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San Francisco to Host First-Ever ICC Arbitration Workshop
| Source: USCIB
NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- May 9, 2007 -- In a world where traditional litigation often
spells headaches, uncertainty and lost time, arbitration is increasingly
seen as the preferred way to resolve cross-border business disputes. To
help lawyers and business executives better understand the ins and outs of
this fast-growing field, the ICC International Court of Arbitration, the
world's best-known arbitral institution, will host a two-day workshop in
San Francisco on international dispute resolution, June 11 to 12 the Westin
St. Francis.
The court is part of the International Chamber of Commerce, the world
business body that has been in the forefront of cross-border dispute
resolution since 1923. The workshop is designed to provide a better
understanding of ICC arbitration and the other dispute resolution services.
Organizers aim to showcase practical strategies and tactics for those
involved in international arbitration.
The workshop is being presented in cooperation with the United States
Council for International Business (USCIB), ICC's American national
committee, which maintains an active regional subcommittee on arbitration
chaired by Steven L. Smith, a San Francisco-based partner with O'Melveny &
Myers LLP.
"This is a unique chance for participants from the U.S. business and legal
community to gain hands-on training from experienced practitioners and to
ensure that they have an understanding of what ICC services are available
and how they work," said Mr. Smith. He said the event is designed to
appeal to anyone involved in international arbitration and dispute
resolution -- including practicing lawyers, corporate counsel, magistrates,
and business people involved in international trade and dispute resolution.
The hands-on workshop, the first of its kind in the United States, will
feature current and former members of the ICC court, corporate counsel,
practicing arbitrators and representatives of the Court's Paris-based
international secretariat. It is part of a new strategic direction for
promoting the ICC court under Josefa Sicard-Mirabal, ICC's director of
arbitration and ADR for North America. Since joining ICC last September,
Ms. Sicard-Mirabal has sought to expand the court's educational programming
across the U.S. and Canada.
"As a Pacific gateway and major legal center, San Francisco was a natural
choice when we were deciding where to introduce a more hands-on format to
essential legal training," said Ms. Sicard-Mirabal. "We believe the
interactivity of this workshop really sets it apart." She said a highlight
of the conference will be a mock case, studied with small working groups
where participants will take part in a step-by-step examination of the
arbitration process.
Since its founding in 1923, the ICC court has handled over 14,000 cases.
In 2005, more than 500 cases were filed, involving parties in over 100
countries and independent territories. The court itself has an
exceptionally broad representation, comprising members from 86 countries.
Over the years, ICC has developed a full range of other dispute resolution
rules in addition to arbitration to meet the latest international
commercial challenges.
A brochure and registration form for the workshop is available at
http://www.uscib.org/docs/arbitration_sf.pdf.
The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) is ICC's
American national committee. As American affiliate of the leading
international business and employers organizations, including ICC, USCIB
provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities
worldwide and works to facilitate international trade. USCIB's Arbitration
Committee serves as the contact point for the ICC International Court of
Arbitration and its multi-faceted dispute resolution services. More
information is available at www.uscib.org.