Gary Born, Chair of the International Arbitration Group at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, and Senior Associate Dharshini Prasad are working closely with the Commonwealth Secretariat on its new International Arbitration Study. The study, which is led by the Commonwealth’s Office of Civil and Criminal Justice Reform, includes an expansive review of the existing arbitral landscape in each of the 53 Commonwealth member States and the challenges and solutions to accessing international commercial arbitration in each of the jurisdictions. The study also focuses on ways in which member States may strengthen the cross-border accessibility and effectiveness of international commercial arbitration. An integral aspect of the study is the collection of empirical data on commercial arbitration through surveys with the offices of the Commonwealth attorneys-generals, chief justices, national chambers of commerce, businesses, legal practitioners, arbitrators, arbitral institutions, universities and international organizations.

The Commonwealth Secretariat was requested to conduct the International Arbitration Study by senior officials of the Commonwealth Law Ministries at their meeting in London in October 2018. The study is expected to be completed for consideration at the meeting of the Commonwealth Law Ministers in late 2019.

The report for the study will be authored by a high-level Expert Group of distinguished arbitration practitioners and academics. The group will be advised by a Task Force of eminent arbitration practitioners from the various Commonwealth regions who will provide information and perspectives on commercial arbitration across the Commonwealth. Mr. Born is a member of the Expert Group. Ms. Prasad is the executive secretary to the group.

Details on the International Arbitration Study and the surveys are available on the website of the Commonwealth Secretariat.