About the Webinar
A 60-minute webinar looking at some of the key legal issues surrounding the resolution of DLT disputes and the consideration of arbitration in this area. Of interest to anybody who wants an introduction to crypto and smart contract disputes and a discussion of how arbitration meets many of the jurisdictional and other legal challenges. Concepts to be discussed at the webinar include:
- Key concepts in distributed technology, blockchain, crypto and smart contracts
- Why arbitration is the right forum for Fintech – the key legal and jurisdictional issues.
- An example – the UK Digital Dispute Resolution Rules.
- Specialist or general practitioner?
- Bespoke procedures – how can the arbitrator maximise the effectiveness of the process.
- The enforceability of awards – challenges over novel questions of law.
About the Speaker
Paul Sills
FCIArb, FAMINZ (Arb/Med), IAM, FRI, FPD, FHKIArb, FMIArb, LLB (Hons)
Paul is an independent arbitrator and mediator based in London working with Arbitra International. Paul was also a barrister with 26 years’ conflict resolution experience before becoming a full time neutral. He is also an active business advisor and independent director working across a number of industries including international freight, infrastructure, construction, marine, healthcare, industrial design, retail, leadership and technology. Paul spent 2 years as the CEO of an international superyacht construction business.
Paul’s conflict resolution appointments include: admitted to practice as a barrister in New Zealand, full rights of audience at the Astana International Finance Centre (AIFC Court), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Fellow of AMINZ (arbitration and mediation), Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators, Fellow of Prime Disputes London (certified educator status and panel appointments), Fellow of Resolution Institute, Fellow of The Malaysian Arbitration Institute, Resolution Institute Determination and Arbitration Committees, Resolution Institute Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Committee, Netball New Zealand Disciplinary Committee chairman, mediator for the Marine Industry Association, and mediator for the New Zealand Law Society. Paul is on the Franchise Association of New Zealand mediation panel. Paul is the Deputy Director of Professional Studies (Arbitration and Mediation) for AMINZ and runs the arbitration and mediation Fellowship programmes. Paul is also a panel member for the Maritime Mediation Centre based in Athens.
In 2020 Paul was awarded the Mediator of the Year award at the annual New Zealand Law Awards and was awarded the Prime Disputes (London) leadership award for equality and diversity in dispute resolution. In 2021 Paul was nominated as one of the top 25 most influential lawyers in New Zealand and was in October 2021 awarded a Lexology Client Care leadership award for mediation.
In addition to his Fellowship studies, Paul has completed the Advanced Mediation Course at the Harvard Program on Negotiation.