Events
The theme of this year's Roebuck Lecture is entitled ‘Getting ahead of the curve: How arbitration can better meet the needs of parties, people and planet’ and will be delivered by Cherie Blair CBE QC MCIArb.
The Roebuck Lecture, now in its 10th year, is named after Professor Derek Roebuck MCIArb and celebrates the very significant contribution that he has made to the Institute over the years, principally as Editor of Arbitration - The International Journal of Arbitration, Mediation and Dispute Management. This lecture takes place each summer and is one of the highlights of CIArb's events calendar.
In memory of Professor Derek Roebuck MCIArb and in light of current unusual environment due to the pandemic, CIArb extends the online viewing of this year’s Roebuck Lecture to the whole ADR community worldwide, on the night of the event, free of charge.
Programme (subject to change):
5.50pm - Welcome address and introduction, by Catherine Dixon, CIArb Director General
6.05pm - Roebuck Lecture - ‘Getting ahead of the curve: How arbitration can better meet the needs of parties, people and planet’, by Cherie Blair CBE QC MCIArb
6.40pm - Q&A session
7.00pm - Closing remarks, by Francis Xavier SC C.Arb FCIArb, CIArb President
Cost(s): Attendance to this event is free of charge but pre-registration is a must.
MEDIA PARTNERS
Event Speakers
Cherie Blair CBE QC MCIArb is the Co-Founder and Chair of Omnia Strategy where she focuses on international arbitration, strategic international legal and advisory work and practices as a barrister. She is a Queen’s Counsel and wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. With over 40 years’ experience as a leading barrister specialising in public international law, human rights, employment law, arbitration and mediation, Cherie has represented over 30 governments as well as numerous multinational corporations in international disputes. Through Omnia Strategy, Cherie advises clients on complex issues relating to international dispute resolution, investment treaties, corporate responsibility and business & human rights, and government relations. She also represents clients as counsel in international arbitrations and legal cases.
In addition to her role at Omnia Strategy, Cherie also continues to work independently, primarily as an arbitrator and mediator. She has served on the ICSID panel of arbitrators since 2012, and is a panellist at the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration. She has appeared in the European Court of Justice and in multiple Commonwealth jurisdictions and also lectures internationally. Cherie is the Chancellor of the Asian University for Women, an independent, international university in Chittagong, Bangladesh. She is also Chancellor Emeritus and Honorary Fellow of Liverpool John Moores University; Governor Emeritus and Honorary Fellow of the LSE and the Open University; LL.D. (honours), University of Liverpool; Hon.D.Lit UMIST; Doctor of Laws from Westminster University.
Cherie is closely involved with various charities and is a strong advocate for women’s rights. She is the Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, which runs programmes to support women entrepreneurs across the developing world, including Africa. She is also Vice Chair of the International Council on Women’s Business Leadership founded by Hillary Clinton. Cherie is also an adviser to the B Team, a not-for-profit initiative formed by a global group of leaders “to create a future where the purpose of business is to be a driving force for social, environmental and economic benefit”, and an Ambassador of the World Benchmarking Alliance, which seeks to generate a movement around increasing the private sector’s impact towards a sustainable future for all.
Cherie sits as an Honorary Chair of the World Justice Project and is patron and President of the Africa Justice Foundation. In 2007, Cherie received the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill medal in recognition of her “high ideals and courageous actions”. In 2013, she was awarded the CBE in the New Year Honours for her services to women’s issues and to charity in the UK and overseas.
Find out more hereCatherine Dixon joins the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators as its new Director General in May 2020 - having just completed a world-record breaking circumnavigation of the world on a tandem (cycling). Prior to her expedition Catherine spent time in chief executive roles at the Law Society of England and Wales, Askham Bryan College and NHS Resolution. Catherine has also held senior leadership roles at the NSPCC and BUPA.
Catherine has served as a trustee and non-executive director on a number of boards, including the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution and she is currently a trustee of Stonewall. Catherine is a non-practicing solicitor and an accredited mediator.
Find out more hereFrancis Xavier was appointed Senior Counsel in January 2009 and practices international commercial and treaty arbitration and litigation. He is actively involved in cross-border commercial disputes in the areas of corporate banking, property, financial and investment related claims. He also specialises in aviation law and advised in the class-action suit resulting from the crash of the SilkAir flight (Indonesia) and the SIA crash (Taiwan).
He is the Chairman of the Listings Appeals Committee, Singapore Stock Exchange and Chairman of the Inquiry Panel of the Law Society of Singapore. He is a member of the Rules Committee, Singapore Academy of Law.
He is the President of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association and current President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). He is a Chartered Arbitrator and also a Past Chairman of CIArb's Singapore Branch.
Find out more here