Page not found – Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR) https://bcdr.org Thu, 29 Feb 2024 08:40:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.5.14 https://bcdr.org/wp-content/uploads/cropped-bcdr-waves-32x32.png Page not found – Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR) https://bcdr.org 32 32 New Partnership: The Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR) and Jus Mundi Join Forces to Share Arbitration Resources and Knowledge Globally https://bcdr.org/new-partnership-the-bahrain-chamber-for-dispute-resolution-bcdr-and-jus-mundi-join-forces-to-share-arbitration-resources-and-knowledge-globally/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-partnership-the-bahrain-chamber-for-dispute-resolution-bcdr-and-jus-mundi-join-forces-to-share-arbitration-resources-and-knowledge-globally Wed, 28 Feb 2024 14:00:09 +0000 https://bcdr.org/?p=11485      

Ahmed Husain, acting CEO of BCDR, and Jean-Rémi de Maistre, CEO of Jus Mundi during the signing ceremony

The Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR) and Jus Mundi are proud to announce a new partnership to make non-confidential BCDR awards, related arbitration materials and selected Bahraini court judgments accessible to the global legal community. Both organizations will actively participate in thought leadership initiatives to foster greater understanding and dialogue in the arbitration field.

As part of this unique collaboration, Jus Mundi will host a curated selection of non-confidential arbitral decisions and documents from the BCDR on its platform. By leveraging Jus Mundi's state-of-the-art AIpowered platform and research capabilities, these materials will be easily searchable, empowering users to gain invaluable insights into arbitration proceedings. To ensure inclusivity and reach, BCDR will encourage its network of practitioners to contribute translations of documents when possible. All material published as part of this partnership will adhere to BCDR's rules, confidentiality requirements and best practices, ensuring the utmost respect for party choice and consent.

This landmark initiative represents a significant step towards enhancing accessibility and understanding of arbitration practices within the MENA region and beyond. Upholding the utmost standards of confidentiality, the partnership between Jus Mundi and the BCDR underscores a shared commitment to promoting transparency and knowledge-sharing in the field of dispute resolution.

Speaking about the partnership, Ahmed Husain, acting CEO of BCDR said:

"BCDR is thrilled to join forces with Jus Mundi and reiterating its commitment to promoting independent dispute resolution in the Gulf region and beyond".

Jean-Rémi de Maistre, CEO of Jus Mundi, commented:

"The GCC region is brimming with arbitration activity and there is a keen interest among practitioners to gain deeper insights. Collaborating with the BCDR allows us to meet the growing need for accessible arbitration information, and we are delighted to cultivate this new partnership."

About BCDR

The Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR) is an independent international dispute-resolution center, established in 2009. BCDR provides efficient and cost-effective administration of commercial and investment arbitration, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) for international and regional parties and governments doing business in the Gulf region and beyond.

About Jus Mundi

Founded in 2019, Jus Mundi is a legal tech and "mission-led company" powering global justice through artificial intelligence. With offices in Paris, New York, London, and soon Singapore, it serves 150,000 users from law firms, companies, governments, and universities in more than 100 countries. Through its advanced AI technology, Jus Mundi offers global legal intelligence, data-driven arbitration professional selection, and business development services.

For media queries, please contact: h.maio@jusmundi.com

Photos from the signing ceremony

Ahmed Husain, acting CEO of BCDR, and Jean-Rémi de Maistre, CEO of Jus Mundi during the signing ceremony
From left to right: Victoria Krapivina - Jus Mundi; Supritha Suresh - BCDR; Alexandre Vagenheim - Jus Mundi; Marike Paulsson - Economic Development Board, Bahrain; and Ameena Al Onaisi - Economic Development Board, Bahrain.
Jean-Rémi de Maistre, CEO of Jus Mundi, introducing the services provided by Jus Mundi to the legal team at BCDR
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SIAC Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution https://bcdr.org/siac-signs-memorandum-of-understanding-with-bahrain-chamber-for-dispute-resolution/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=siac-signs-memorandum-of-understanding-with-bahrain-chamber-for-dispute-resolution Tue, 20 Feb 2024 23:54:21 +0000 https://bcdr.org/?p=11477
From Left to right: Mr. Ahmed Husain, acting CEO of BCDR and Ms. Gloria Lim, CEO of SIAC

The Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR) today to promote the more effective resolution of international disputes through arbitration.

