Soft power – exporting the rule of law
Commercial opportunities
6.30pm, Wednesday 14th December 2022, Committee Room 1, House of Lords
An important meeting looking at influence the British legal system can and does have around the world. To illustrate this potential, Christopher Campbell-Holt, the Registrar and Chief Executive of the AIFC Court and International Arbitration Centre (AIC) will be the lead speaker at our meeting.
Established in 2018, the AIFC Court and IAC apply commercial laws from different jurisdictions and in multiple languages by consent of the parties to a dispute. The AIFC Court and IAC illustrate how English common law systems of justice increasingly play a significant “soft power” role as rule of law exports and assist frontier and emerging economies to become successful modern commercial centres. They have completed more than 1,400 commercial disputes via litigation, arbitration, and mediation.
Lord Woolf was the first Chief Justice of the AIFC Court. He was supported by nine senior English and Welsh judges including Lord Faulks KC, Sir Robin Jacob, Sir Rupert Jackson, Sir Jack Beatson, and Sir Stephen Richards. The current Chief Justice of the AIFC Court is Lord Mance, former Deputy President of the UK Supreme Court. Barbara Dohmann KC became the IAC Chairman and continues to be supported by an international panel of highly respected arbitrators and mediators.