22 June 2022

Hybrid Conference on International Arbitration in Mauritius

On 7 and 8 June 2022, the PCA Mauritius Office and the Mauritius International Arbitration Centre (“MIAC”), in collaboration with University Paris Saclay – UVSQ and Paris Panthéon-Assas University hosted a hybrid conference on the topic of International Arbitration in Mauritius which expanded over two days. The conference’s overarching theme was to present comparative perspectives between Civil and Common Law and explore the specificities of arbitration in Mauritius.

The first day of the conference was held under the theme “Supporting the Arbitral Tribunal”. Dr. Constance Castres Saint Martin, Counsel at Teynier Pic moderated the first panel, focused on the role of arbitral institutions. Ms. Andrea Lapunzina Veronelli, PCA Legal Counsel and PCA Representative in Mauritius shared the panel with Ms. Clémence Assou, Registrar of the MIAC (also PCA Legal Counsel) and Mr. Bilshan Nursimulu, Partner at Orison Legal.

The second panel was moderated by Ms. Andrea Lapunzina Veronelli and consisted of Mr. Dominique Hascher, Judge at the French Cour de Cassation, Mr. Benoit Le Bars, Partner at Lazareff Le Bars and Mrs. Shaheeda Peeroo, former Judge at the Supreme Court of Mauritius, who all shared their insights on the role of domestic courts in supporting arbitral tribunals, from the perspective of magistrates and arbitration users.

The second day of the conference focused on the overall theme of “Controlling the Arbitral Award”. On the second day of the conference, Ms. Athina Fouchard Papaefstratiou of AFP Arbitration, Ms. Camilla Macpherson, Head of Secretariat at P.R.I.M.E Finance and Mr. Ali Adamjee of Sir Hamid Moollan QC Chambers discussed the perspectives on jurisdictional aspects of controlling the arbitral award. Pr. Maximin de Fontmichel of University Paris Saclay moderated the panellists’ debate on the value of the French, English, and Mauritian approaches to the scope of review of an arbitral award, particularly in light of recent jurisprudence.

The last panel, focusing on the perspectives on public policy, was moderated by Pr. Malik Laazouzi of Paris Panthéon-Assas University. The panellists, Anne-Sophie Jullienne, Counsel at Afralaw Chambers, Pr. Marie Goré of Paris Panthéon-Assas University, Mr. Jacob Grierson, Partner at Asafo & Co. and Mr. Alexandre Meyniel, Partner at Cartier Meyniel Schneller, discussed recent jurisprudential decisions both in Mauritius and in France.

This was the first hybrid conference held at the Mauritius Arbitration Suite in Port Louis Waterfront, allowing participants and panellists to participate in-person or remotely via Zoom. It was followed, for those who attended in person, by networking opportunities.

The co-organisers have received much appreciation and felicitations from attendees who joined in-person, as well as those who joined remotely, for the informative and dynamic exchanges by the panellists during the conference.

To be informed of the activities of the PCA Mauritius Office, please do not hesitate to follow their LinkedIn account (available here).

The conference programme is available here.

 

Background on the Permanent Court of Arbitration

The Permanent Court of Arbitration is an intergovernmental organization established by the 1899 Hague Convention on the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes. The PCA has 122 Contracting Parties. Headquartered at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands, the PCA facilitates arbitration, conciliation, fact-finding, and other dispute resolution proceedings among various combinations of States, State entities, intergovernmental organizations, and private parties. The PCA’s International Bureau is currently administering 7 interstate disputes, 115 investor-State arbitrations, and 80 cases arising under contracts involving a State or other public entity. More information about the PCA can be found at www.pca-cpa.org.

Contact:           Permanent Court of Arbitration

E-mail: [email protected]