News from the Courts June 2016

Mark Beer

• The chief executive and senior registrar of the DIFC Courts, Mark Beer, OBE, was today named President-elect of the International Association for Court Administration (IACA), where he will work to raise the standards of justice systems worldwide. Mark, who will be the first person working in a Middle Eastern judiciary to hold the prestigious position, will combine the role of IACA President with his existing DIFC Courts duties.

Beer’s two-year tenure will begin in 2018 when he will seek to use his experience gained from the DIFC Courts to help raise global standards of court governance, management and operations, particularly in emerging judiciaries. As IACA President, he will drive forward a dynamic agenda focused on four key areas necessary to build and sustain world class judiciaries: technological innovation, judicial excellence and well-being, service standards and international connectivity.

“Whether dealing with criminal or civil matters, modern courts are environments where operational excellence is the expected standard. IACA was established to ensure this become the norm, not the exception, worldwide,” commented Mark Beer. “The selection of a Dubai-based court leader to be IACA President speaks volumes for the emirate’s status as a centre of legal excellence and for the DIFC Courts’ standing as one of the world’s leading commercial courts. The DIFC Courts have proven that an exceptionally efficient and effective judiciary can be built in a relatively short time by thinking big for big business and smart for SMEs. As IACA President, I look forward to sharing some of Dubai’s experience and to collaborating with our members to raise global standards of court administration.”

Headquartered in Virginia, USA, IACA brings together organisations and individuals from around the world who share a common interest in achieving excellence in judicial systems worldwide. Catherine Hiuser of the International Association for Court Administration said, “Under Mark’s management, the DIFC Courts have secured a reputation as one of the most efficient commercial courts in the world. Meanwhile, his tireless work to formalise relationship with the judicial systems of the UAE’s key trading partners has created one of the world’s most connected courts. The IACA board is delighted to welcome such a qualified and capable candidate as president elect of the organisation as it continues its mission to promote court excellence across the world. Beer will take over as President-elect from Vladimir Freitas from Brazil, who has become IACA’s President. As part of the DIFC Courts’ commitment to court excellence, HE Justice Ali Shamis Al Madhani will continue to serve as Chair of IACA’s Middle East Board, a role he has held since 2013.

Justice Cooke

Justice Steel

• The DIFC Courts has announced a major round of promotions and appointments that will contribute significantly to judicial excellence in Dubai. The changes, which cover both national and expatriate judges, have been made to further strengthen the DIFC Courts’ ability to handle the most complex transnational commercial disputes.

After five years of service, Justice Sir David Steel has been named as the new deputy chief justice of the DIFC Courts. A former judge-in-charge of the Commercial Court in the High Court of London, he has particular expertise in maritime law and the commercial, banking, insurance, oil and gas, and aerospace sectors. Deputy chief justice Steel replaces Justice Sir John Chadwick, who is stepping down upon reaching the statutory retirement age. Justice Chadwick, who served the DIFC Courts for eight distinguished years, will retire once his current roster of cases is complete.

Justice Chadwick’s place on the DIFC Courts’ bench will be filled by Justice Sir Jeremy Cooke, a former Judge in Charge of the Commercial Court in the High Court of London. A commercial litigation specialist, Justice Cooke began his legal career in 1971 and was appointed a High Court Judge in 2001.

In an associated move, two of the DIFC Courts’ Emirati judges have had their roles expanded to include broader functions both at home and abroad. H.E. Justice Omar Al Muhairi, who has completed 11 years with the organisation and is one of the committee members who established the DIFC Courts, has been promoted to Senior Resident Judge. In this new role, he will serve as the Chief Justice’s representative and spokeperson when liaising with UAE ministries and local government entities. Meanwhile, H.E. Justice Ali Al Madhani will become the principal ambassador for the DIFC Courts in matters related to Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Completing the round of organisational changes is the appointment of Ayesha Bin Kalban and Mahika Hart as full members of the Small Claim Tribunal (SCT), which typically hears cases less than AED500,000 in value. Trained lawyers, their appointments follow the completion of an immersion and familiarisation period with the SCT team.