A Week In Paris

Each conference in the GPC Series is unique. The GPC Paris, to be held on 26 April, is a major francophone event with a distinct local and international flavour and, as the title Le Règlement des différends à l’horizon 2050 suggests, is provocatively forward-looking.

The event will consider the same Core Questions as the other conferences in the Series, but against the backdrop of the important position France occupies in the international law arena and the civil law approach to the resolution of commercial disputes.

Adding topicality to this week’s event, the results of the first round of the Presidential election are now known and the outcome of the run-off on 7 May between the two remaining contenders, Emmanuel Macron of En Marche! and Marine Le Pen of the National Front, is the subject of hot political debate.

In addition, the past year has seen the introduction of important legislation in France, including a major overhaul of contract law effective 1 October 2016, the EU Regulation of 27 April 2016 on data protection, and the Sapin II law on transparency, the fight against corruption and the modernisation of the economy published on 9 December 2016. Among other things, Sapin II makes important changes to how corruption is prevented and sanctioned and makes it compulsory for certain companies to have an anti-corruption compliance programme, which will be monitored by a newly-created administrative body. It also introduces protections for whistle-blowers.

The GPC Paris will welcome stakeholders from throughout the dispute resolution field, including members of the city’s strong arbitration community. The conference takes place alongside Paris Arbitration Week, during which Paris will continue to be promoted as one of the top international arbitration seats. In 2015 the Queen Mary University of London and White & Case International Arbitration Survey found that the “primary factor driving the selection of a seat is its reputation and recognition”.

The reputation of Paris is solid and long-standing: pro-arbitration legislation modernised in 2011, limited intervention by a specialised chamber of the Court of Appeal, the availability of arbitration expertise from international counsel and other experts, and the presence of the Court of International Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) are only some of the reasons why so many arbitration agreements choose Paris.

GPC Paris will be dedicated to the memory of Professor René David (1906 – 1990), recognised worldwide for his work in comparative law.

Written by Gillian Carmichael Lemaire.

GCL


Gillian Carmichael Lemaire is on the Organising Committee for GPC Paris. She is a member of the Paris Bar and a qualified as a solicitor (Scotland) practising in London. In addition to acting as counsel, including in conjunction with fellow law firms, Gillian serves as arbitrator and mediator.

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