No. 3: December 2020
AIFC Court and IAC Newsletter

Welcome to the 3rd edition of the AIFC Court and IAC Newsletter
The AIFC Court and IAC are pleased to provide an update on their work.

From the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic we took immediate measures to provide online quick, easy to use and free of charge access to all of our dispute resolution services. Our priority continues to be to provide all of our services without disruption and to protect the health and safety of our users and staff. In particular during the pandemic, we have used our online digital eJustice system and video hearing technology to successfully administer all of our casework. We also delivered our comprehensive webinar programme, "The AIFC Court and IAC Webinar Series 2020: New Opportunities During and Post COVID-19".

Please view our end of year short video summary of the AIFC Court and IAC achievements 2020.
VIDEO
ACHIEVEMENTS 2020
We carefully monitored the COVID-19 pandemic and implemented measures to ensure that the AIFC Court and IAC continued to operate 100% online free of charge without disruption. The AIFC Court and IAC achieved excellent results in 2020 as follows:
296 cases resolved
AIFC Court: 9 case judgments and orders
IAC: 287 arbitration awards and mediation settlements
4000+ contracts
At least 4000 contracts with AIFC Court & IAC dispute resolution clauses
219 lawyers
219 lawyers from 24 jurisdictions registered at the AIFC Court for rights of audience.
31 Online Webinars & Legal Training Programme
2000+ participants attended AIFC Court & IAC Online Legal Education Programme
Highlights from September - December
ONLINE IAC Arbitration and ADR Summit 2020
At this online event which was held during two days general counsel and in-house lawyers, CEOs and senior business representatives discussed global trends and procedures of international arbitration and mediation at the IAC.
The discussions included unique insights and the opportunity to connect with legal and business representatives from Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and globally.
AIFC Court Moot Final 2020
The AIFC Court held its third annual Moot Court competition and Final in October 2020. This year the competition was held online given the COVID-19 pandemic. The same video technology was used that is used for real AIFC Court and IAC case hearings. The competition was expanded this year to include teams from outside Kazakhstan from the wider CIS region. Six student teams participated including from Kazakhstan, Russia, and Azerbaijan. The judges in the Final were Justice Sir Robin Jacob, Justice Sir Stephen Richards, and Justice Sir Jack Beatson, from the AIFC Court. The Opening Address at the Final was given by The Rt. Hon The Lord Mance, Chief Justice of the AIFC Court.
Webinar on AIFC Court Jurisdiction
In October 2020, Lord Mance, the Chief Justice of the AIFC Court, gave a webinar on AIFC Court jurisdiction and specific details on how civil and commercial disputes in the AIFC are resolved applying the highest international standards.
Webinar on Arbitration Award Writing
In October 2020, the IAC Chairman gave a webinar on Arbitration Award Writing. This was a one-hour masterclass that provided an overview and specific details on how arbitration awards are drafted at the IAC applying the highest international standards.
Online IAC Arbitration Moot 2020
In November 2020, the International Arbitration Centre ("IAC") held its Online IAC Mock Arbitration Moot 2020. This was the first competition of this kind held by the IAC. The arbitrators included the IAC Chairman, Ms. Barbara Dohmann QC, and members from the IAC Panel of Arbitrators and Mediators.
Students participated from Nazarbayev University and Caspian University. Nazarbayev University won the competition. All of the participant students have been invited to undertake an internship at the AIFC Court and IAC.
AIFC Court and IAC End of 2020 Reception with Chief Justice and IAC Chairman
The AIFC Court Chief Justice Lord Mance, IAC Chairman Barbara Dohmann QC, and Registrar and Chief Executive of the AIFC Court and IAC, Christopher Campbell-Holt, gave the final AIFC Court and IAC webinar for 2020. This was the 31st webinar given by the AIFC Court and IAC in 2020. The webinar was very well attended with participation from many members of the Kazakhstan and Central Asia investor communities. The webinar was a unique opportunity for the community to ask questions to the Chief Justice and IAC Chairman relating to the work of the AIFC Court and IAC in 2020 and on their plans for 2021.
Speaking engagements
In September 2020 the IAC and the AIFC Court presented at a meeting of the permanent advisory body of the Council of Heads of CCIs of the CIS member states on international commercial arbitration. In addition to the contribution that was made by the IAC, the conference was attended by representatives from Uzbekistan, Russian Federation, Kyrgyz Republic, and Azerbaijan.


In September 2020 the Registrar and Chief Executive of the AIFC Court and IAC, Christopher Campbell-Holt presented at an ONLINE BNRMC Global Mediators Conference, Beijing, China. The event was hosted by the China International Fair for Trade in Services 2020.


In October 2020 Justice Sir Rupert Jackson, AIFC Court, gave a master class webinar on common law judgment writing. The webinar was held in association with the judges of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan as a part of the long standing mutual cooperation between the AIFC Court and the RK Supreme Court. It was attended by more than 800 Kazakh judges.
In October 2020 the Registrar and Chief Executive of the AIFC Court and IAC presented at the World Investor Week, hosted by the AIFC Authority and AFSA, on the AIFC Court's and IAC's world class dispute resolution and focused on their independence, impartiality and incorruptibility to increase investor confidence in the AIFC.
Contact us:
AIFC Court and International Arbitration Centre
Nur-Sultan, 55/16 Mangilik El Avenue, C 3.1
Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

T: +7 (717) 264 73 37
T: +7 (701) 981 73 20
E: info@aifc-court.kz, communications@aifc-iac.kz