Events & Webinars

The Court participated in the fourth full meeting of the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts (SIFoCC), hosted by the Federal and State judiciaries of Australia, in Sydney from October 20 to October 21, 2022. The Qatar International Court contributed to the preparation of a Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed by the forum members at this year’s gathering. At the conclusion of the event, Qatar was announced as the host of the next full meeting of the SIFoCC.

The International Court of Arbitration for Sport announced the establishment of a new Ad Hoc Division, which will be dedicated to resolving disputes directly or indirectly linked to sports. This new Division will provide a quick and efficient way to settle disputes related to the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games and will ensure that all participants are treated fairly. QICDRC hosted a seminar with distinguished guest speakers to discuss the role of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in relation to sports arbitration and the implications of the new Ad Hoc Division.

The QICDRC was pleased to welcome Steven Mnuchin, who served as the United States’ 77th Secretary of the Treasury, during his visit to Qatar. During his meeting with QICDRC CEO, Faisal Al Sahouti, Mnuchin was briefed on the Court’s case management mechanisms, the nature of the work of the eCourt, and operations in light of ongoing precautionary measures against COVID-19.

In January, the QICDRC, together with McNair Chambers LLC and the Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA), hosted a joint webinar to review practical insights and guidance on online hearings, which have been on the uptick since the outbreak of the pandemic. Keynote speaker British barrister and international lawyer, Professor Khawar Qureshi QC, shared his extensive experience in digital court and international arbitration hearings.

The QICDRC hosted the inaugural virtual meeting of its newly established Court Users Committee, which comprises representatives of the QICDRC, the various Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) institutions, as well as several lawyers from different local and international law firms in Qatar. Various key issues relating to the services provided by the QICDRC were discussed to ensure the needs of the local and international community are met in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

The second annual ‘A Year in Review: The Legislative and Judicial Developments in 2020’ event was held in January 2021 and looked back at the most significant legislative and judicial developments of the past year. Speakers covered topics such as labour reforms, the new Public Private Partnership Law, and the QICDRC Mediation Rules, among others.

In February, the Court hosted the 6th Annual International Arbitration Virtual Summit. Presented by Legal Plus, the conference drew attendance from international and local experts, who shared their expertise on key topics in Qatari and international arbitration. From ‘Options for International Arbitration’ to ‘The Role of Expert Witnesses in Construction & Engineering Disputes’, discussion points touched on business concerns that are increasingly relevant within the current global climate.

The QICDRC, in collaboration with Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), hosted a webinar on the resolution of administrative and regulatory disputes in the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) and other free financial zones. Participants learned about international commercial courts as institutional innovations in transnational adjudication aimed at resolving private and commercial law disputes.

In partnership with Hamad bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) College of Law, QICDRC hosted an online webinar on ‘Resolving Disputes through Mediation’. A panel of distinguished speakers critically examined the extent to which mediation serves act as a viable form of alternative dispute resolution across a wide range of key areas. In particular, the panel looked at the advantages mediation offers over litigation and arbitration, looking at a potential increase in mediation services during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the qualities required of a successful mediator.

The QICDRC, in cooperation with SOAS University of London, delivered an interactive webinar session on alternative dispute resolution in Islamic and Middle Eastern Law in April. Moderated by Dr. Jonathan Ercanbrack, Chair of the Centre of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law and Senior Lecturer in Transnational Financial Law at SOAS, the webinar introduced legal professionals to practical insights into arbitration practices in Qatar and Turkey, offering an in-depth look at latest arbitration trends and challenges in the region.