArb, International Arbitrator and Mediator, Int Arb Arbitrators & Mediators
  • Gill Mansfield FCIArb, International Commercial Mediator, Gill Mansfield Mediation
  • James South, Managing Director, Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR)
• 3.45pm     Panel session 3: How can dispute professionals continually adapt to the needs of business?
  
  • Lewis Johnston ACIArb, Head of Policy and External Affairs, CIArb (chair)
  • Catherine Dixon, Director General, CIArb
    
  • Sarah Vasani FCIArb, Partner and Head of Investor State Disputes, Addleshaw Goddard LLP
  • Kim Franklin QC C.Arb FCIArb, Chartered Arbitrator and Adjudicator, Crown Office Chambers
    
• 4.45pm     Q&A session with CIArb's Dispute Appointment Service (DAS) team and selected panelists
  
  • Lewis Johnston ACIArb, Head of Policy and External Affairs, CIArb (chair)
    
  • Tom Cadman ACIArb, Deputy Director General, CIArb
  • Kam Nayee-Bancroft ACIArb, DAS Case manager, CIArb                           
• 5.15pm     Summary and closing address
  • Catherine Dixon, Director General, CIArb

Cost(s): CIArb members - free of charge; Non-members - £10 (including VAT).

Joining online: This event will start at 1.00pm Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Please check your local time zone. Further details on how to join the event will be shared to delegates after registration. If you have any questions please contact events@ciarb.org.

Please note that places for this convention are limited. If you registered for a place and can no longer attend, please kindly let us know so we can offer it to another colleague.

*** Please kindly note that this is now an online event and the timetable has changed. If you have any questions please contact events@ciarb.org. ***

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