Under the MOU, SIAC and BCDR will jointly organise in-person, hybrid, or virtual conferences, seminars and workshops on international arbitration in Singapore and Bahrain, and will invite key members of their local arbitration community to attend and participate in major events organised by SIAC in Bahrain or by BCDR in Singapore.

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Mediation marks BCDR’s 50th commercial ADR referral case https://bcdr.org/mediation-marks-bcdrs-50th-commercial-adr-referral-case/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mediation-marks-bcdrs-50th-commercial-adr-referral-case Mon, 27 Nov 2023 12:49:38 +0000 https://bcdr.org/?p=11364 The latest mediation registered with the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR) marks the 50th case to be referred to BCDR for arbitration or mediation by agreement of the parties (also known as Section 2 cases).

BCDR is pleased to report a steady increase in the pace of referrals for arbitration and mediation, with 39 of the 50 registered cases to date having been filed since 2019.

Arbitrators sitting in BCDR Section 2 cases have included renowned practitioners from Armenia, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Egypt, France, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Singapore, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. More than 50% of the arbitrators selected by BCDR were different individual women.

In addition to maintaining excellence in the administration of cases under its own rules, BCDR also offers appointing authority services under ad hoc rules. BCDR also continues in its role as a leader in education in the region and as the face of Bahrain at UNCITRAL. BCDR's achievements and continued commitment to improvement have earned it recognition for the second consecutive year as one of only two institutions to be included in the "White List" of the GAR Guide to Regional Arbitration for 2023.

BCDR takes this opportunity to thank all parties contracting for its rules and administrative services for their confidence in the institution.

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BCDR once again on the “White List” of GAR Guide to Regional Arbitration https://bcdr.org/bcdr-once-again-on-the-white-list-of-gar-guide-to-regional-arbitration/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bcdr-once-again-on-the-white-list-of-gar-guide-to-regional-arbitration Wed, 15 Nov 2023 12:47:48 +0000 https://bcdr.org/?p=11362 The Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR) is honored to have been recognized for the second year in a row as one of only two arbitral institutions in the Middle East and North Africa region to be included in the "White List" of the GAR Guide to Regional Arbitration for 2023.

BCDR is grateful to all those who continue to support it, especially to those who place confidence in its rules and services to resolve their disputes, to its devoted staff, Board of Trustees, partners in conferences and events and its advisors, and to the many eminent contributors to the BCDR International Arbitration Review.

BCDR will continue to adhere to the highest standards in its rules, in the administration of its growing caseload, in the work on its law journal and other publications, its program of conferences and events, and its representation of Bahrain at the UNCITRAL Working Groups.

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BCDR reports on its activities in 2022 https://bcdr.org/bcdr-reports-on-its-activities-in-2022/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bcdr-reports-on-its-activities-in-2022 Sun, 01 Oct 2023 12:49:59 +0000 https://bcdr.org/?p=11366 The Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR) has just released its Annual Report for 2022, in Arabic, English, and French.

The Report covers all areas of BCDR's many and diverse activities, including information on BCDR's structure and casework; details of recent developments in BCDR Court procedures; BCDR's updated (2022) commercial arbitration rules and its new dedicated sports arbitration rules; BCDR's conferences and events activities; the BCDR International Arbitration Review; BCDR's role in leading the Bahrain delegation to UNCITRAL Working Groups II and III; and BCDR's inclusion on the "White List" of the GAR Guide to Regional Arbitration for 2022.

