On Thursday 27 November 2014, an international arbitration event was held in the conference rooms of CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati, which attracted a large number of arbitration specialists from Europe and Africa.
In cooperation with British law firm Addleshaw Goddard, CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati organised an international arbitration symposium which took the form of a "round table discussion" with participants from large international law firms.
Introductory speeches kicked off the event, which focussed primarily on exchanging experiences at the highest level. Subjects included, among others, the voidability and enforcement of international arbitration awards in different jurisdictions, cost issues and the different ways in which international practitioners prepare and coach witnesses. The pros and cons of individual places of arbitration were also discussed. Furthermore, the adapted Vienna Rules (VIAC Rules) and the special advantages these rules offer were also presented to interested participants.
"We're extremely pleased that Vienna is so well-established as a place of international arbitration and that this is also corroborated by strong attendance at symposiums", said CHSH organiser Hon.-Prof. Dr. Irene Welser. Simon Kamstra, Head of International Arbitration at Addleshaw Goddard, emphasised in particular that the symposium was characterised by a climate of openness conducive to discussions and that the contributions were well-focussed.