K&L Gates’ Arbitration World, Winter 2006/2007

By K&L Gates attorneys Ian Meredith, Michael D. Napoli, Martin J. King, Andrew H. Davies, Douglas J. Simmons, Ben Morgan, Clare Tanner, Brian R. Davidson, Kari M. Horner, Sarah A. Munro and Rachel G. Stephens.

Arbitration World highlights the significant developments and issues in international arbitration that matter to in-house counsel and company executives with responsibility for dispute resolution.

Welcome to the third edition of “Arbitration World” and the first edition, we are proud to say, following the combination of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham LLP with Preston Gates Ellis LLP, effective 1 January 2007, to form Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP – “K&L Gates.”

In light of this development, page 3 of this issue includes a short commentary on arbitration in Asia and a profile of the firm’s Asian offices which enable the firm to advise clients in arbitration in this increasingly strategic part of the world.

For those reading for the first time, “Arbitration World” aims to highlight significant developments and issues in international arbitration that matter to in-house counsel and company executives with responsibility for dispute resolution.

In this issue, highlights include an examination of the difficulties in the area of consolidation of related arbitrations, in particular in the context of natural disasters.  We look at the implications of some recent decisions in the U.S. on the grounds upon which an arbitral award may be challenged and on the enforceability of subpoenas issued by arbitrators.  We summarise the latest Judicial “Interpretation” in China, which covers a number of issues which have previously given rise to difficulties.  We look at the latest developments in investment treaty arbitrations and at the emerging approach to confidentiality in the wider international sphere.

We look back at our Autumn 2006 programme of ‘webinars’ (web-based seminars) and look forward to the 2007 schedule of events, including our 3rd annual arbitration day in London on Thursday 19 April 2007 at The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel, London.  Further events are planned in the U.S., including an arbitration day in Washington, D.C. on Friday 4 May 2007.

We also include our usual round-up of developments in international arbitration from around the globe.

View the Winter 2006/2007 edition here.