ICC takes home three awards for arbitration accomplishments

The ICC International Court of Arbitration and individual members of its leadership received recognition for contributions made to the development of international arbitration, including the launch of ICC’s new Rules of Arbitration, which came into effect in January, and other enhancements to ICC Arbitration practice. ICC took the prize for “sustained contribution to best practice in international arbitration” – which GAR’s general editor compared to a lifetime achievement award for an organization –while ICC’s new Rules of Arbitration received the award for “best development of 2011”. Peter Wolrich, Chairman of the ICC Commission on Arbitration, and Jason Fry, Secretary General of the Court, collected the awards on behalf of ICC. John Beechey, Court President, and Mr Fry also picked up a joint award for innovation by an individual (arbitrator, counsel or ‘other’). Initiatives, for which they were nominated, included the statement of availability for arbitrators, securing new premises for ICC in Paris, recently announced plans to open an office of the Court in New York and closer policing when awards are delivered. However, Mr Fry stressed that the advances made by the Court had been “very much the collective effort of a number of different contributors.” “I am pleased that the international arbitration community has given recognition to ICC for its contribution to a number of initiatives intended to improve not only ICC Arbitration but international arbitration practice more generally,” he said. Amendments to the ICC Arbitration procedure, including emergency arbitrator and new rules on joinder arbitration, took second place in the innovation by an organization or institution category. The GAR awards recognized achievements in 11 categories, plus a lifetime achievement award. For more information on its services visit the ICC International Court of Arbitration.