CLE Online

Course Introduction and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:05)

Raymond Lee — Program Lawyer, CLEBC, Vancouver
Ludmila B. Herbst, KC — Farris LLP, Vancouver

PART 1: ARBITRATION FOUNDATIONS

What Do Arbitrators Wish Counsel Knew About the Differences Between Arbitration and Litigation Processes? (9:05 – 10:00)

• it's not just litigation in a private forum
• think about and embrace differences (case management, statements of case vs. pleadings, extent of document production, potential for written direct evidence, focused hearings)

Moderator: Ludmila B. Herbst, KC — Farris LLP, Vancouver
Henri Alvarez, KC — Alvarez Arbitration, Port Moody
Gerald W. Ghikas, KC — Gerald W. Ghikas Law Corporation, Vancouver 

How to Draft Good Arbitration Agreements (10:00 – 10:40)

• when to consider including an arbitration clause
• potential length and scope of arbitration clauses (whether to incorporate procedural rules, how narrowly or broadly to define what is subject to arbitration, points to cover) 

Paige Burnham — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver 
Sarah McEachern — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver

BREAK (10:40 – 10:55)

Role of "Arbitral Institutions" (10:55 – 11:35)

• introduction to BC's very own—VanIAC—and its statutory role as "designated authority" under the Arbitration Act (selection of arbitrators, review of arbitral fees)
• using an arbitral institution by choice to oversee the arbitration—administered vs. ad hoc arbitration (why and which one)

Joseph C. McArthur KC, FCIArb — Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP, Vancouver 
Romeo Rojas, FCIArb — Secretary General, Vancouver International Arbitration Centre, Vancouver 

Financial Considerations (11:35 – 12:05)

• remuneration of arbitrators
• potentially financially intensive upfront steps (statements of case, written evidence)
• whether savings can be achieved as compared to litigation
• costs

Karen L.M. Carteri, KC, FCIArb — Nathanson Schachter & Thompson LLP, Vancouver 
Shane D. Coblin, FCIArb — Kornfeld LLP, Vancouver 

Expedited Procedures and Emergency Arbitrations (12:05 – 12:45)

• when and how to use an expedited procedures arbitration
• recourse to emergency arbitrators rather than the courts for emergency relief before a regular arbitral tribunal is constituted

Yarden Gershony — Rush Ihas Hardwick LLP, Kelowna
Katherine A. Reilly — Stewart McDannold Stuart, Victoria

LUNCH (12:45 – 1:15)

PART 2: ADVANCED ISSUES

Use of Experts in Arbitration (1:15 – 2:00)

• possible differences from litigation (what if the arbitrator is already an expert, whether expert file gets produced)
• retention of expert and presentation of evidence

Vasilis Pappas, FCIArb — Bennet Jones LLP, Calgary and Vancouver
John H. Shevchuk — Chartered Arbitrator (ADRIC), Lex Pacifica Law Corporation, Vancouver 

Hot Topics in Arbitration (2:00 – 2:50)

• what to do when the other party to an arbitration agreement does not want to engage in arbitration
• whether summary resolution is available in the arbitration context

Jennifer K. Choi — Bennet Jones LLP, Vancouver 
David E. Gruber, FCIArb — McEwan Partners, Vancouver 
Scott Lucyk, FCIArb — Lawson Lundell LLP, Vancouver

BREAK (2:50 – 3:05)

Are There Any Cases that Can't Be Arbitrated? (3:05 – 3:25)

• interpreting what falls within the arbitration clause
• regardless of what the arbitration clause says
  • does an arbitrator have the ability to grant statutory remedies where statutes say a "court" may do so?
  • does a statute expressly prohibit arbitration?

Forrest Finn — Farris LLP, Vancouver
Ludmila B. Herbst, KC — Farris LLP, Vancouver

Appeals of Arbitral Awards (3:25 – 4:25)

• difference between appeals and set-aside applications
• appeals not available in international commercial arbitration 
• domestic commercial arbitration appeals now before Court of Appeal under 2020 Arbitration Act—process and related considerations
• standards of review
• contracting out (or opting in) of appeal rights
• internal arbitral appeal mechanisms 

Justice Geoffrey B. Gomery — BC Court of Appeal, Vancouver
Michael Feder, KC — Torys LLP, Vancouver 

Closing Remarks (4:25 – 4:30)

Ludmila B. Herbst, KC — Farris LLP, Vancouver