As we look back on 2024, we are proud of our many milestones achieved - each reinforcing our commitment to arbitration excellence. Here are some of the highlights:
In March, we successfully launched the Supplementary Rules for the Third-Party Notices, a significant breakthrough, as the DIS became the first arbitral institution to address this crucial procedural requirement. This milestone underscores our dedication to innovation and to responding to the needs of arbitration users.
Our Spring Conference in Hamburg, titled “Protection of the Procedural Integrity of Arbitration Proceedings”, attracted over 330 participants, creating an engaging platform to explore this critical topic.
Together with Verlag C.H. BECK we organised the 20th Petersberg Arbitration Days on the subject of "Arbitration in times of war and crisis,“ where attendees considered such issues as the role of sanctions in arbitration proceedings.
The Berlin Dispute Resolution Days proved again to be a resounding success, with 37 side events. The highlight was the DIS Autumn Conference, which brought together over 400 leading arbitration practitioners and experts from 30 countries. The conference focused on innovation in arbitration including key issues such as efficiency, diversity, AI, disclosure, and confidentiality. All events further cemented DIS's role in fostering a truly global arbitration community.
During the Berlin Dispute Resolution Days, we were pleased to formalise cooperation agreements with the Club Español e Iberoamericano del Arbitraje (CEIA), the International Arbitration Center of Madrid (CIAM), and the Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA). These agreements represent a significant step toward strengthening international collaboration in arbitration and dispute resolution. Finally, we strengthened our collaboration with the Federal Association of In-house Counsels in Germany (BUJ) and held a joint meeting with the BUJ Dispute Resolution working group.
In November, at the successful FDI Moot Conference organised by the DIS, we promoted international dialogue and further increased the visibility of the DIS in global arbitration.
We also launched several exciting initiatives this year. Our new DIS Industry Group Technology provides a forum for in-house counsel and arbitration practitioners from high-tech industries to discuss the resolution of technology disputes.
Meanwhile, the introduction of the German Arbitration Digest (GAD) has made decisions from Germany's highest courts available in English, showcasing Germany as an arbitration venue and supporting the global arbitration community. Additionally, we were proud to conclude a CLOUT Partnership with the UNCITRAL Secretariat in July, further contributing to the Case Law on UNCITRAL Texts database.
Regionally, we kicked off vibrant DIS Regional Groups in the Rhine/Ruhr region, as well as the cities of Munich, Berlin, Stuttgart, and Frankfurt am Main. All have already become hubs of engagement and collaboration.
Internationally, our efforts to raise the profile of DIS took us to key events worldwide, including Singapore, Beijing, Belgrade, Liechtenstein, New York, Paris, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Tokyo, Tallinn, Vaduz, Vienna, and the ICCA Congress in Hong Kong. Each of these events has strengthened our connections with the global arbitration community.
Closer to home, the historic villa in Bonn-Bad Godesberg became a lively venue for a variety of events, from training sessions and retreats to networking opportunities. Highlights included a meeting of the round table on mediation and conflict management (RTKM), the DIS Carnival Party in February and the DIS Summer Party in July, which was warmly received, as well as the first DIS Pre-Moot Bonn.
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all of you – our members, colleagues, and friends for their invaluable contributions and participation in our initiatives and activities. We look forward to working with you in 2025!
Ramona Schardt, Thomas Klich, Daniel Gerl