Georgian Arbitrators Association (GAA) hosted a forum titled "Arbitration for Business" with the support of the USAID Rule of Law Program. Fifty lawyers and representatives of local business organizations attended the Forum.

The opening remarks were made by Jaba Gvelebiani, the Chairman of GAA, and Neil Weinstein, the USAID Rule of Law Program Deputy Chief of Party.

The forum featured panel discussions where experienced professionals in the field of arbitration discussed the role of arbitration in achieving business success. The topics included the benefits of arbitration in resolving business disputes, the role of institutional arbitration in resolving business disputes, and an overview of the Ad Hoc Arbitration Rules of the Association of Arbitrators.

“I am speaking to you today not as an international development professional, but as a lawyer who spent 12 years litigating commercial disputes in the U.S. I can tell you that I always recommended that my clients consider arbitration and mediation and that the vast majority of matters I handled were resolved outside of court through one of those mechanisms,” said Mr. Weinstein in his welcome notes.

"The flexibility and speed of the process, the ability to appoint arbitrators according to the needs of the parties, the finality of the arbitration decision, the possibility of international enforcement, and confidentiality are the main advantages of arbitration," said Mr. Gvelebiani. He also noted that the Forum provided a unique opportunity for business representatives to learn more about the possibilities that arbitration offers to resolve disputes effectively. He expressed his satisfaction with the involvement and interest of the private sector and hoped for joint efforts to improve the dispute resolution system in Georgia.

The participants’ questions touched upon the advantages and risks that the finality of arbitration awards posed, the way in which conservatory measures work in arbitration, as well as the choices that need to be made in terms of the number of arbitrators, the applicable law, and the applicable arbitration rules.

 The Forum raised attendees’ awareness about arbitration, how businesses can tailor dispute resolution processes to their needs, and how arbitration can help businesses achieve a swift and credible resolution of commercial disputes.