On 18 May 2014, the Alexandria Branch of the French Chamber of Commerce in Egypt (CCFE), organized its first conference on Mediation in Alexandria on: «Commercial Mediation, an Effective Tool for Dispute Resolution». The half-day event was hosted by the French Consulate in Alexandria, Egypt and was attended by more than 30 persons from different backgrounds.
The Seminar was intended to discuss new developments in alternative dispute resolution, analyze and share experiences while focusing on the most important practical issues in mediation, based on what’s happening right now in the field.
The Seminar offered to companies an opportunity to discuss mediation which is a rapidly evolving and widely used method for dispute resolution that have proved successful in many jurisdictions. The Seminar was also the forum where companies and their in-house counsels shared best practices and lessons learned in order to stay in control of their claims and disputes.
CRCICA Director was invited to explain the salient features of the new CRCICA Mediation Rules in force since January 2013 as well as the lessons learned from his personal experience as mediator.
Other speakers included Judge Wadie Hana Nashed, the Secretary General of the Committee drafting the mediation law at the Egyptian Ministry of Justice, who tackled the future of mediation in Egypt, while focusing on the salient features of the draft mediation law.
After a very lively Q&A session, a second panel also moderated by Dr. Maged Ackad, Managing Partner of Ackad Law Office and CEDR Accredited Mediator, included Dr. Eman Mansour, Director of the Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes at the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), who explained the practical experience of her Centre in the settlement of disputes by mediation. Finally, Ms. Famta Ibrahim, Operations Officer, IFC Advisory Services, Middle East and North Africa-Commercial Justice Program, addressed the role of IFC in the development of mediation in Egypt while focusing on how mediation could create value out of the dispute.