The 2022 Annual Report also contains a tribute to the late William K. ("Bill") Slate II, who joined BCDR at its inception in 2010 and was a loyal, active and valued participant in BCDR's affairs up to his retirement from the Board in 2021.

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English translation of Resolution No. 28 of 2023 extending the use of English in BCDR Court cases now available https://bcdr.org/english-translation-of-resolution-no-28-of-2023-extending-the-use-of-english-in-bcdr-court-cases-now-available/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=english-translation-of-resolution-no-28-of-2023-extending-the-use-of-english-in-bcdr-court-cases-now-available Wed, 15 Mar 2023 11:30:09 +0000 https://bcdr.org/?p=11153 The Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution ("BCDR") has completed the English translation of Resolution No. 28 of 2023 issued by the Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs, and Waqf on 6 March 2023, published in the official gazette on 9 March and entered into effect on 10 March 2023. The English version of Resolution No. 28 of 2023 is now available on the Chamber's website.

As previously reported, Resolution No. 28 of 2023 expands the circumstances in which English may be used before Bahraini Courts and the BCDR Court. The adoption of Resolution No. 28 of 2023 follows the adoption of Resolution No. 134 of 2021 promulgating new BCDR Court rules of procedure, which first permitted the use of English in BCDR Court cases (also known as Section 1 cases), and Royal Order No. 3 of 2022 appointing judges to hear BCDR Court cases in which the parties have agreed to use English as the language of the proceedings.

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Extending the use of English in BCDR Court cases https://bcdr.org/extending-the-use-of-english-in-bcdr-court-cases/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=extending-the-use-of-english-in-bcdr-court-cases Sun, 12 Mar 2023 11:40:13 +0000 https://bcdr.org/?p=11147 On 6 March 2023, the Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs, and Waqf issued Resolution No. 28 of 2023 (the "Resolution"), published in the official gazette on 9 March and entering into effect on 10 March 2023, specifying that, other than Arabic, English may be used before Bahraini courts and before the Court of the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (the "BCDR Court"), and expanded the circumstances in which English may be used. The adoption of Resolution No. 28 of 2023 follows the adoption of Resolution No. 134 of 2021 promulgating new BCDR Court rules of procedure, which first permitted the use of English in BCDR Court cases (also known as Section 1 cases), and Royal Order No. 3 of 2022 appointing judges to hear BCDR Court cases in which the parties have agreed to use English as the language of the proceedings.

The newly adopted Resolution extends the use of English by making it the default language in some cases, without the need for a prior agreement of the parties before the filing of the case or during the case management phase, as was previously required under Article 5 of the BCDR Court rules of procedure. Article 1 of Resolution No. 28 of 2023 provides that English shall be the default language in BCDR Court cases if the language of the contract underlying the dispute is English and:

  1. the disputing parties are financial institutions licensed in accordance with the provisions of the Central Bank of Bahrain and Financial Institutions Law, or the dispute is between such an institution and another commercial company licensed in accordance with the provisions of the Commercial Companies Law; or
  2. the disputing parties are commercial companies licensed in accordance with the provisions of the Commercial Companies Law, and the dispute relates to obligations arising from their commercial relationship; or
  3. the dispute relates to international trade and the dispute is between financial institutions, companies, or a financial institution and a company.

The agreement of the parties to use English in the contract underlying the dispute in the above circumstances is the basis for using English in the proceedings.

If the contract is drafted in more than one language, including English, then English shall not be the default language for the proceedings unless the contract explicitly stipulates the adoption of the English language in case of discrepancy between the contractual texts.

The Resolution also allows the disputing parties to retract their choice of English as the language of the proceedings, provided that the retraction is done in writing before filing the case.

Article 3 of the Resolution further allows the parties to choose English as the language of the proceedings in cases brought before the BCDR Court, if they so agree in writing before the case is filed, and provided that:

  1. the contract underlying the dispute is drafted in a language other than Arabic; and
  2. the agreement to use English during the proceedings is provided for in the contract underlying the dispute, in correspondence between the parties, or in a separate agreement.

