Construction Arbitration, Abu Dhabi February 2012, Update

I am speaking on construction arbitration and dispute resolution in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in February 2012.  Here is the updated brochure.  Please click link below.

ME-GM2548 – event

International Arbitration Seminar in Dubai a Success

The International Arbitration course, that I co-taught with Professor Dr Klaus Peter Berger from Germany was  a great success!  Thirty participants from several disciplines had hands-on experience at dealing with the complexities of an International Arbitration hearing.  Here is just one of the excellent Tribunals that we drew from the participants, listening to other participants playing the part of arbitration counsel.

You can participate next year.  It will be about the same time (late September ) in 2012. 

Thanks to Dr. Berger and, of course, to Director Nassib Ziadé and the entire staff of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre for the great support. 

Remember, a sea elephant is not an elephant! (To find out why, you have to attend the seminar!)

Construction Conference on Arbitration, Abu Dhabi February 2012

Here is the advance brochure for a construction conference in Abu Dhabi where I will speak on arbitration and dispute resolution in the construction industry.  Please click on the link in the next line to see the brochure.

Construction Risk Conference

Victor Leginsky and Construction Lifecycle Risk Management Arbitration

I recently spoke at the Construction Lifecycle Risk Management conference on construction dispute resolution in Abu Dhabi.  Here is a link to that conference http://www.google.ae/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CDUQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcmguide.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F03%2FME-GM2099-event-10.pdf&ei=bjXvTeWrAYe6hAeMmKm6CQ&usg=AFQjCNEMHuozawfRfdTRXo0tSXwLL9Getw

Victor Leginsky’s CV, Arbitrators UAE Arbitration

Victor Leginsky, international arbitrator in arbitration (ICC, DIAC, KLRCA, ADCCAC), resident in Dubai, UAE  : please click on the link below to see his CV:

Victor Leginsky ChArb Jan 2012lock

DIFC Art

Across the street from me is the Dubai International Finanical Centre (DIFC).  It has a host of art galleries.  It is interesting to see that side of Dubai.  Please click on the images to better see them.

A whimsical piece, a small truck loaded with all manner of household goods. It had Lebanese plates.

Successful International Commercial Arbitration Seminar, Dubai

Through the good offices of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre, we had a very successful International Commercial Arbitration Seminar that I co-instructed with Prof. Dr. Klaus Peter Berger, University of Cologne, Germany.  It comprised three intense days but all the participants worked hard and did really well. We’re making Dubai an international commercial arbitration centre of excellence and this is a great step!

In picture me (bow tie, centre right); to left, Dr. Hadif Al Owais, Director, Dubai International Arbitration Centre, to left of him, Klaus Peter, with all of the very game participants.  Thanks to all.

British Columbia Day 2

After poking around Vancouver on Day 2, I found myself at the Flying Beaver.  (Please click images to enlarge)

It is a pub on an arm of the mighty Fraser River, mere metres from its confluence with the Georgia Straight in the Pacific.  It is also a float plane dock.

Ah, the west coast Canadian life-style.  Sun , beer and float planes.  Can’t beat it.

I am about to fly to my island house on a float plane from the arm of the mighty Fraser.

It is indeed a flying Beaver.

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Underway, the view from the co-pilot’s seat.

And over the beautiful Gulf Islands.  Here is a map; I am flying to Mayne Island.

Some views of the islands from the plane.

This one is Mayne; you can see the BC Ferry in the ferry dock; my house is on the shore just to the left of the ferry.

Float plane landing at Mayne Island. 

Walking up to the historic Springwater Pub, British Columbia’s longest continually operating inn.

If it sounds like all we do in BC in the summer is go from pub to pub, well, unfortunately, that’s just about it.  And then to my house

Relaxing on the deck.  You can see where I was sitting; ever-present Blackberry in front of the chair, along with the ever-present glass of red.

And this is the view from that deck.  It is Pacific Ocean waters, but broken by the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island.  We look over at Prevost Island and Saltspring Island and up the Trincomali Chanell.

And we sit on the deck and look at that view until the sun sets …

British Columbia – Day 1

Two weeks away from the heat of the Middle East, in the beautiful green, mountainous, Pacific province of BC.  Day 1 actually spanned two days, because I started just after midnight in Dubai, had an eleven hour lay-over in Schiphol, and then an 8 hour, 45 minute flight to Vancouver. (Please click on pictures to enlarge)

In Schiphol, our plane the “Ingrid Bergman”.  I never thought I’d fly on Ingrid Bergman! 

Here is Ingrid having landed in Vancouver.

From a cool rainy day in Amsterdam to a glorious, very warm day in Vancouver.

The international arrivals area in Vancouver International (YVR) is one of the nicest I’ve seen with all the art and a waterfall feature.

Downtown Vancouver has a lovely harbour.  Here are a couple of shots from the conference centre- cruise-ship terminal.

Then on to English Bay.  It was evening by this time.  Some interesting statuary.

and the usual sunset-on-English-Bay pictures from downtown Vancouver.

Being away, I had forgotten how beautiful English Bay can be.  These have an Inukshuk in the lower left corner.  If you recall the logo of the winter Olympics we just had, that is the symbol.  This is a mysterious symbol used throughout the circumpolar world and is a meme in the Canadian psyche.  You can read more here.

And so back to the hotel.  I stayed at the Coast Vancouver Airport hotel because (besides being cheap) it has a White Spot restaurant. This is a British Columbia chain, not expensive, has its own locally-brewed beer, and good food.  I had been thinking about its steak, smothered with mushrooms, with a sturdy red accompaniment.  And so it was!  Hard to beat Canadian beef.  It was every bit as good as I had remembered. (Warning: messy food shot)

A good end to Day 1.

Banks

There are over 50 different banks in the UAE, with nearly 1000 branches.  We love to hate them all.  Service is incredibly bad at all of them, and they offer few services for the service charges deducted.  (RAK Bank seems to get a better rap than most).   So I saw the following on the Internet (http://taitegallery.net/2010/06/banks.html ) and adapted it slightly to fit the locale.

Ten Reasons Why I Love Banks

Nine Reasons Why I Love Banks

Eight Reasons Why I Love Banks

Seven Reasons Why I Love Banks

Six Reasons Why I Love Banks

Five Reasons Why I Love Banks

Four Reasons Why I Love Banks

Three Reasons Why I Love Banks

1. They have great air-conditioning

2. Can read a few free newspapers and magazines while I sit and and wait

3. Did I mention the air conditioning?