With the growth of globalisation, the preferred dispute resolution mechanism for disputes between corporates operating in different locales, arbitration, has also grown. It is a rare law firm that deals with internationally operating corporates that does not have an interest in arbitration.

An initiative by the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand, AMINZ, is to increase the use of New Zealand as a set for arbitration and the use of New Zealanders internationally. It is a visionary goal and is focussed on our region, where arbitration is receiving much encouragement with capacity building programmes led by the UN body, UNCITRAL.

AMINZ executive director, Deborah Hart (left) says, “now is the time to position ourselves to make the most of the growing opportunities in arbitration in our region”.

2018 sees prominent arbitration practitioners convening for the first time in our region, with the widely anticipated International Council for Commercial Arbitration Congress in Sydney, Australia, 15-18 April. The co-host for this event, AMINZ, has secured a very special add-one event in Queenstown, New Zealand. That will launch the evening of 19 April and provides a one-day programme the following day.

The President of ICCA, New York-based Donald Donovan will present as will global luminaries including Sir David Williams QC, Neil Kaplan, Sir Bernard Rix, Wendy Miles QC and Judith Levine. Locals joining the line-up include former Attorney General, Chris Finlayson QC, Chapman Tripp’s Daniel Kalderimis and Victoria University Professor Cathy Iorns.

The Queenstown event is boutique and ensures that local practitioners will easily be able to meet and mix with highly influential international guests. With that comes a need to register early for the event to ensure a place both at the event and the scarce accommodation in Queenstown. Ms Hart says, “we have secured accommodation through to 15 January and delegates can access it when they register for the event. After that they will have to find accommodation in Queenstown at a very busy time of the year”.