In addition to specifying the conditions and circumstances in which the English language may be used in BCDR Court cases, the Resolution also states the conditions and circumstances in which English can be used in proceedings before other Bahraini courts.

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English translation of the new procedural rules governing disputes before the BCDR Court now available https://bcdr.org/english-translation-of-the-new-procedural-rules-governing-disputes-before-the-bcdr-court-now-available/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=english-translation-of-the-new-procedural-rules-governing-disputes-before-the-bcdr-court-now-available Wed, 08 Mar 2023 15:26:36 +0000 https://bcdr.org/?p=11109 The Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR) has completed the English translation of the 2021 procedural rules governing the resolution of disputes falling under the jurisdiction of the BCDR Court (also known as Section 1 cases), promulgated by Resolution No. 134 of 2021 of the Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs, and Waqf on 13 December 2021, published in the Official Gazette on 23 December 2021, and effective as of 24 December 2021. The English version of the procedural rules is now available on the Chamber's website.

The translation of the procedural rules into English recognizes the option to adopt English as a language for proceedings in Section 1 cases, as envisaged under Article (5) of the translated procedural rules. As previously reported, Royal Order No. 3 of 2022 appointed judges assigned to hear Section 1 cases in which English is the language of the proceedings.

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The 13th Annual Middle East Pre-Moot just concluded https://bcdr.org/the-13th-annual-middle-east-pre-moot-just-concluded/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-13th-annual-middle-east-pre-moot-just-concluded Wed, 01 Mar 2023 13:58:51 +0000 https://bcdr.org/?p=11230 The Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR) and its partners at the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) of the US Department of Commerce, and the Center for International Legal Education (CILE) of the University of Pittsburgh have just concluded another successful Annual Middle East Vis Pre-Moot.

Marking the 13th of these events, this year's Pre-Moot was held at the premises of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) between 20 and 25 February, with 18 teams from 10 countries participating, and more than 40 established regional and international arbitration practitioners sitting as arbitrators.

The week-long program comprised a three-day training session from 20 to 22 February for team development and competitive oral advocacy, and a three-day pre-moot competition from the 23rd to the 25th. A total of 36 general rounds and 7 elimination rounds hearings were held, with Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan University edging out Maldives' Villa College in the final round. The final panel comprised Hana Al Khatib of Global Advocacy and Legal Counsel, Michael Patchett-Joyce of The 36 Group, with the Academic Director of CILE, Ronald A. Brand presiding. Other renowned practitioners featured in the program included Adrian Cole, Dania Fahs, Sara Koleilat-Aranjo, Karim Nassif, Zeina Obeid, Hassan Radhi, and Ismail Selim, to name but a few.

The Pre-Moot also featured career development and networking side-events hosted by BCDR, the ICC Young Arbitration & ADR Forum (YAAF), and the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA).

As has been the case since its inception, the Middle East Vis Pre-Moot will always be an integral part of BCDR's mission to help students gain academic and practical knowledge of arbitration while building and sustaining a valuable network for their careers. Through the Pre-Moot, BCDR aims to increase awareness of international commercial arbitration, raise standards of advocacy, and, more widely, consolidate the study and practice of international commercial law and arbitration in the Middle East. Since its inception in 2011, close to 1,000 students have benefited from this unique formative experience.

BCDR is grateful to all those who have supported the program in previous years and continue to support it, locally, regionally, and internationally, whether through offering internships and cash prizes to distinguished students or volunteering their time to participate in the program.

Recordings of the opening ceremony, the final round and the closing ceremony of the 13th Middle East Vis Pre-Moot can be viewed here.

