Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Top Australian lawyer elected head of global arbitration body

International arbitration specialist and Clayton Utz partner Doug Jones AM has been elected President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a world-wide leader in the training, accreditation and practice of alternative dispute resolution.International arbitration specialist and Clayton Utz partner has been elected President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a world-wide leader in the training, accreditation and practice of alternative dispute resolution. 

Professor Jones AM is the first Australian to lead the global organisation whose membership comprises eminent practitioners, policymakers, academics and business leaders from the UK, the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australasia.

“As an Australian, I am deeply honoured to be elected as President and see this as an opportunity to advance Australia’s position as a major player in the lucrative cross border dispute resolution market.”

A Member of the Order of Australia for Services to Dispute Resolution and Construction Law, Professor Jones AM is also President of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration, Director of the Australian International Disputes Centre and is the only Australian member of the Court of the LCIA.

The appointment has been warmly received throughout the arbitration world including eminent jurists.

Retired Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia and Patron of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Australia, the Hon Murray Gleeson AC said: "Professor Jones has made a major contribution to local and international arbitration and mediation, and his election is testimony to the esteem in which he is held in Australia and overseas."

Director of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration and retired High Court Justice, the Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG who sits on the Arbitration Panel of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes for the World Bank said:

“Until now, we in Australia have liked to think of Doug Jones as our own special treasure. No one has worked harder or more successfully over many years to put Australia on the map of international commercial arbitration. No one has been more effective in securing updated national and transnational laws for Australia. But now our secret is out. His professional reputation has won him the much prized position of President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in London. We must now share him with the world. His election will be a great encouragement and boost for us in Australia.’’

Commenting on the increasing importance of arbitration, Professor Jones AM said demand for arbitration and dispute resolution services was growing around the world, particularly in the Asia Pacific region.

“International arbitration has emerged as the process of choice for international businesses in the global economy. Investors want to avoid the uncertainty of litigation in a foreign court system with the associated lack of familiarity over processes and uncertainty of enforcement outside local jurisdictions.

Professor Jones AM will mark his presidential term with a series of initiatives and global events. They include Investment and Innovation: International Dispute Resolution in Asia Pacific which will be held in Sydney (27 – 28 May).

Marking the first major event since the enactment of the long-awaited reform to Australia’s international and domestic arbitration regime, the conference is being jointly organised by the North American, East Asia, Thai, Indian, Malaysian, Singapore and Australian Branches of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators with support from major arbitral bodies and global professional associations.

Former UK Attorney General and Westfield Director, Lord Peter Goldsmith QC, and Royal Dutch Shell Legal Director, Peter Rees QC, are just two of the confirmed headline speakers and will join leaders in the Australian government and eminent members of the judiciary and the legal profession. Further details www.ciarb.org/events

Professor Jones AM will also host the 10th annual Clayton Utz International Arbitration lecture which continues to play an important role in promoting and supporting the development and study of international arbitration and international dispute resolution in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

No comments:

Post a Comment