International Arbitration - The Fiji Perspective

Justice Suresh Chandra, justice of the Supreme Court and resident justice of appeal of the Court of Appeal of Fiji, shared Fiji's experience in ratifying the New York Convention on 27 September 2010 and passing the International Arbitration Act on 15 September 2017. The International Arbitration Act is a comprehensive, state-of-the-art legislation based on the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration and its amendments.

Khory McCormick

Prof. Khory McCormick is a vice president and fellow of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration and the immediate past deputy chair of the Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy.

With key roles across a range of alternative/appropriate dispute resolution bodies and with sector recognised expertise confirmed by independent publications, Prof. McCormick  is a recognised market leader in the field of dispute and conflict resolution in the Australasian market.

The Anatomy of International Arbitration

Mr. Abhinav Bhushan, director for South Asia of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) International Court of Arbitration, ICC, discussed the anatomy of international arbitration, the various stages of an international arbitration, the timeliness and anatomy of expedited and emergency arbitration procedures, as well as the scrutiny of arbitral awards. He also explained the importance of seat and its difference from venue.

Economics of International Arbitration

Lastly, Prof. Dr. Jordi Paniagua, professor of economics at the University of Valencia, explained how international economic flows follow the gravity equation. FDI and trade increase with economic activity (meaning more producers and consumers) and decrease with certain frictions, comprising both natural frictions, such as distance and cultural and linguistic links, and man-made frictions, which include the contractual and institutional environment.