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LIVESTREAM COVID-19 and digitalisation of dispute resolution

3 September 2020
4.30pm – 6.00pm AEST
Online event
This event has ended

The Herbert Smith Freehills China International Business and Economic Law (CIBEL) Centre invites you to attend the 2020 CIBEL Global Network Conference virtual panel sessions. The conference is dedicated to research on the urging issues in the international business and economic law field with the theme of “COVID-19 and international economic law: China and a changing world”.

The topic of this session is “COVID-19 and digitalisation of dispute resolution” and will be led by CIBEL member Associate Professor Kun Fan. This 90-minute online session will be live-streamed and open to registered audiences. The session will be made up of presentations and Q&As. Audiences will be able to ask questions.

Registration is free of charge but is essential. An online link will be sent separately on the morning of the event, so please double check your email address when register.

Abstract 

In addition to the serious implications for people’s health and public healthcare services, the COVID-19 pandemic also imposes challenges for the administration of justice.

The current crisis may lead to more demand for mediation, conciliation and other amicable methods of dispute resolution, the mixed mode dispute resolution, and online mediation. What roles do public and private stakeholders play towards promoting the wider acceptance of online mediation initiatives around the world? 

The COVID-19 pandemic is also exerting greater pressure for the arbitration community to find innovative ways to incorporate greater use of technology, through more use of online dispute resolution (ODR) or virtual hearings. How to best mitigate the effects of any impediments while ensuring the fairness and efficiency of arbitral proceedings? How do major arbitration institutions and arbitration practitioners react to the pandemic? 

Courts around the world are also adapting to find “remote” alternatives to traditional hearings to ensure ongoing access to justice. The Chinese internet courts and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts are at the frontlines of the use of technology in court services, with increasing adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, DLT, blockchain and smart contracts in case management and adjudication processes. What can be learned from the experience of Chinese internet courts and DIFC Courts?  What will the most effective ODR process look like in the future?

Associate Professor Kun Fan’s recent opinion piece “The Impact of COVID-19 on the Administration of Justice” at KluwerArbitrationBlog sets out the background for this panel discussion.

Associate Professor Kun Fan will lead a panel of eminent dispute resolution academics and practitioners around the world to discuss these issues mentioned above and their regional and global implications. Speaker bios and event agenda will be posted on the CIBEL website one week prior to the event.

Register here