Ciarb Qatar & Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Branch promotes mediation as an alternative mechanism for the resolution of commercial disputes

By Vanessa Malaluan FCIArb

Qatar was one of the first three countries (alongside Fiji and Singapore) to ratify the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation (also known as the “Singapore Convention on Mediation”), which came into force on 12 September 2020.

Following that ratification, Ciarb Qatar & QFC Branch’s continued commitment to support and promote alternative dispute resolution (ADR) was in evidence once again on 20 February 2023 with its event, “Mediation for Business: A Pragmatic Means to Resolve Disputes”.

The event took place in Doha, led by Ciarb Qatar & QFC Branch Chair Dr. Nasser Al-Adba (Managing Partner at Omani & Partners LLP and Assistant Professor at Qatar University).

The day’s proceedings formally opened with an introductory message from Saad Hegazy FCIArb (Ciarb Qatar & QFC Branch Vice Chair and Partner of Resolve International), explaining the Ciarb Mediation Rules, followed by Dr. Al-Adba’s opening remarks relating to the use of mediation in settling commercial disputes, including the enforcement of settlement agreements across borders.

Event highlights included the presentation from Wolf Von Kumberg FCIArb (Independent Arbitrator & Mediator, Global Resolution Services, Member Arbitra). Mr. Von Kumberg discussed how mediation works for business, including the processes involved, from preparing a pre-mediation agreement to enforcing a settlement agreement between the parties. This was followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion and Q&A session with Mr. Von Kumberg and Dr. Susan L. Karamanian (Dean of HBKU College of Law), moderated by Mr. Umar Malak Azmeh (Registrar of QICDRC).

Ciarb Qatar & QFC Branch’s event was graced by the presence of HE Sheikh Dr. Thani bin Ali Al Thani (QICCA Board Member), Sultan Al Abdulla (Founder and Managing Partner of Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partner), Ahmed Ali Al-Ansari (former Chair of Ciarb Qatar & QFC Branch), Noora Al-Mannai (Second Legal Researcher at Qatar Ministry of Justice), Ciarb members and supporters, industry professionals, and decision-makers in the jurisdiction.

With thanks to the following Ciarb members:

• Dr. Nasser Al-Adba - Ciarb Qatar & QFC Branch Chair and Managing Partner at Omani & Partners LLP and Assistant Professor at Qatar University
• Saad Hegazy B.Eng MSc LLM MRICS, MAE FCIArb - Ciarb Qatar & QFC Branch Vice Chair and Partner at Resolve International
• Nurul Sabri FCIArb - Ciarb Qatar & QFC Branch Committee Member and Associate Director at HKA
• Vanessa Malaluan BSCE, LLM, FCIArb, FPIArb, PMP, PMI-RMP, AssocRICS - Ciarb Qatar & QFC Branch Committee Member and Senior Consultant at Rathmore Consulting