On 15 November Clyde & Co hosted a lunchtime talk with Jacomijn van Haersolte-van Hof, Director General of the LCIA as part of the Dubai Arbitration Week 2016. The event attracted local and international practitioners, counsel, experts, arbitrators and representatives from different institutions.

Diversity improves quality to the process

Jacomijn provided her thoughts and insight on the important topic of diversity in international arbitration, which is also the theme of the Dubai Arbitration Week 2016. She highlighted that it is widely discussed that there is need for greater diversity in international arbitration due to the current small pool of arbitrators dominating the field, but acknowledging the importance of diversity is only the first step. Diversity in international arbitration is essential to the longevity and legitimacy of the arbitral process. Diversity also improves quality to the process by providing alternative perspectives and experiences which lead to better decision making.

Jacomijn said that, whilst all types of diversity are important, such as age, nationality and disability, improving gender diversity is an obvious starting point because, amongst other reasons, 50% of the world's population is female.

A unique pledge to improve gender diversity

In relation to what the arbitration community can do to improve gender diversity, Jacomijn highlighted a unique pledge which she has championed, dealing with the under-representation of women on international arbitral tribunals (the Pledge).

The Pledge sets out to increase, on an equal opportunity basis, the number of women appointed as arbitrators in order to achieve a fair representation as soon as practically possible, with the ultimate goal of full parity. It originated in recognition of the under-representation of women on international arbitral tribunals, and in 2015 members of the arbitration community committed to taking action.

At the event, an original of the Diversity Pledge was signed by Mohamed El Ghatit, Director and Registrar for the DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Centre, and another by Jacomijn in her capacity as a trustee and Alec Emmerson, as a trustee and Chief Executive of DIFC Arbitration Institute.

"Diverse diversity in international arbitration"

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