About Us
Aims and Objectives
Arbitration is a constantly evolving and dynamic dispute resolution mechanism. This is true for both domestic and international arbitration. It is influenced by commercial and business interests rather than by national, legal and political factors. International arbitration has a discrete character; interacting with national law where necessary and yet operating on a different plane where the will of the parties, rules of non-national institutions, and international practice control the process. The essential ingredients in international arbitration are based on comparative and private international law. This necessitates a breadth of vision and comprehension beyond the normal confines of national and commercial law and the attitudes and procedures in national courts.
The School of International Arbitration (SIA) has two main aims.
- The first is to participate in the academic exercise of studying the problems of arbitration and identifying and devising mechanisms for overcoming these difficulties. Many academic lawyers who have become involved with arbitration have as their main subject of expertise some other area of the law, e.g. commercial law, public or private international law, comparative law or civil procedure law. It is the aim of the School to contribute to the development of arbitration as a science in itself rather than as a sub-speciality.
- The second, and equally important aim, is to provide an educational basis for a future generation of lawyers involved with international arbitration. Frequently lawyers become involved with international arbitration, whether as counsel or as arbitrator, with little or no knowledge or understanding of this specialist area of practice. Often there are difficulties understanding and appreciating the different characteristics of the international arbitration process and the flexibility needed from the international lawyer. These requirements are sometimes lacking in the ability and attitude of those involved in arbitration. This makes the system less effective for the requirements of the parties, less efficient, more expensive, slower and not as effective as the parties and international business requires.
SIA exists within the School of Law and the Centre for Commercial Law Studies at Queen Mary, University of London. As with any academic institution, the School's aim is to teach and train future professionals. Although in large part funded from private resources, the School is required, and is proud, to maintain the standards of Queen Mary and the University of London in the courses and other programmes it offers, in the research undertaken and in the academic standards for admission of students to its courses and in all its activities.
History
- Creation
The School of International Arbitration was established in 1985 to promote advanced teaching and research in the law and practice affecting international arbitration.
To mark the establishment of the School, the Centre for Commercial Law Studies organised a major three-day conference on international arbitration in March 1985. Many of the leading authorities and experts on international arbitration attended and participated in the conference. The papers delivered have since been published in the book, Contemporary Problems in International Commercial Arbitration. This is generally considered still to be a particularly valuable contribution to the writings on international arbitration.
Almost all those who attended the inaugural conference supported the aims of the School and have continued to support and follow its development.
- New location and celebration of 20th Anniversary
As of 30 June 2003 the School moved from its original location in Mile End, to the heart of the City of London, in Charterhouse Square and then in June 2007 to its current location in 67-69 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3JB. The traditional proximity of the School to the legal and financial professions is now also a physical one.
The School celebrated its 20 th anniversary with a major international conference exploring Pervasive Problems of International Arbitration. The papers of the main conference delivered have been published here.
- General activities
The School is widely acknowledged as the leading academic research centre on international arbitration in Europe and world-wide. It maintains a bibliography and legislation database on arbitration and works closely with many major arbitration institutions and all international organisations working in the area of arbitration.
Research focuses on wide area of topical issues in international arbitration and spans online arbitration to the delocalisation of arbitration; the use of transnational rules and lex mercatoria for the settlement of disputes; the emergence of a harmonised international arbitration procedure; and regional systems of international arbitration. Research and courses also covers ADR, in particular, business mediation and ADR in oil and energy disputes.
The School also offers consulting services and advice to governments and non-governmental agencies which wish to develop a non-judicial settlement of dispute mechanism as well as training for lawyers in private practice, in-house lawyers, judges, arbitrators and mediators.
The School of International Arbitration is a continually developing academic entity. In addition its academic members , the School relies on the support of visiting fellows , mostly practitioners with expertise in international arbitration for teaching and supporting research activities. The School is already contributing in different ways to the science of arbitration and over time it will make an even greater contribution and impact.
The School has developed strategic partnerships to assist in the development of study and quality of arbitration all over the world. These partnerships will allow the School to offer programmes in Northern America, South East Asia and Africa.