Following the successful launch event of the Young CRCICA Forum on 27 March 2019, CRCICA organized the Second Young CRCICA Forum: Why Arbitrate? on 27 November 2019. Similar to youth forums of other international arbitral institutions, Young CRCICA aims to aid the younger generations the chance to develop their skills, gain knowledge, network with experienced practitioners, and understand arbitral procedure and other dispute resolution services.

The introductory speech was delivered by Dr. Ismail Selim, CRCICA’s Director, and H.H. Prince Dr. Bandar Ben Salman Al- Saud, President of the Saudi Arbitration Group, Vice-Chairman of CRCICA Board of Trustees. Their speech emphasized the importance of the younger generations in taking the chance to participate in the Young CRCICA Forum, while the keynote speech was delivered by Mr. Yasser Mansour, Lawyer before the Court of Cassation, Partner and Manager of Mansour Law Office. Mr. Mansour focused on “The Role of the Party Appointed Arbitrator from his/her appointment until the Rendering of the Arbitral Award”.

The event was conducted in an interactive panel discussion moderated by Dr. Mohamed Hafez, Counsel and Legal Advisor to the Director, CRCICA, and Vice-Chairman, Young CRCICA. Panelists, from Egypt, Nigeria, UAE, and USA provided answers to questions focusing on the privileges of arbitration and impartiality of arbitrators. Following the session, interesting discussions in relation to inter alia, challenges facing the arbitral institutions, other ADR techniques such as mediation, and sport arbitration were conducted by the attendees. Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Raouf, Attorney at Law, Partner, Abdel Raouf Law Firm, (Egypt) concluded by providing a practical advice to the younger generation lawyers and future arbitrators, while the closing remarks were delivered by Mr. Abdallah El Shehaby, Senior Partner, Ibrachy Legal Consultancy (Egypt), Vice-Chairman, Young CRCICA.

The Forum witnessed a diversity of attendees from Bahrain, Cameroon, China, Egypt, France, Jordan, KSA, Nigeria, and Syria. Participants were young legal practitioners (partners, councils, senior lawyers, and associates), judges, members of the State Lawsuit Authority and the State Council, academics, university and pre master students, contract administrators as well as representatives of the banking, GAFI, and telecommunications sectors.