Deputy Chief Justice addresses “GCC in the City” financial forum
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 23 June 2012: The DIFC Courts, the UAE’s English-language common law judicial system based in the Dubai International Financial Centre, were strongly represented at the recent ‘GCC in the City’ financial forum in London.
The event was organised by Middle East business magazine MEED, in conjunction with the UK’s Middle East Association. Sir Anthony Colman, former head of the UK’s Commercial Court and the DIFC Courts’ Deputy Chief Justice, explained the Courts’ expanding regional role in providing enforceable judgments through internationally-recognised judges. He appeared on the first panel of the day – entitled ‘Placing the GCC in a Wider Economic Context’.
Key stakeholders from both the GCC and the City of London attended, including Gulf-based government-related entities, project lenders and borrowers, investment banks, institutional investors, Islamic finance specialists, private equity firms, credit rating agencies and lawyers. Delegates were given an in-depth overview of the latest Gulf investment opportunities and regulatory developments.
Sir Anthony Colman, DIFC Courts’ Deputy Chief Justice, said: “Representing the DIFC Courts at such an authoritative event, in the heartland of world finance, has provided an excellent opportunity to explain our unique English-language common law system and the increasing case load.
“I briefed the 150 delegates on how we offer swift, independent justice to settle local and international commercial or civil disputes — and enforce the resulting judgments.”
Stefan Kemball, DIFC Courts’ Head of Communications, added: “At this event we have seen considerable interest in our services from the City and from other Gulf States. The forum has provided us with the perfect platform to showcase our capabilities to a global audience.”
The DIFC Courts were established in 2004, to create an independent and world-class courts system in English, based on common law. The Courts offer the advantages of a commercial court which operates on substantially the procedure of the Commercial Court in London, while providing access to efficient and transparent justice working closely in collaboration with other Courts in Dubai and the UAE.
The DIFC Courts, winners of the UAE Star Customer Award for their e-registry system in 2011, pride themselves on their exemplary customer service and provide Court users with swift, transparent and independent justice to resolve financial, commercial and civil disputes in the UAE and beyond.