The newsletter of the
Chicago Dispute Resolution Association

July 2008

CIDRA: Entering our second decade

Dear CIDRA Friends:

Welcome to the Newsletter of the Chicago International Dispute Resolution Association 2008 Summer edition.  We present you with updates on relevant legal precedent, CIDRA speaker summaries and important news in the area of international commercial arbitration.

We appreciate your feedback and look forward to publishing your articles or comments.  Please look for upcoming events and information at www.cidra.org.

In this edition, we examine the implications of the Supreme Court’s Hall Street decision on notions of party autonomy and “manifest disregard of the law” as a nonstatutory means of vacatur.  We also revisit alternative dispute resolution basics in a recent presentation at an Illinois State Bar Association seminar on Intellectual Property and International Law Issues in Representing a Globally Expanding Company. The paper is entitled “International Commercial Arbitration: ADR in Cross-Border Business Disputes.”

This year marks a period of growth for CIDRA. In its 11th year, CIDRA began 2008 by co-sponsoring the largest Chicago Mini-Moot competition turnout to date (7 regional law schools, over 40 arbitrators), hosting a variety of speakers, and collaborating with area law firms on various arbitral conferences.

In addition, we have added experienced arbitrators to the CIDRA panel. It is our pleasure to introduce you to CIDRA Arbitration Panelists Jeffrey W. Sarles (Chicago), Lawrence S. Schaner (Chicago) and R.K. Sanghi (India). Sadly, however, we also experienced a great loss this year. We mourn the passing of our friend and colleague Stephen Smith (Chicago Tribune Article). Our wishes go out to his family and friends.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Peter V. Baugher
President
Chicago International Dispute Resolution Association