Legal Seminars
A4ID runs a number of seminars for its development partners looking at legal issues that affect their everyday work.
Our aim is to share knowledge and expertise, building the capacity of civil society and developing country governments to equip them with the necessary legal skills to strengthen their work and, in so doing, support their aims to further the United Nations Millennium Development Goals
Some examples of past seminars are detailed here:
Have Your Say: Why International Investment Arbitration is Relevant to Civil Society and How to Participate (May 2008)
On Thursday 15th May, A4ID facilitated a seminar designed to provide civil society with ideas on how to best effect their goals in the context of international investment arbitration, particular emphasis being placed on dispute settlement undertaken according to ICSID and UNCITRAL rules.
The seminar provided practical guidance from leading civil society figures as well as distinguished members from academia and the legal profession: Dr Frederico Ortino (Kings College), Dr Stuart Dutson (Eversheds LLP), Barton Legum (Debevoise & Plimpton LLP - Paris), Howard Mann (IISD), Ignacio Suarez Anzorena (Clifford Chance LLP), and Matthew Weiniger (Herbert Smith LLP).
The information and advice provided ranged from a survey of the major problems facing civil society wishing to submit amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs, pointers in the presentation and content of briefs, debate on the underlying logic and desirability of including amici in the process, and general strategies. Over the course of the afternoon two general themes emerged as discreet but interrelated objectives in international investment arbitration. Firstly, it might be said that the majority of the panellists agreed that there is a clear necessity to increase the transparency of arbitral proceedings, making documents, submissions, and decisions both available and accessible. Secondly, and more contentiously, some panellists argued that the ability of civil society to participate in proceedings is key to ensuring the maintenance of the public interest.
Legal Training to Journalists from Liberia and Sierra Leone (April 2008)
In April 2008 A4ID member lawyers delivered training to journalists in Sierra Leone and Liberia on Charles Taylor's trial before the Special Court for Sierra Leone. The trial represented a landmark in international criminal justice. For Liberians, who do not have their own internationalised court, it is the closest they have come to seeing their former President held to account.
Yet the ability of journalists in both countries to keep the public informed about the trial is threatened by their limited knowledge of international criminal law and the physical distance of the trial, which was relocated to the ICC facilities in The Hague for security reasons.
A4ID's training, in collaboration with the International Centre for Media Studies and Development in West Africa and the Open Society Institute, took place as part of a wider program to build the capacity of journalists in Liberia to report on legal issues.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Training to the Lao Bar Association (December 2007)
A4ID partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to provide training to members of the Lao Bar Association in negotiation, mediation and arbitration.
The workshop demonstrated the benefits of using alternative dispute resolution (ADR) strategies to resolve legal dispute. 30 members of the Lao Bar Association attended the five day course, which was held at the Lao Bar Association's headquarters in Vientiane. The course was made up of theoretical and practical modules with an emphasis on getting Lao lawyers to practice ADR skills.
The course gave A4ID a chance to draw on its members' wide-ranging experience to share knowledge and ideas with lawyers from Laos. A4ID is looking forward to strengthening its ties with Laos and the Lao Bar Association over the coming years through its work on existing projects and through future training sessions.
Know your rights: How to lobby without being sued (October 2007)
This seminar was delivered by leading barristers Gavin Millar QC, Andrew Nicol QC and Guy Vassall-Adams from Doughty Street Chambers and was hosted by Lovells LLP.
During the afternoon participants learnt more about current and proposed legislation and took part in a variety of case studies. They also discussed how to access information from official sources and how to campaign without the risk of impending legal proceedings. The seminar was a great success and left participants armed with the knowledge of how to objectively, practically and legally enhance their campaigns going forward.
International Investment Agreements, Training for Government Officials (Summer 2007)
A4ID, jointly with the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the British Institute for International and Comparative Law, ran a series of seminars on International Investment Agreements (IIA) in Santiago, Chile, for government representatives and lawyers from a wide range of Latin American countries.
The seminars covered both the negotiation of IIAs and dealing with disputes under IIAs through arbitration. The seminars were led by experienced legal practitioners and were highly appreciated by participants. A number of follow-up activities are being investigated, including secondment opportunities and internet discussion fora. Further seminars are planned for Africa and Asia in the next 12-24 months.