Further details can be found here

The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) is pleased to announce the appointment of Anthony Abrahams TD DL MBA as the new CIArb Director General (Chief Executive).

Mr Abrahams will start at CIArb's Executive offices in Bloomsbury Square, London on 10 April 2012 and will replace Michael Forbes Smith MCIArb. Mr Smith, who led CIArb since February 2006, left the Institute on 23 March and will retire as Director General of CIArb on 6 April.

Mr Abrahams is currently Chief Executive of Charter Chambers in London, prior to which he was Group Managing Director of Kain Knight Group plc. Qualified as a solicitor and specialising in civil litigation, he has considerable hands-on experience in legal practice management which he has reinforced academically, gaining an MBA with distinction from Nottingham Law School. He also sits as a Deputy District Judge.

Mr Abrahams says, "I am delighted to have this opportunity to lead CIArb. The Institute is at the forefront of alternative dispute resolution and our members have a vital role to play in the field of ADR. I look forward to building on the excellent work CIArb and its dedicated team of staff have already done."

Mr Abrahams' legal background has been complemented and enhanced with leadership and organisational skills acquired in the Territorial Army where he attained the rank of Colonel. He was mobilised in 2006 to undertake an operational tour in Iraq working to develop the rule of law and dealing with human rights issues there.

He is involved with a number of military charities caring for the needs of service personnel and their families as well as St John Ambulance Brigade. Married with three children Mr Abrahams enjoys supporting Northampton Saints rugby team with his family and has recently taken up sailing.

Nicki Alvey, currently Director of Membership and Marketing, will be Acting Director General until Mr Abrahams takes up his post.

John Wright FCIArb, Chairman of CIArb's Board of Trustees says, "I look forward to welcoming Anthony Abrahams to CIArb. His background in dispute resolution and his more recent experience at Chief Executive level will stand him in excellent stead to lead the Institute forward. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Michael Forbes Smith for all his hard work over the last 6 years, a period during which CIArb has advanced considerably under his leadership."

Ends.
For further information, please contact:
Lucy Chakaodza
Communications and PR Executive
E: LChakaodza@ciarb.org
T: 020 7421 7488
www.ciarb.org

Notes to editors:
The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)

CIArb is the world's leading professional membership body for arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. A not-for-profit organisation, CIArb promotes the use of alternative dispute resolution internationally through a membership of 12,000 professionally qualified members in more than 110 countries. In addition to providing education and training for arbitrators, mediators and adjudicators, CIArb acts as an international resource centre for practitioners, policy makers, academics and those in business concerned with the cost-effective and early settlement of disputes. CIArb was originally granted a Royal Charter in 1979. Significant changes to the Institute's governing structure have resulted from the new Charter and Bye-laws granted in 2005, which reflect the need to represent the Institute's worldwide membership.
www.ciarb.org

Charter Chambers
Charter Chambers is an established renowned set of barrister's chambers specialising in advocacy in court. Charter is internationally known and recognised for its court and advisory work in the following areas:-
■Commercial crime, including White Collar Fraud, Bribery, VAT Frauds Cartels, Corruption, Insider Dealing and other FSA related work
■Murder, terrorism and other serious crime
■ Restraint proceedings, Asset Forfeiture, Confiscation
■ Regulatory Law, including Sports Law
■Civil law
■ Family & Social Law
www.charterchambers.com

In 2012, IFLA launched a scheme to enable family disputes to be resolved by arbitration. Arbitration under the scheme is conducted under the family arbitration Rules which have been developed by IFLA for the scheme. This means divorcing couples can agree to appoint their own arbitrator, or have the IFLA select one for them from its panel of approved arbitrators.

The scheme covers: financial disputes arising from divorce; claims on inheritance from a child, spouse etc; financial claims made in England and Wales after a divorce abroad; claims for child maintenance between unmarried parents; disputes about ownership of a property between cohabiting couples and civil partnership financial claims. Disputes will be resolved exclusively by applying the laws of England and Wales, in the same way as the Family Courts.

Lord Falconer, who chairs the IFLA, said:

"Arbitration has a long history in certain areas. For example, many commercial and construction contracts provide for dispute resolution in this way. Arbitration in family law will be another tool in the box of methods of alternative dispute resolution. At a time when there is a need to find solutions in family disputes outside the courtroom, it is a logical next step to offer arbitration as another means of doing so."

IFLA developed the arbitration scheme to enable parties to resolve financial disputes more quickly, cheaply and in a more flexible and less formal setting than a court room. It is also expected to save court resources and reduce pressure on the already stretched family courts.

