Emi Rowse Igusa, partner and head of the Japan practice at Kudun and Partners, was invited by the Thailand Arbitration Center (THAC) to share her insights as a panelist at the THAC Academy Launch Event. Kudun and Partners associate Joshua Yang also attended the launch event. The event featured several high profile keynote speakers including Dr. Phongthep Thepkanjana, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr. Wallop Nakbua, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and Dr. Pasit Asawawattanaporn, Managing Director of THAC. In his keynote address, Dr. Phongthep emphasized the historical importance and influence of arbitration in Thailand, and lauded THAC for their recent growth and efforts to provide a valuable platform to promote a unified approach to arbitration in Thailand.
Emi Rowse Igusa, along with fellow arbitral practitioners from Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia, shared their insights on what constituted a “safe” seat for arbitration, and what steps Thailand could take in order to become a preferred seat for arbitral proceedings in the future. Emi commented that ease of enforcing arbitral awards as well as support from the Courts on interim measures are important factors. She also spoke on the importance of appointing quality and experienced arbitrators who knew how to effectively deal with “guerilla tactics”. The panel discussed other topical issues such as the possibility of Third Party Funding in Thailand. The event went on to feature a second panel, which discussed the role of education in alternative dispute resolution and the importance of education at all levels, including students, those in business, practitioners and members of the judiciary.
Emi Rowse Igusa commented: “I am honoured to have been invited to speak as a panelist at this very important event for THAC and the arbitration community in Thailand. It is critical for the future of arbitration in Thailand that these conversations take place in order to identify what is working well and where the challenges still lie. Education is a key element in growth and it is exciting that THAC has launched its own Academy to intentionally promote education of arbitration in Thailand.”
