Robert Stephen joins arbitration centre as new registrar
The Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) announced the appointment of Robert Stephen as its new registrar. Stephen, who officially takes up his new role on July 3rd, 2023, has been a member of the Advisory Committee to the Board of Directors of DIAC since April 3rd, 2023.
Stephen is an internationally recognised arbitration expert and the former registrar of the DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Centre and Dubai Financial Services Authority’s Financial Markets Tribunal. Until recently, he was a partner and chief operating officer of UAE-based specialist arbitration boutique Ghaffari Partners, and he practiced with Herbert Smith Freehills in London, Paris, Moscow, and Dubai for more than a decade until May 2017.
Stephen commented on his appointment, “I am thrilled to be taking up this appointment and look forward to contributing to the further development of DIAC as it works towards being the ultimate global destination for dispute resolution. Users, party-counsel, and arbitrators are at the core of everything we do, and together with the new Arbitration Court and recently expanded Secretariat, I am certain that DIAC is now well positioned to provide a competitive level of service and face tomorrow’s challenges.”
Dr. Tariq Al Tayer, chairman of the Board of Directors, expressed his enthusiasm about Stephen’s appointment, “I am delighted to welcome Robert as our new Registrar. He is very experienced and has actively supported the Board of Directors and Centre in various capacities during what has been an unprecedented period of change. 2021 and 2022 were challenging years, and we can think of no better person to lead the Secretariat and work with the Arbitration Court to develop the practice of the Centre.”
The appointment of Robert Stephen comes as a part of DIAC’s recent efforts to strengthen its Secretariat. In April 2023, Christoffer Coello Hedberg, a former legal counsel at the SCC Arbitration Institute, joined DIAC as its first deputy registrar. The Secretariat now comprises one senior legal counsel and six experienced legal counsel, supported by a team of casework administrators and paralegals. In May 2023, the Centre announced the appointment of Jehad Abdulrazzaq Kazim, an experienced ADR professional and the first Emirati woman to lead DIAC, as the new executive director.
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Further, DIAC also announced the first in-person closed meeting of its recently reformed Arbitration Court. The meeting, which took place in Dubai on June 20, 2023, preceded a series of interactive discussions, activities, and an arbitration community breakfast and networking reception throughout the week. These steps are integral to the Centre’s dedication to robust communication and community engagement within the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) ecosystem.
Under the leadership of its president, Dr. Michael Pryles AO PBM, and vice president Erin Miller Rankin, the Arbitration Court, comprising 13 leading arbitration experts with a vast range of international arbitration expertise, has been working to streamline and improve the Centre’s casework practice and procedures following the relaunch of the Centre, Arbitration Rules, and the Arbitration Court in 2022.
This Court’s meeting and the concurrent activities served as powerful platforms for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and establishment of meaningful connections. Dr. Michael Pryles commented, “DIAC has embarked on an exciting new phase in its development. The aim is to enhance our status as the leading centre in the Middle East and to expand and become a first-class international centre. The Arbitration Court, which has members from 4 continents, aims to play its part. We will ensure that our case administration is efficient, responsive and world-class. With our expanded staff and recent appointments, we are confident of doing so.”
The collective expertise of the Court, together with a newly expanded Secretariat, now ensures the highest standards of oversight of proceedings conducted under the Rules.
Reflecting on the week’s events, DIAC board chairman, Dr. Tariq Humaid Al Tayer, stated, “This series of meetings and events emphasise DIAC’s commitment to its stakeholders’ engagement and excellence in the ADR field. It demonstrates our dedication to creating an environment encouraging knowledge exchange and collective growth. As we look to the future, our initiatives will continue to strive for service excellence, support the ADR community, and make significant contributions to the advancement of the ADR ecosystem.”
The next in-person meeting of the Arbitration Court is scheduled to take place in Dubai in the week commencing November 13, 2023, coinciding with Dubai Arbitration Week, which runs until November 17, 2023.
