Counsel, Linklaters
After having been hosted in Brussels by CEPANI40 in 2022, this year’s conference of the Co-Chairs’ Circle (or CCC; the organisation of young arbitration associations) was hosted by DIS40 in Frankfurt am Main.
The event started with a welcome reception on Thursday 16 May 2024. The keynote speaker was Maxi Scherer, who serves as Special Counsel at WilmerHale in London, professor at the Queen Mary University, and Vice President of the LCIA Court. She introduced the main theme of the conference, the future of arbitration, from the use of new technology and AI to gender diversity to the future of ISDS. Maxi served as co-chair of DIS40 when the organisation hosted the first edition of the CCC Conference.
The main event took place the following day, on Friday 17 May 2024. After an early bird running for the bravest ones, the event started by welcome remarks by the DIS40 Co-Chairs and CCC24 co-organisers, and the DIS Secretary General, Ramona Schardt, then followed by a panel discussion on “Future-proofing of national arbitration laws”. The panel, moderated by Ana Coimbra Trigo (PLMJ Advogados, Lisbon), included Perenami Momodu (Gateley legal, Lagos, Andrea Roth (Wart mann Merker, Zurich), and Glenn Baumgarten (Deutsche Telekom AG, Bonn).
In line with the CCC conference’s tradition to allow for interactive discussions, two rounds of engaging workshops followed, focusing on various challenges and innovations within the realm of international arbitration. The first topic addressed whether AI would enhance or make obsolete tasks such as fact-finding, legal assessments, and quantum analysis. The second was how to tackle challenges of interdisciplinary collaboration in international arbitration, identifying strategies to streamline and enhance these cooperative efforts. The third workshop delved into the potential contributions of international arbitration to mitigating the climate crisis, emphasizing the sector's role in environmental sustainability. Following this, discussions on how diversity can influence the future of arbitrator appointments were conducted, examining how varied perspectives can enrich decision-making processes. The fifth topic considered the types of disputes likely to arise in the future, preparing attendees for evolving legal landscapes. Efficient handling of increasingly complex disputes was the focus of the sixth workshop, aimed at optimizing dispute resolution techniques as complexities grow. The seventh session provided insights into the essential skills and attributes required for future arbitration practitioners. Workshop eight transitioned to strategies for transitioning from local counsel to lead counsel in disputes involving the Global South, highlighting growth paths and leadership in diverse legal environments. The ninth workshop offered guidance on securing first appointments and building a personal brand for those aiming to become future arbitrators. Finally, the tenth and last session addressed the ever-important issue of achieving a balanced arbitration-life, discussing strategies to maintain well-being while pursuing a demanding career in arbitration.
These topics collectively provided a comprehensive overview and practical guidance on the future directions and current best practices within the field of international arbitration.
Concluding the day, a dinner and party event was held at the Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum, featuring a keynote response to Maxi Scherer by Pedro Arcoverde, Senior Legal Counsel at Airbus in Paris.
The activities continued on Saturday 18 May 2024, starting with a CCC co-chairs breakfast, to discuss upcoming projects. It was confirmed that the 6th CCC conference, will be hosted in 2026 in Zurich by ASA40.
The event concluded with a closing lunch and wine tasting at Weingut Schloss-Vollrads.