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BCDR’s roster of neutrals for Section One cases https://bcdr.org/bcdrs-roster-of-neutrals-for-section-one-cases/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bcdrs-roster-of-neutrals-for-section-one-cases Sun, 26 Feb 2023 15:13:34 +0000 https://bcdr.org/?p=11077 As previously reported, in order to expand the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution ("BCDR") roster of neutrals in Section One cases, Resolution 134 of 2021 of the Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf established a selection committee tasked with reviewing applications and selecting roster members.

In accordance with Resolution 134, the selection committee is headed by BCDR's CEO and further comprises two representatives of the Supreme Judicial Council, two representatives of the BCDR's Board of Trustees, one representative of each of the Minister of Justice, of the Central Bank, of the Economic Development Board, and of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Resolution 134 also provides that the roster may include judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council as third members on Section One tribunals.

The selection committee invited interested and suitably-qualified individuals to submit their applications and supporting documents electronically no later than 15 October 2022.

Applicants were required to be professionals practicing in the fields of commercial disputes (including telecommunication disputes); conventional banking, finance, investment, and insurance disputes; Islamic banking and finance disputes; and construction and real estate disputes.

After several meetings of the selection committee and deliberation among its members, the following names have been added to the roster:

  • Dr. Aseel Zimmo
  • Dr. Yousif Abdulhady Al Ekiaby
  • Mr. Mirza Ibrahim Salman Al Marzouk
  • Ms. Eman Jaafar Hasan Al Aradi
  • Dr. Manaf Yousuf Hamza
  • Dr. AbdulAziz Bin Saïd Bin Abdullah Al Kuthairy
  • Mr. Majid Jawad Ibrahim Al Ras Romani
  • Mr. Ali Yousif Ali Mohamed Janahi
  • Dr. Abdulla Yousuf Taleb
  • Ms. Rasha Anwar Mohamed Al Balbisi
  • Mr. Hamza Mohamed Noor Al Zubair Mohamed Noor
  • Dr. Abdulkader Ghaleb Sultan
  • Ms. Nayla Naser Hamoud Mohamed Al Dokhi
  • Mr. David Lutran

The selection committee has also retained the following names from the previously established roster:

  • Mr. Ahmed Al Thukair
  • Ms. Elham Ali Hasan
  • Ms. Ameena Al Onaisi
  • Dr. Jameel Al Alawi
  • Mr. Husain Mahdy Al Kaidoum
  • Mr. Salman Issa Flayfel
  • Mr. Abbas Abdulmohsen Radhi
  • Dr. Zakariya Sultan Al Abbasi
  • Mr. Farid Ghazi
  • Mr. Salah Al Madfaa
  • Mr. Saad Al-Shamlan
  • Dr. Mohammed Redha Abu Hussain
  • Mr. Abdullah Abbas Habib Al Shamlawi
  • Mr. Ahmed Ourfali
  • Dr. Georges Affaki
  • Dr. Adnan Amkhan
  • Judge Fady Elias
  • Dr. Fathi Kemicha
  • Dr. Karim A. Youssef
  • Dr. Mohamed Abdel Raouf
  • Dr. Mohamed S. Abdel Wahab
  • Dr. Maan Bou Saber
  • Judge Mouhib Maamari
  • Mr. Karim Nassif
  • Mr. Alec Emmerson
  • Mr. John Gaffney
  • Mr. Jonathan Sutcliffe
  • Mr. Reza Mohtashami KC

In addition, the Supreme Judicial Council provided the selection committee with the following list of judges approved as third members on Section One tribunals:

  • Judge Fatema Faisal Hubail Mansour (President at the Grand Civil Court)
  • Judge May Sami Husain Matar (President at the Grand Civil Court)
  • Judge Hamad Ahmed Mohammed Al Souaidy (President at the Grand Civil Court)
  • Judge Dr. Jawaher Adel Abdulrahman (President at the Grand Civil Court)
  • Judge Dr. Riyad Mohamed Ibrahim Siyadi (Vice-President at the Grand Civil Court)

The selection committee will continue to review and update the roster as needed.

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