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Find out moreWelcome to the Saudi Arabia focus edition of Law Update.
One of the key markets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) that continues to lead from the front is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). As the largest country in the Middle East and the 18th largest economy in the world, the progress KSA continues to make is underpinned by its Vision 2030 that envisions developing the country as an investment powerhouse and hub that ultimately connects Asia, Europe, and Africa. Given Saudi Arabia’s significance to the regional economy, our team of experts have prepared a range of pertinent articles that provide insights into new laws, regulations, and the legal landscape in the Kingdom.
This edition will provide you with an up-to-date guide on matters such as; the framework issued by the Saudi Central Bank on IT governance, the anti-corruption landscape under Vision 2030; we also provide practical tips for dispute avoidance. This is only a snapshot; there are many more articles within the KSA focus section for you to read, which we hope you will find valuable and enjoyable.
Read the editionThomas R. Snider - Partner, Head of Arbitration - Arbitration / Construction and Infrastructure / Mediation
Jane Rahman - Senior Counsel - Arbitration
By now it is clear that there are virtually no jurisdictions that are unaffected by COVID-19 or the international measures that have been put in place to try to contain and control it.
One of the areas of concern for our clients relates to their ongoing arbitrations. For arbitrations that were commenced before the current situation took hold, parties and tribunals find themselves in relatively new waters. How does one best run an arbitration that was started and planned before these new and extraordinary conditions took hold? Is it, and can it be, business as usual?
For most arbitrations, the short answer to this last question is “no”. The way in which virtually everyone does business has changed and this will necessarily impact arbitrations.
The good news, however, is that arbitration was, in a way, designed for this sort of a situation. It is, or should be, flexible and responsive to parties’ needs. Unlike, for example, court litigation, parties have easy access to their tribunals and are generally empowered to agree whatever procedures they consider appropriate to resolve their dispute.
But what does this mean in practice? Some of the key points you may want to consider in respect of your arbitrations that are already in progress include:
How the current situation impacts your arbitrations will very much depend on the specifics of your case. What is clear, though, is that it is likely that any arbitration that is currently in progress will be impacted in some way. It is for the parties and their tribunals to work together to sensibly try to identify and resolve those issues in an efficient and fair way that reflects the extraordinary situation in which we all now find ourselves.
For further information, please contact Jane Rahman (j.rahman@tamimi.com) or Thomas R. Snider at (t.snider@tamimi.com).
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