The AIFC Court and the IAC, in cooperation with White & Case and Assurety, held a Master Class
The AIFC Court and the IAC, in cooperation with White & Case and Assurety (leading provider of witness preparation courses in the UK), held a Master Class on preparing expert witnesses for international arbitration hearings. This Master Class was delivered by White & Case international arbitration partners Julia Zagonek (London /Dubai) and Oleg Todua (Dubai), as well as Andy Hobbs and Natasha Wong KC (Assurety). More than 100 Kazakhstan‐based experts and lawyers attended the Master Class.
Participants discussed the challenges expert witnesses face in preparing for hearings and giving expert evidence, highlighting the importance of close cooperation between instructing lawyers and experts and the advantages of involving witness familiarisation providers. As part of the session, Assurety conducted a simulated cross‐examination of two volunteers.
This was the first session delivered as a part of the AIFC Court and IAC Training Programmes 2023 designed to prepare Kazakhstani lawyers, experts, and entrepreneurs for effective dispute resolution practices at the AIFC Court and IAC.
The AIFC Court and the IAC have held training sessions on international dispute resolution for more than 3,000 practitioners in just over five years via lectures, master classes, webinars, and conferences, including on common law advocacy, arbitration, and mediation.
The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is an independent jurisdiction that started operations in 2018. In accordance with the Development Strategy until 2025, the key focus of the AIFC is to consolidate as a universal platform connecting the countries of the EAEU, Central Asia and the Caucasus. www.aifc.kz
The AIFC Court is an independent legal entity. It has its own procedural rules modelled on English common law procedures and leading international practice. The AIFC Court is separate and independent from the courts of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It consists of two tiers: a Court of First Instance, which includes a specialist division known as the Small Claims Court; and a Court of Appeal. It has exclusive jurisdiction over disputes arising out of the activities and operations of the AIFC and jurisdiction in the case of other disputes in which all parties agree in writing to give the AIFC Court jurisdiction. It does not have jurisdiction in relation to disputes that are of a criminal or administrative nature. It applies the most up to date and efficient case management practices. https://court.aifc.kz/
The International Arbitration Centre (IAC) is an independent legal entity. It has its own procedural rules modelled on best international practice. It has its own panel of leading international arbitrators and mediators having many years of arbitration and mediation experience in commercial law, including oil and gas, trade, construction, energy, financial services, banking, Islamic finance, insurance, and intellectual property. IAC arbitration awards are recognised and enforceable in Kazakhstan and internationally. https://iac.aifc.kz/