U.S.-ARAB CHAMBER AND BAHRAIN EMBASSY
CO-HOST SESSION ON DISPUTE RESOLUTION
IN THE MIDDLE EAST CEO of Dispute Resolution Center Says
Arbitration Offers Purpose-Built Solutions That Are
"Fast, Fair, Predictable, Cost-Effective, and Convenient"
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) today co-hosted a roundtable discussion in Washington DC on "Managing Business Disputes in the Middle East." The breakfast event drew business representatives from a wide variety of U.S. companies and international law firms who heard remarks from James MacPherson, CEO of the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR-AAA).
David Hamod, President & CEO of the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce, noted, "Events like these help our member companies to position themselves for markets throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). We are grateful to the Embassy of Bahrain for hosting us today, and we appreciate the insights offered by the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution."
"All those doing business in the MENA region need to know their options when it comes to managing conflicts arising from contracts," noted MacPherson of the BCDR-AAA. "By inserting a dispute resolution clause into your contract, in which all parties agree to resolve disputes through mediation and/or arbitration, all parties are able to put in place a mechanism that will help them to more quickly and cost effectively resolve disputes. You and the other parties to the contract can select the applicable law, language and location of the process -- decisions that will have a major impact on the experience and ultimate satisfaction of the parties."
David Hamod, President & CEO of the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce, noted, "Events like these help our member companies to position themselves for markets throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). We are grateful to the Embassy of Bahrain for hosting us today, and we appreciate the insights offered by the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution."
"All those doing business in the MENA region need to know their options when it comes to managing conflicts arising from contracts," noted MacPherson of the BCDR-AAA. "By inserting a dispute resolution clause into your contract, in which all parties agree to resolve disputes through mediation and/or arbitration, all parties are able to put in place a mechanism that will help them to more quickly and cost effectively resolve disputes. You and the other parties to the contract can select the applicable law, language and location of the process -- decisions that will have a major impact on the experience and ultimate satisfaction of the parties."
MacPherson of the BCDR-AAA. "By inserting a dispute resolution clause into your contract, in which all parties agree to resolve disputes through mediation and/or arbitration, all parties are able to put in place a mechanism that will help them to more quickly and cost effectively resolve disputes. You and the other parties to the contract can select the applicable law, language and location of the process -- decisions that will have a major impact on the experience and ultimate satisfaction of the parties."
MacPherson continued, "With BCDR-AAA's unique Free Arbitration Zone option, parties can even hold their arbitrations in Bahrain and agree to opt out of the jurisdiction of the local Bahraini courts. Parties simply need to agree in writing that the applicable law is not the law of Bahrain and that the parties will not seek to have the award set-aside in the courts of Bahrain. The latter FAZ option is ideal for those doing business in the MENA region."
Established in 2009 in partnership with the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the world's largest provider of conflict management and dispute resolution services, the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution provides international, regional, and domestic commercial and governmental stakeholders with purpose-built solutions for rapid resolution of commercial disputes. Arbitration can be an effective means of settling commercial disputes outside of the traditional courtroom setting, providing a resolution method that allows a knowledgeable third party to review evidence and impose a legally binding verdict. Under arbitration, cases have an average solution time of 104 days from start to finish, and the average cost of arbitration is $22,000 less than more traditional methods of dispute resolution.
The BCDR-AAA was established with a goal of positioning the organization at the forefront of alternative dispute resolution service providers -- in the Middle East and globally -- and attracting commercial enterprises within the region by providing dispute resolution that the BCDR-AAA considers fast, fair, predictable, cost-effective, and convenient. MacPherson notes. "All our case management staff are bilingual (Arabic and English) and highly skilled conflict management professionals. Working out of our Manama offices, we can hold sessions in virtually any language in almost any country."
MacPherson continued, "With BCDR-AAA's unique Free Arbitration Zone option, parties can even hold their arbitrations in Bahrain and agree to opt out of the jurisdiction of the local Bahraini courts. Parties simply need to agree in writing that the applicable law is not the law of Bahrain and that the parties will not seek to have the award set-aside in the courts of Bahrain. The latter FAZ option is ideal for those doing business in the MENA region."
Established in 2009 in partnership with the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the world's largest provider of conflict management and dispute resolution services, the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution provides international, regional, and domestic commercial and governmental stakeholders with purpose-built solutions for rapid resolution of commercial disputes. Arbitration can be an effective means of settling commercial disputes outside of the traditional courtroom setting, providing a resolution method that allows a knowledgeable third party to review evidence and impose a legally binding verdict. Under arbitration, cases have an average solution time of 104 days from start to finish, and the average cost of arbitration is $22,000 less than more traditional methods of dispute resolution.
The BCDR-AAA was established with a goal of positioning the organization at the forefront of alternative dispute resolution service providers -- in the Middle East and globally -- and attracting commercial enterprises within the region by providing dispute resolution that the BCDR-AAA considers fast, fair, predictable, cost-effective, and convenient. MacPherson notes. "All our case management staff are bilingual (Arabic and English) and highly skilled conflict management professionals. Working out of our Manama offices, we can hold sessions in virtually any language in almost any country."
Her Excellency Houda Nonoo, Ambassador of Bahrain to the United States, highlighted Bahrain as a business hub and a logical headquarters for the AAA in the Middle East. "The United States and Bahrain share an important commercial relationship that spans many decades," she said. "As the first Gulf country to sign a free trade agreement with the United States, Bahrain is the ideal entry point for American investment into the Gulf Cooperation Council's $1 trillion market. The agreement also serves as an ideal platform for service sector cooperation -- which is exemplified by the BCDR's partnership with the American Arbitration Association."
Ambassador Nonoo concluded, "Events like these serve to deepen these partnerships at a time of great opportunity for both of our countries, and I would like to thank the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce for helping to make today's event possible."
Ambassador Nonoo concluded, "Events like these serve to deepen these partnerships at a time of great opportunity for both of our countries, and I would like to thank the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce for helping to make today's event possible."
