October 24, 1997, Geneva, Switzerland
On October 24, 1997, the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center hosted, at the Geneva headquarters of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Biennial Conference of the International Federation of Commercial Arbitration Institutions (IFCAI), organized in collaboration with the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA).
The Conference featured presentations, contained in this section, and discussions on the theme of "The Institutional Response to Changing Needs of Users." It was opened by Mr. Michael Hoellering, President of IFCAI, followed by Dr. Kamil Idris, the new Director General of WIPO, who underlined WIPOs commitment to arbitration as a market-oriented international dispute resolution mechanism.
The Conference speakers, representing arbitral institutions, private practice, industry, universities and the judiciary, addressed a variety of topics from the perspective of users, such as the approaches adopted in and underlying reasons for the revisions of rules that had recently been undertaken by various arbitration institutions. Other discussion topics included the value of speed in arbitration proceedings, methods to limit costs, and the need to restrict judicial intervention. Another timely issue on the program was the growing role of mediation.
Index
WELCOME ADDRESS
Dr. K. Idris, World Intellectual Property Organization
OPENING STATEMENT
Mr. M. Hoellering, International Federation of Commercial Arbitration Institutions
THE REVISION OF ARBITRATION RULES
Chairman: Dr. M.I.M. Aboul-Enein, Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration
Speakers:
Dr. H.A. Grigera Naón, International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce
Mr. W.K. Slate II, American Arbitration Association
Professor Tang Houzhi, China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission
Mr. V.V. Veeder, QC, London Court of International Arbitration
Professor K.-H. Böckstiegel, German Institution of Arbitration
Dr. F. Gurry, WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center
THE PERSPECTIVE OF USERS
Chairman: Mr. U. Franke, The Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce
Speakers:
Mr. J.H. Carter, American Arbitration Association
Mr. R. van Rooij, Shell International Ltd.
Dr. R. Badinter, Court of Conciliation and Arbitration of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COURTS AND THE ARBITRAL PROCESS
Chairman: Mr. B.W. Vigrass, London Court of International Arbitration
Speakers:
The Honorable Justice J.S. Verma, Supreme Court of India
The Honorable A.N.E. Amissah, Court of Appeal of Botswana
THE GROWTH AND USE OF MEDIATION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
Chairman: Dr. M. Blessing, Swiss Arbitration Association
Speakers:
Professor Y. Taniguchi, Kyoto University
Ms. P.G. Lim, Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration
Mr. C. Gibson, WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center
CLOSING REMARKS
Mr. M. Hoellering, International Federation of Commercial Arbitration Institutions