It's been a month since Elkinson took on the role of CIArb president and one thing he is really enthusiastic about is CIArb's training. "Our training is second to none. The feedback I get from people all over the world who have taken our courses is that they find them immensely enjoyable, educational and value for money."

Born in Ireland, Elkinson graduated from Trinity College Dublin and Kings' Inns Dublin with three law degrees. After practising as a barrister in Ireland and then Hong Kong, he moved to Bermuda in 1988.

His practice is in commercial litigation, arbitration and mediation. He specialises in banking, trusts, insurance and reinsurance, construction, administration law, telecommunications and energy. Referenced in all the leading legal directories, he is a partner in one of the world's leading offshore law firms, Conyers Dill and Pearman. So what does he see as the main challenges in the year ahead?

"Maintaining membership in the Institute in the current economic climate is going to be a big challenge this year," he says. "It is essential for members to be satisfied that CIArb does something for them and is relevant to them."

Elkinson also wants to address the needs of the branches and their members, which are as diverse as the branches themselves. "What they all have in common is that branch and chapter members don't get paid for the work they do, it is all voluntary," he says. Having been Chairman of the Bermuda Branch for a number of years, he is keen to ensure a reciprocal understanding between HQ and the branches, so that branches work better, are able to relay to HQ what their needs are, whilst acknowledging that there are limits to what HQ can do for them.

CIArb's academic research is another area that Elkinson would like to build on. "The research we currently undertake remains a resource in development. I would like to see more expansion in this area, and in due course promotion of this side of the Institute's capabilities so that it will be an integral part of the benefits of membership and be part of the expansion of the Institute as a 'Learned Society'."

The international aspect of the role is something that Jeffrey is looking forward to, such as attending the ICCA Congress in Singapore in June, training in Hong Kong and a joint LCIA/ CIArb event in Rio de Janeiro in November. This isn't surprising, considering he is a member of the Bars of Ireland, Hong Kong, New South Wales, Bermuda, England and Wales, New York and the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

"The world of international litigation and arbitration is a small one," he says. "Wherever I have worked, I have always found that there is a community of interest with those who work in the area of dispute resolution, be it litigation or arbitration, and I am fortunate to have made many good friends all over the world who share this interest. Many of the best in the field are members of the Institute and that adds another layer of common interest."

And finally, what is his vision of the future? "I would love to see the Institute go beyond its normal training locations and occasionally carry out training, perhaps on a 'pro bono' basis, in places where it would have immediate benefits to the people who live there, especially where the country has been ravaged by war or internal strife," he says.

"In such places, one of the first institutions that stops working properly or at all is the court system. The need for alternative dispute resolution is critical as disputes need resolution to secure peace and harmony; CIArb can give the relevant training and those who are trained can pass on the training to others."

He concludes: "This then would provide an interim measure and lay the groundwork for supplementing the court system as and when it resumes functioning. Hopefully the first of these initiatives will take place this year and the country identified and where contact has been made is Liberia - watch this space!"

London branch news.pdf

Abu Dhabi Inaugural Event for website.pdf

NORTH WEST BRANCH ANNUAL DINNER 2011 for website.pdf

Roseanna Cunningham, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs met with Chapter chair Derek Auchie and representatives of the CIArb Northern Chapter on 27 September 2011 in Aberdeen. They were joined by Andrew MacKenzie, Chief Executive of the newly set up Scottish Arbitration Centre.

The new opportunities presented by the Arbitration (Scotland) Act 2010 and Scottish Arbitration Centre were discussed. These included an emphasis on confidentiality, the distinctive and mature Scottish legal system, and lower costs of arbitration which can be achieved in Scotland.

Feedback to the Chapter from Oil & Gas colleagues indicates a tradition of settling disputes in London via litigation and an assumption that arbitration is slow and expensive. SAC is working to change this perception now that Scotland has all the benefits of a modern statute underpinning arbitration.

The Minister very helpfully offered to support the chapter and SAC influence others to consider adopting arbitration to resolve disputes rather than litigation, and to do so in Scotland.

Thanks are due to Paull & Williamson for providing the venue for the meeting.

On October 21, the NAB also co-sponsored a symposium at the University of Missouri featuring internationally-renowned author-arbitrator Gary Born as keynote speaker. The symposium, "Border Skirmishes: The Intersection Between Litigation and International Commercial Arbitration," brought together speakers and attendees from fifteen countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

The NAB sponsored student writing competition in connection with the symposium, with the three top papers coming from the University of Cambridge (UK), the University of Missouri and Columbia Law School.

The NAB recently welcomed two new chapters. The Montreal/Ottowa Chapter is led by Jacques S. Darche as Interim Chair, assisted by Eric Ouimet in Montreal and Mandy Moore in Ottawa. The Rocky Mountain Chapter is led by Harry L. Arkin as Chair Emeritus, David B. Wilson as Chair, Stephen E. Smith as Vice Chair and James E. Nelson as Secretary.

In other chapter news, the Chicago Chapter hosted Lorraine Brennan, Managing Director of JAMS International, at a dinner meeting on November 14. Members of the Chicago Chapter will also be serving as arbitrators/judges for the Vis Mini-Moot on February 18 at Loyola University Law School. The Loyola Mini-Moot is sponsored by the NAB.

The D.C. Chapter had two programs recently. One, which was co-sponsored with CPR Institute and entitled "A Fresh Look at ADR for International Energy Construction Projects," was moderated by Judith Ittig, Chair of the D.C. Chapter. The second event was co-sponsored with the D.C. Bar's International Section and saw Professor Franco Ferrari discussing the selection of fora for international commercial arbitration.

In upcoming news, the Northern California chapter will help run the CIArb table at the 2012 Institute for Transnational Arbitration Winter Forum in San Francisco on 3 February. The NAB is acting as a sponsor of the event.