On November 19, 2019 the U.S.-Saudi Arabian Council hosted the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) at the offices of Mayer Brown for an Executive Roundtable, Managing and Resolving Commercial Disputes: Arbitration and Mediation in Saudi Arabian and the Middle East. Under Vision 2030, significant measures are being enacted to localize institutional arbitration in Saudi Arabia in order to facilitate business and incentivize local and international investments. Over 60 Council members and participants joined panelists Hamed Hassan Merah, CEO; Christian Alberti, Chief of ADR; and James MacPherson, Special Counsel from SCCA, to learn more about their Alternative Dispute Resolution services (ADR) as well as trends in recent Saudi Case Law. The event opened with welcoming remarks by Charles Hallab, Partner; Ted Howes, Partner of Mayer Brown; and Susanne Lendman, Acting CEO of the Council.
The SCCA was established in 2014 as a non-profit headquartered in Riyadh, and has represented over 15 different fields of operations ranging from the oil & gas industry to high-tech and pharmaceuticals. Their arbitrators on staff represent 23 nationalities and speak 11 different languages. They have overseen arbitration proceedings in relevant and civil disputes, and have a range of activities in a variety of services including:
- Expedited procedures
- Emergency arbitration
- Online Dispute resolution Protocol and Platform
- Appointment and Selection services
- Committee for Administrative Decisions
- Rules Advisory Committee
- Young SCCA
Materials shared during the event included a Guide to Drafting ADR Clauses, Arbitration Rules Mediation Rules, and the Arbitration Procedures Guide. The roundtable closed with a networking lunch. To receive a copy of the materials shared, please contact Lisa Leander, Director, Member Services, at lleander@us-sabc.org.
Additional materials shared by the presenters include:
- Overview Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration
- Saudi Strides: Arbitration Overview
- Supportive and Attractive ADR to Invest in KSA
