The Annual Master’s Lecture is a prestigeous event in the Arbitrators’ calendar attracting prominent speakers from both the arbitration and legal professions. It provides an excellent opportunity for members and their guests to get together, listen to stimulating talks and exchange their own views about the subject under discussion.
Annual Master’s Lecture
The Master’s Lecture 2022
The Annual Master’s Lecture was held on 30 March 2022 when the Master of the Rolls, the Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Vos delivered the Lecture about mediation.
Sir Geoffrey is the President of the Civil Division of the Civil Justice System.
He touched on voluntary as against mandatory use of mediation in disputes brought before the Courts. Noting that there had been a review that mandatory mediation did not restrict the citizen’s civil liberties, he set out an ambitious vision for the civil justice system.
Given the range of matters that come before the Courts it was planned that there would be different routes for a litigant to follow which would be defined but at first instance this might be by area of law and the size of the dispute.
The way forward would focus on resolution. AI (Artificial Intelligence) will be engaged to identify the best techniques to advance that resolution be it mediation, neutral evaluation a court hearing or early intervention.
It will soon be mandatory in civil dispute for disputes with a value of less than £500 to be subject to mandatory mediation. The mediators are expected to be employees of the Court Service who will telephone the parties.
Research continues to best identify the way forward in respect of ADR resolution, ADR resolution integrated with the Courts, taking account of European best practice and maps for models for consumer disputes to name but a few.
This note is a short summary of a wide-ranging examination of the future for civil litigation incorporating mediation, as explored by Sir Geoffrey.
The Company is grateful to Rathbones Investment Managers for their sponsorship of the event.
2018
What are the Proper Limits to the Immunity of Arbitrators?
The Rt. Hon. Lord Dyson
The lecture took place on 13th March 2018 and was hosted by Simmons & Simmons in London.
Lord Dyson was Master of the Rolls until he retired in 2016 to practise as arbitrator and mediator. He had previously been a Justice of the Supreme Court and before that a Lord Justice of Appeal, and previously a judge of the High Court.
2017
Arbitration – Elastic or Arthritic
Peter Rees QC
Download the lecture notes
2016
Family Law Arbitration: A Better Route to Justice
Sir Hugh Bennett
Download the lecture notes
2015
The Current position of the LCIA in the world of international arbitration and her plans for the future
Dr Jackie van Hof, DG of the London Court of International Arbitration
The event took place on 18 May hosted by Herbert Smith Freehills and attended by a large audience of members and guests.
This year’s lecturer was Dr Jackie van Hof the new DG of the London Court of International Arbitration who spoke of the Current position of the LCIA in the world of international arbitration and her plans for the future. The lecture covered the role of Institutions in relation to internal and external challenges; the position of arbitrators and their selection; the function of Tribunal secretaries, and the role and duties of advocates particularly in relation to the new LCIA Rules.
//VIDEO HERE
2014
Reconciliation in Society
Canon David Porter
The Master’s Lecture was given by Canon David Porter, who is the Director of Reconciliation at Lambeth Palace and who is a seasoned peace builder, particularly in the context of Northern Ireland. He addressed the topic of ‘Reconciliation in Society’ and he ranged widely over the subject in the domestic and international arenas. Poignantly, he spoke on the anniversary of the Belfast Agreement and also of the Baltic Exchange bomb.
2015
Master’s Speech John Uff
Download speech
2013
The Future of Arbitration in the Changing World of Dispute Resolution
Sir Peter Cresswell
Download speech
2013
Address by the Master
Karl Davies
Download speech
2013
Address by the Master
Karl Davies
Download speech
2011
Dealing with Death – Coroners’ Work and Proposed Reforms
R. N. Palmer LLB MB BS FFFLM Barrister-at-Law H.M. Coroner, Greater London (Southern District) Deputy Coroner, City of London
Download speech
2009
Arbitration: Just what are the parties agreeing to?
Professor Phillip Capper
Download speech
2008
Stop or Go? Injuctions and Arbitration
Graham Dunning QC
Download speech
2007
Mediation: The Next Ten years
William Wood QC
Download speech
2006
Arbitrations and Judges – how much interference should we tolerate?
Mr Justice Coleman
Download speech
2004
SPORT – Private Grief or Public Prurience
The Rt Hon Sir Philip Otten
Download speech//
2003
Arbitration and Fraud
Miss Kay Linnell FCA FCIArb. MBA MEWI CFE
Download speech
2002
Flexing the Knotted Oak – English Arbitration’s Task and Opportunity in the First Decade of the New Century
John A Tackaberry QC
Download speech