Friends and colleagues gathered at the Pavillon Gabriel here today to honour Dr Robert Briner, who is shortly to step down as Chairman of the ICC International Court of Arbitration.
Dr Briner was presented with a "Liber Amicorum" (Book of Friends), consisting of 65 articles on topics of special interest to him by members of the ICC Court and its Secretariat and others who knew him during a varied career.
The contributions to the book, entitled Global Reflections on International Law, Commerce and Dispute Resolution, have been written by international experts from more than 20 countries. Some of the articles are by colleagues who knew Dr Briner as a practising lawyer and arbitrator, or as President of the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal in The Hague from 1989-1991 and Chairman of its Chamber Two from 1985-1991. Subjects chosen relate chiefly, although not exclusively, to arbitration and dispute resolution.
Introducing the ceremony, ICC Secretary General Guy Sebban said Dr Briner had been a key figure in the International Chamber of Commerce as a whole. "He has participated in the meetings of the Executive Board, the ICC World Council, and the Finance Committee and is on the Council of the Institute of World Business Law.
"He has been an untiring ambassador for ICC arbitration and ICC's other dispute resolution services, undertaking vast travel schedules that would leave most people exhausted and daunted," Mr Sebban said.
Four of the five editors of the book spoke at the event. Anne Marie Whitesell, Secretary General of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, reflected on Dr Briner and his time at the ICC Court, while Karl-Heinz Böckstiegel, arbitrator and former President of the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal, remembered his years at The Hague. Gerald Aksen, arbitrator and former Vice-Chairman of the ICC Court, and Lord Mustill, QC, arbitrator and Vice-Chairman of the Court, gave a glimpse into Global Reflections. Dr Briner was presented with a specially bound copy of the book, before delivering his closing remarks.
The Liber Amicorum in honour of Dr Briner is an important reference resource providing authoritative answers to topical questions, as well as a stimulating compendium of personal thoughts reflecting the varied and extensive experience of the authors.
Several of the essays are written from the perspective of comparative law. There are also country- and regional-specific studies covering, amongst others, Brazil, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, USA, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, and Latin America.
The 65 essays in Global Reflections cover a diversity of subjects, among them:
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arbitration case management
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provisional timetable in international arbitration
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discovery of documents
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arbitral jurisdiction
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legal privileges in international arbitration
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competing orders between courts and arbitral tribunals
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investment arbitration
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conflicts of interest
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arbitration costs
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online dispute resolution
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international security
Global Reflections can be ordered from
www.iccbooks.com