International Arbitration in a Not So “Flat” World

Practical Considerations for Counsel and Their Clients

 

The Fifth Annual Conference of

The Atlanta International Arbitration Society

October 9-11, 2016

Atlanta, Georgia

 
A decade has passed since the publication of The World Is Flat:  A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century, by Thomas Friedman.  The title was a metaphor for viewing the world as a level-playing field, especially in business.  Friedman maintained that historical and geographical divisions are becoming increasingly irrelevant in a global market. Yet the backlash against trade agreements, the rise of politicians and political movements with anti-globalist agendas, and Brexit perhaps suggest a not-so-flat world.
This conference will explore both the “flattening” and centrifugal forces at work in international arbitration and their implications for practitioners, arbitral institutions, and businesses engaged in cross-border commerce.
Except as noted, all activities will take place at the Atlanta Center for International Arbitration and Mediation (ACIAM), 85 Park Place NE, Atlanta.
 
Sunday, October 9

• Opening Reception 
  5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
  Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta
  Plaza Room
  181 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta

Monday, October 10

• Continental Breakfast 
  7:30 – 8:45 a.m.

• Opening Remarks
  8:45 – 9:00 a.m. 
  Brian A. White, King & Spalding, Atlanta
  President, Atlanta International Arbitration Society

• Does Brexit break it? What Brexit means for dispute resolution in London and beyond
  9:00 – 10:30 a.m. 
  Moderator: John Parker, Coca-Cola European Partners, Atlanta 
  Robert B. Ahdieh, Emory University School of Law, Atlanta
  Charles Kaplan, Orrick, Paris
  Rashda Rana, 39 Essex Chambers, London and Singapore
  Klaus Reichert, Brick Court Chambers, London
  Christof Siefarth, Gӧrg, Cologne, Germany

• Networking Break 
  10:30 – 11:00 a.m.

• Rules convergence and “flattening” among leading arbitral institutions and venues: To what extent does the choice of institution and seat still matter?
  11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 
  Moderator: Charles “Chip” Brower, Wayne State University, Detroit 
  Lijun Cao, Zhong Lun, Beijing
  Philipp Habegger, Lalive, Zurich
  John Hinchey, JAMS, Atlanta
  Alejandro Ogarrio, Ogarrio Daguerre S.C., Mexico City
  Carita Wallgren-Lindholm, Lindholm Wallgren, Helsinki

• Lunch 
  12:30 – 2:00 p.m.

• Moving beyond the usual suspects: Diversity and inclusion (in all senses of the words) in arbitral appointments
  2:00 – 3:30 p.m. 
  Moderator: Shelby Guilbert, King & Spalding, Atlanta 
  Brent O. E. Clinkscale, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, Greenville
  Helena Erickson, International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR), New York
  Cecilia Flores Rueda, Basham, Ringe y Correa, Mexico City
  Joan Grafstein, JAMS, Atlanta
  Luis Martinez, International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), New York City

• Networking Break 
  3:30 – 4:00 p.m.

• Mediating international commercial disputes
  • Can we bridge differences in US and non-US approaches?
  • Multi-step dispute resolution clauses in international business contracts: Stairway to Heaven … or Highway to Hell?
    

  4:00 – 5:00 p.m. 
  Moderator: Valerie Sanders, Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, Atlanta 
  Robert S. Glenn, Jr., Glenn Dispute Resolution, Savannah
  Mônica Mendonça Costa, Tozzini Freire, São Paulo
  Mark Morril, Morril ADR, New York City
  Hernando Otero, American University, Washington D.C.

• Ethics in international arbitration: How far can or should soft law guidance go in flattening the playing field between counsels from different jurisdictions?
  5:00 – 6:00 p.m. 
  Moderator: Stephen Wright, Taylor English, Atlanta 
  Alexandra Dosman, New York International Arbitration Center, New York City
  Manuel Gomez, Florida International University, Miami
  Alvin F. Lindsay, Hogan Lovells, Miami
  James Morrison, Allens Linklaters, Sydney

• Reception and Dinner
  6:30 – 9:30 p.m. 
  Derreck Kayongo, CEO, National Center for Civil and Human Rights 
  National Center for Civil and Human Rights 
  100 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW, Atlanta
  The National Center for Civil and Human Rights (NCCHR) in downtown Atlanta is an engaging cultural attraction that connects the American civil rights movement to contemporary human rights movements around the world. As described in Afar magazine, “The Center for Civil and Human Rights is the newest addition to the Centennial Olympic Park tourism corridor, but it is much more than a museum. While there is certainly an emphasis on the Civil Rights Movement, mostly due to the center’s Atlanta location, the center also has exhibits on what’s going on in the modern age. The 42,000 square foot facility features artifacts belonging to Martin Luther King, Jr. and multimedia clips on rights abuses of other groups like the LGBTQ, female, immigrant and handicapped populations. Set aside at least two hours to wander.”
  Transportation to the NCCHR will be provided from the conference following the last session on Monday, and from the NCCHR to the Ritz-Carlton and to the T-Deck parking following the dinner reception. If attending the conference dinner at NCCHR individually, directions to the NCCHR can be found at https://www.civilandhumanrights.org/directions-and-parking.

