Inquiry by Roger Gyles QC on International arbitration

13 December 2018

The President of the Australian Bar Association, Jennifer Batrouney QC, today announced that the Hon Roger Gyles AO QC had been asked to report on international arbitration opportunities for Australian Barristers in both Australia and the Asia-Pacific Region.

Mr Gyles is a former President of the ABA, a former Judge of the Federal Court of Australia, a former Royal Commissioner and a former Independent National Security Legislation Monitor.

“Many Australian barristers have worked successfully in Asia and the Pacific. It is timely that the ABA should build on the work of individual barristers, chambers and State Bar Associations to promote awareness of the Australian Bar as a whole overseas”, Ms Batrouney said.

“As well as being a former President of the ABA, Mr Gyles has a preeminent reputation not only in Australia for his legal career. He has appeared in the Courts in Singapore, Papua-New Guinea, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands as an Australian barrister, and his international experience makes him ideally suited for this role” Ms Batrouney added.

This initiative builds on the recent Austrade Report on Australia’s Capability in International Commercial Arbitration and is consistent with the Government’s push for the expansion of the export of Australian services into the Asia and Pacific regions.

At the recent national conference of the Australian Bar Association calls were made by Federal Court Chief Justice James Allsop AO and leading Australian silk, Allan Myers AC QC for the ABA to lead a national approach in the area of international practice and arbitration in particular.

My Gyles indicated that he saw significant potential for Australian Barristers to have a greater engagement with international dispute resolution, both in Australia and the region.

“With the proposed level of infrastructure funding recently announced by the Australian government in our region, it is imperative that Australian barristers are able to participate in a rules based resolution of disputes arising out of projects so funded,” Mr Gyles said.

“I am looking forward to receiving submissions from all interested parties, including barristers, solicitors, business clients and the government to ensure that the Australian Bar is best placed to contribute its services to ensure the just, timely and cost-effective resolution of disputes that will inevitably arise”, he added.

Submissions are due by 15 March 2019 with the Inquiry due to report on 1 May 2019. 

Further information regarding the Inquiry can be found at austbar.asn.au/news-media/opportunities-for-australian-barristers-to-practice-in-international-disputes

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Cindy Penrose 0420 309 420 or ceo@austbar.asn.au

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