Reimagining the Law 12 June 2020

1. London - premier centre for international dispute resolution?

London is a thriving hub for dispute resolution between parties from all over the world. Countries like Singapore have sought to emulate London through adopting a very co-ordinated approach. To maintain and enhance its position as a premier centre for international dispute resolution, should London adopt a more cohesive approach?
Paula Hodges QC

2. The virtual hearing-A shift away from the art of oral advocacy or a new skillset?

As the world embraces the "virtual hearing", are those advocates who are used to looking directly into the eyes of their Tribunal as they make their impassioned and theatrical submissions while scrabbling for marked pages in a bundle having to think again? Has the art of persuasion (and being persuaded) changed in the new environment?
Richard Bamforth

3. Reimagining dispute resolution in the trustless, e-commerce era

New approaches to dispute resolution are emerging, leveraging Blockchain, cryptography, ODR, game theory and mechanism design. These systems look to the willingness of peers to assess disputes that require an impartial, fair outcome. This new field is decentralized justice, reflecting the fact that decisions emanate from a network of randomly selected, lay peers.
Sophie Nappert

4. Legal Genius Bars

Adopting the Apple store model, rather than legal advice being provided in a formal hierarchical manner, lawyers should provide a concierge-style service where clients sit down side by side with them in an informal environment where together they work out solutions.
Philip Rodney

5. Embracing ESG principles

Are well meaning words to encourage early dispute resolution sufficient or a layer of opportunity for gamesmanship? Is it time for corporates to embrace ESG principles when it comes to dispute resolution and adopt policies/practices that require the early use of ADR? Should they be required by law?
Guy Pendell

6. Imagine all the people, living life in peace... Dream on!

However, let us imagine international arbitration actually conducted without unnecessary delay or expense, aided by efficiency enhancing technology, environmentally aware, with a diversity of arbitrators. Let us even imagine a utopian future in which AI can carry out early and reliable neutral evaluation of the merits so that settlement is reached and disputes do no escalate.
Audley Sheppard