Ends

For further information, please contact:

Lucy Chakaodza
Communications and PR Executive
CIArb
E: LChakaodza@ciarb.org
T: 020 7421 7488
W: www.ciarb.org

Notes to editors

Institute of Family Law Arbitrators (IFLA)
IFLA is a not for profit organisation, created by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), the Family Law Bar Association, and the family lawyers' group Resolution, in association with the Centre for Child and Family Law Reform. www.ifla.org.uk

Centre for Child and Family Law Reform
A research centre of professionals and academics sponsored by the Law School of City University, London.

The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)
CIArb is the world's leading professional membership body for arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. A not-for-profit organisation, CIArb promotes the use of alternative dispute resolution internationally through a membership of 12,000 professionally qualified members in more than 110 countries. In addition to providing education and training for arbitrators, mediators and adjudicators, CIArb acts as an international resource centre for practitioners, policy makers, academics and those in business concerned with the cost-effective and early settlement of disputes.
www.ciarb.org

The Family Law Bar Association (FLBA)
FLBA is the specialist bar association which represents barristers who practise in all areas of family law. It has a membership of 2250. The FLBA is consulted by government on all areas of family law and policy. The FLBA has with the other partners been involved in the creation of a family law arbitration scheme since inception. www.flba.co.uk

Resolution
Resolution, which was formerly known as the Solicitors Family Law Association (SFLA), is an organisation of over 6,000 lawyers who believe in a constructive, non-confrontational approach to family law matters. Resolution supports the development of family lawyers through its national and regional training programmes, through publications and good practice guides and through its accreditation scheme. Resolution also trains and accredits mediators and is the only body providing training and support for collaborative lawyers in England and Wales. www.resolution.org.uk

IFLA will govern and promote the scheme for family law arbitration in England and Wales. Arbitration will provide another means of resolving family law disputes relating to finance or property, outside of a formal court process.

IFLA has formed a panel of experienced family lawyers who have been trained as family arbitrators under the scheme. To date, the bespoke training course, which has been developed in partnership with and delivered by CIArb, has attracted the retired judiciary and highly experienced specialist practitioners from across the country.

Arbitration under the scheme will be conducted under the family arbitration rules which have been developed by IFLA for the scheme. This means divorcing couples can agree to appoint their own arbitrator, or have the IFLA select one for them from its register of approved arbitrators. IFLA, which will be formally launched at an event to be held at Inner Temple in Central London on 26 March 2012, is chaired by the former Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer of Thoroton. Lord Falconer said:

"Arbitration has a long history in certain areas. For example, many commercial and construction contracts provide for dispute resolution in this way. Arbitration in family law will be another tool in the box of methods of alternative dispute resolution. At a time when there is a need to find solutions in family disputes outside the courtroom, it is a logical next step to offer arbitration as another means of doing so."

The scheme covers: financial disputes arising from divorce; claims on inheritance from a child, spouse etc; financial claims made in England and Wales after a divorce abroad; claims for child maintenance between unmarried parents; disputes about ownership of a property between cohabiting couples and civil partnership financial claims. Disputes will be resolved exclusively by applying the laws of this country, in the same way as the Family Courts.

IFLA developed the arbitration scheme to enable parties to resolve financial disputes more quickly, cheaply and in a more flexible and less formal setting than a court room. It is also expected to save court resources and reduce pressure on the already stretched family courts.

Parties and their advisers will be able to find further details of the scheme and how to start a family arbitration at www.ifla.org.uk

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Matt Bryant
Director of Communications
Resolution
E: Matt.Bryant@resolution.org.uk
T: 020 3195 0190
W: www.resolution.org.uk

Sarah Ball
Marketing & Communications Manager
CIArb
E: sball@ciarb.org
T: 020 7421 7488
W: www.ciarb.org

www.ifla.org.uk

Notes to Editors

The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)
CIArb is the world's leading professional membership body for arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. A not-for-profit organisation, CIArb promotes the use of alternative dispute resolution internationally through a membership of 12,000 professionally qualified members in more than 110 countries. In addition to providing education and training for arbitrators, mediators and adjudicators, CIArb acts as an international resource centre for practitioners, policy makers, academics and those in business concerned with the cost-effective and early settlement of disputes.
www.ciarb.org

The Family Law Bar Association (FLBA)
FLBA is the specialist bar association which represents barristers who practise in all areas of family law. It has a membership of 2250. The FLBA is consulted by government on all areas of family law and policy. The FLBA has with the other partners been involved in the creation of a family law arbitration scheme since inception. www.flba.co.uk

Resolution
Resolution, which was formerly known as the Solicitors Family Law Association (SFLA), is an organisation of over 6,000 lawyers who believe in a constructive, non-confrontational approach to family law matters. Resolution supports the development of family lawyers through its national and regional training programmes, through publications and good practice guides and through its accreditation scheme. Resolution also trains and accredits mediators and is the only body providing training and support for collaborative lawyers in England and Wales. www.resolution.org.uk