Tuesday, October 11

• Continental Breakfast 
  7:30 – 8:45 a.m.

• The backlash against TPP, TTIP and other manifestations of a flat world: Implications for international arbitration
  9:00 – 10:30 a.m. 
  Moderator: Glenn P. Hendrix, Arnall Golden Gregory, Atlanta 
  Andrea Carlevaris, ICC International Court of Arbitration, Paris
  Horacio Grigera Naón, American University, Washington D.C.
  Peter “Bo” Rutledge, University of Georgia School of Law, Athens
  Thomas R. Snider, Greenberg Traurig, Washington D.C.
  Shana Tabak, Georgia State University, Atlanta

• Networking Break
  10:30 – 11:00 a.m.

• The rise of third-party funding: Flattening the playing field between haves and have-nots? 
  11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 
  Moderator: John Watkins, Thompson Hine, Atlanta 
  Carlos Forbes, Center for Arbitration and Mediation of the Chamber of Commerce Brazil-Canada (CAM/CCBC); Mundie Advogados, São Paulo
  Andrea Menaker, White & Case, Washington D.C.
  Eloise Obadia, Derains & Gharavi, Washington D.C.
  Lawrence S. Schaner, Jenner & Block, Chicago
  Tim Scrantom, Scrantom Dulles International, Washington, D.C.

• Lunch
  12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

• Uncommon law? An exploration of differing advocacy styles in common law jurisdictions, and how common lawyers adapt those styles with civil law arbitrators
  1:30 – 3:30 p.m. 
  Moderator: Randall Allen, Alston & Bird, Atlanta 
  Tina Cicchetti, Fasken Martineau, Vancouver
  Edward W. Fashole-Luke II, Luke & Associates, Gaborone, Botswana
  Caline Mouawad, King & Spalding, New York City
  Philip Ray, Phil Ray International Dispute Resolution, Erlangen, Germany
  Richard Samuel, 3 Hare Court, London
  Jun Wang, Capital Alliance ADR Advisory Services, Hong Kong

• Networking Break 
  3:30 – 4:00 p.m.

• Roundtable: Recent Developments in International Arbitration 
  4:00 – 5:30 p.m. 
  Moderator: Randall F. Hafer, Kilpatrick Townsend, Atlanta 
  Sonny Jester, Gleeds, Atlanta – Construction/Infrastructure Development
  Eric D. Johnson, CARE, Atlanta – Global Non-Profits
  Edward Marshall, Arnall Golden Gregory, Atlanta – Fintech/Payment Processing
  Kirk W. Watkins, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, Atlanta – Software/IT

• Closing Remarks 
  5:30 p.m.

 
Registration and Accommodations
Registration
Registration includes the Sunday evening opening reception, Monday and Tuesday luncheons, the Monday night welcome reception and dinner at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, all sessions and all Georgia CLE registrations.

• Regular Registration: $540 on or before October 4, 2016; $590 after.
• Full-time Academic/Full-time Judges/In-house Counsel Registration: $245 on or before October 4, 2016; $285 after.
• Registration fees are waived for speakers traveling to the conference from outside the United States. All other speakers are expected to register.
• Student Registration: $90 (inclusive of all conference materials, panels, breakfast, networking breaks and luncheons ONLY; exclusive of the Sunday welcome reception and Monday reception and dinner)
• Accompanying Guest Registration: $195 (inclusive of Sunday welcome reception and Monday night reception and dinner ONLY)

You can register here:
Button [divider_padding]
Refund Policy
Cancellations must be in writing and received by AtlAS by September 16, 2016 for a full refund less a $100 administration fee. No refund of registration will be granted after that date except in the case of medical emergency or extenuating circumstances approved by AtlAS at its sole discretion.
Accommodations
A block of rooms is being held at the Ritz Carlton – Downtown at a special rate of $219 per night for October 9 and 10, for conference guests.
Reservations may be made online at http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/georgia/atlanta using the group code ACMACMA. Alternatively, reservations can be made by calling 1-800-241-3333 and referencing AtlAS Conference 2016 at The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta along with the dates of stay.
Please note that the room block expires on September 16, 2016.
The conference room block Ritz Carlton has expired, but guests are invited to utilize the Atlanta Center for International Arbitration and Mediation’s rate of $254 per night, pending availability. Reservations can be made by calling +1 800-570-1382 and referencing the “AtlAS Rate” and specifying the downtown Atlanta property.
Travel and Visas
A visa may be necessary for entry into the United States from many countries. Further information can be obtained from the United States Department of State at www.travel.state.gov or through a commercial visa service.