Scottish Arbitration Centre nominated for GAR Award

The Scottish Arbitration Centre has been nominated for the Global Arbitration Review (GAR) Equal Representation in Arbitration (ERA) Pledge Award at the 2024 GAR Awards.

Held annually by leading arbitration news platform GAR, the awards recognise exceptional achievement by individuals or firms in a range of topics. The Centre was nominated by the ERA Pledge leadership for its launch of all-female initial panels of domestic and international arbitrators, in advance of moving to gender parity on the panels.

Lord Glennie, Chairman of the Board of the Centre, said: “I am delighted that the Centre has again been recognised by GAR and that our progressive approach has been endorsed by the ERA Pledge leadership. For the Centre to be repeatedly listed amongst nominees by GAR at its prestigious awards ceremony illustrates our prominent position within the international arbitration community. We continue to ensure Scotland and the Centre [have] a powerful voice on the international stage.”

The Centre launched its own arbitration rules in September 2022, becoming the first Scottish administrative body offering administrative services with support from the Centre’s Registrar, Duncan Bagshaw, and under the oversight of the Court of the Scottish Arbitration Centre.

In May 2023, the Centre launched an initial panel of invited arbitrators, both domestic and international. The initial domestic (Scotland) panel comprises Shona Frame, Janey Milligan, Susanne Tanner KC and Sheila Webster.

The initial international panel comprises Chiann Bao (Singapore/Hong Kong), Juliet Blanch (England & Wales), Philippa Charles (England & Wales/Republic of Ireland), Anne K Hoffmann (UAE/Germany), Ndanga Kamau (The Netherlands/Kenya), Professor Dr Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler (Switzerland), Lindy Patterson KC (England & Wales/Scotland), Lucy Reed (USA), Patricia Saiz (Spain), Melanie Van Leeuwen (France/The Netherlands), Carita Wallgren-Lindholm (Finland) and Galina Zukova (France/Latvia).

Andrew Mackenzie, CEO of the Centre, said: “In addition to our nomination for the GAR ERA Pledge Award, keynote speeches given at our new annual international arbitration event, the Edinburgh International Arbitration Festival (ArbFest2023), have also been nominated for GAR Awards. Keynote speakers Justin D’Agostino MH, Global CEO of Herbert Smith Freehill, and Carita Wallgren-Lindholm, independent arbitrator, have also been recognised by GAR, demonstrating the high-quality nature of ArbFest2023.”

The GAR Awards will be held in Paris on the 21st March 2024 during Paris Arbitration Week.