ArbitralWomen and the Abu Dhabi Global Market Arbitration Centre (ADGMAC) are pleased to announce that they have agreed to partner with the shared goal of raising awareness and promoting diversity in international dispute resolution. ArbitralWomen and ADGMAC entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed by Linda Fitz-Alan, Registrar and Chief Executive of ADGM Courts, and Dana MacGrath, President of ArbitralWomen.
Through the agreement, ArbitralWomen and the ADGMAC will collaborate on various endeavours to ensure greater representation of females across the global dispute resolution sector, as well as cooperatively advocate for equal opportunity and increased diversity.
Commenting on the partnership, Dana MacGrath, President of ArbitralWomen, said: “ArbitralWomen is excited to partner with ADGMAC to promote women and diversity in dispute resolution in Abu Dhabi and the MENA region. It is central to our mission to advance diversity in important regions such as the MENA region where ArbitralWomen has historically had less involvement to date. We are very grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with ADGMAC to support women in international dispute resolution.”
Linda Fitz-Alan, Registrar and Chief Executive of ADGM Courts, said: “ADGMAC is delighted to join in partnership with ArbitralWomen. Diversity is a key focus for ADGM, having launched a Gender Equality Initiative in 2019. In arbitration, our first significant step was in the selection of arbitrators to join ADGMAC’s Arbitrators Panel, launched in March 2020, which featured diversity and gender equality as key selection criteria. The MoU with ArbitralWomen serves as a vital step in the right direction. We very much look forward to working with ArbitralWomen, their regional representatives and members to continue to innovate, inspire and create tangible progress on diversity in the dispute resolution landscape.”
About ArbitralWomen
ArbitralWomen is an international non-governmental organisation that promotes women and diversity in international dispute resolution. For more than 25 years, ArbitralWomen has developed programmes and opportunities to support and promote women in dispute resolution and has served as a leader in the efforts to overcome gender bias in the legal profession.
ArbitralWomen has a mentorship programme and regularly promotes the achievements and activities of its members in its News Alerts, on its webpage and in its periodic Newsletters. Of note is ArbitralWomen’s Diversity Toolkit™, a unique training programme designed to help people identify bias and explore ways to overcome it, which was shortlisted for the Equal Representation in Arbitration (ERA) Pledge Award at the 2020 Global Arbitration Review (GAR) Virtual Awards Ceremony.
About ADGM
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) is an award-winning international financial centre (IFC) located in the capital of the UAE. ADGM is the first jurisdiction in the region to directly apply English common law and stands out as a leader in the arbitration community with its modern pro-arbitration framework that has been modelled on the UNCITRAL Model Law.
This framework is superbly complemented by the ADGM Arbitration Centre (ADGMAC), which is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and hearing facilities. ADGMAC’s hearing rooms and other facilities are available for arbitration cases and mediations, regardless of the institution administering the arbitration or mediation. In addition, the parties can, and are encouraged to, make use of ADGMAC regardless of whether the seat is ADGM. ADGM was awarded “Jurisdiction that has made great progress” by the Global Arbitration Review Awards 2020.
This collaboration agreement between ArbitralWomen and ADGMAC was led and negotiated by ArbitralWomen MENA Regional Director, Sara Koleilat-Aranjo.
ArbitralWomen encourages and supports collaboration with other organisations to promote women and diversity around the world. ArbitralWomen Cooperation Committee Members Rekha Rangachari and Mirèze Philippe will be happy to answer any questions concerning any existing or potential collaboration or partnership agreements with ArbitralWomen. Contact: cooperation@aw3.devindc.com.