October 2024 Newsletter

ISLP supports Open Government in Ecuador and Dispute Resolution in

Sub Saharan Africa
ISLP Newsletter, October 2024 Edition

Note from the ISLP Team

It’s been a busy start to the fourth quarter of 2024, marked by a flurry of activity with UN General Assembly and Climate Week events. So far this year, the ISLP team and over 300 fantastic volunteers have been delivering legal support on transactions and negotiations, law reform efforts, and capacity building in 40 countries. And we still have a lot of activity ahead! Read on to learn about recent work on critical minerals, the completion of a two-year project supporting multi-sector engagement and open government in Ecuador, an invitation to contribute your insights to a study on IP-based financing, and more! As ever, thank you for your support of ISLP’s work and mission to advance the rule of law and support locally-led global development that is inclusive, accountable, and sustainable.

Do you work in the areas of intellectual property or investment finance? We want to hear from you.

ISLP’s Responsible Technology Initiative and Pinsent Masons invite experienced practitioners in intellectual property or investment finance to contribute insights to an important study that aims to support African creatives and entrepreneurs and advance novel approaches to IP-based financing. Please reply to the questionnaire linked below by October 31st.

ISLP Presents at the Critical Minerals Symposium Colorado School of Mines and Payne Institute for Public Policy  

Sara Lulo, ISLP Executive Director, presented at the Critical Minerals Symposium hosted by the Colorado School of Mines and the Payne Institute for Public Policy. Leaders from industry, government, academia, and others gathered under Chatham House Rules to discuss critical topics such as developments in sustainable sourcing of minerals essential for the global energy transition, supply chain transparency and challenges, and the mine of the future.

During a panel session on Community Engagement, Indigenous & Native Sovereignty, Sara joined esteemed leaders from Native tribes and academia who described achievements and initiatives in North America and elsewhere. Sara discussed ISLP's related work in Africa and Latin America to facilitate community participation in mining initiatives, law reform, and cross-sector dialogue.

Many thanks to the session presenters, event organizers, and supporters for inviting ISLP to participate in such an enlightening and productive convening.

ISLP completes two-year project in Ecuador bringing together civil society, government, and private sector stakeholders  

ISLP is pleased to announce the completion of a two-year project, conducted in partnership with Counterpart International Ecuador and funded by USAID, supporting the country’s implementation of its National Action Plan under the Open Government Partnership (OGP). Our work was geared at strengthening democratic principles as a fundamental requirement for OGP implementation, building trust among stakeholders, and promoting transparency, accountability, and active private sector involvement in addressing the challenges facing Ecuador. As part of this effort, we conducted several convenings in Ecuador from 2022 to 2024 with the support of volunteers from White & Case, Clifford Chance, and Ropes & Gray. Additionally, ISLP volunteers conducted research and provided case studies illustrating the principles and frameworks needed to support an open government.

Read more here

ISLP's Sara Lulo with our volunteers from Ropes & Gray, representatives from Counterpart International-Ecuador, and Ecuadorian government, civil society, and business representatives

ISLP hosts two-day dispute resolution training: The Role of Arbitral Secretaries

As part of our ongoing efforts to support African legal communities and Africa-based alternative dispute resolution centers, ISLP partnered with the Nairobi Center for International Arbitration and the Lusaka International Arbitration Centre to deliver a two-day webinar training series. The topic of the series, the role of arbitral secretaries, is an often overlooked area of increasing efficiency and efficacy within domestic alternative dispute resolution systems and international arbitration centers. It also represents an additional avenue for professional advancement and skills-building for legal professionals and arbitral secretariats.  

As demand for ADR and international arbitration skills and services surge across Africa, this series engaged both experienced practitioners and those interested in learning practical insights into the role of arbitral secretaries. The distinguished international panel of presenters brought the perspectives of seasoned arbitrators, arbitration lawyers, and arbitral center secretariat. Over 300 participants registered for the series, reflecting widespread interest in the topic. Thanks to our distinguished presenters: Paulman Chungu of Chungu Associates, arbitrator Ndanga Kamau, Joy Maina of NCIA, Lucy Martinez of Martinez Arbitration, and Angelina Petti of von Segesser Law Offices.

This event received financial and technical support from Advocates for International Development’s ROLE UK Programme and UKAid.

Volunteer Spotlight: Irina Sivachenko and Isabela Garcez, Ropes & Gray

Meet two ISLP volunteers: Irina Sivachenko and Isabela Garcez of Ropes & Gray. Irina and Isa recently traveled with ISLP to Ecuador for an intensive week of workshops, trainings, dialogues, and meetings in two cities, Quito and Cuenca, together with our key partners from Counterpart International - Ecuador. Drawing upon their experience representing clients on compliance and anti-corruption matters, Irina and Isa both delivered training sessions and participated in a number of substantive roundtable discussions and other convenings comprising a cross-section of leaders from civil society, government, academia, and the private sector. We asked Irina and Isa to reflect on the impact of their volunteer experience with ISLP and ISLP’s work more broadly.  

Isabela: Not only did the project in Ecuador deeply impact Irina and me, but it also demonstrated the importance of the work being done by ISLP. The world faces a multitude of challenges, and it is easy to feel isolated and helpless when tackling obstacles that don’t seem to affect anyone else. But ISLP realizes that many challenges facing people in different countries are actually similar and interconnected, so we, as a global community, have a lot to learn from each other. And we will only do so by engaging in the multi-disciplinary, international collaborations and dialogues that ISLP and its partners foster through their various projects. I am honored to have played a part in one such project and excited to see the fruits of ISLP’s continued work throughout the world.

Irina: I was blown away by the depth of engagement from the audience. ISLP tackles important initiatives – economic development, transparency, anti-corruption – but what makes ISLP truly stand out is the sophistication of their projects and level of thought that goes into making sure the right stakeholders are at the table and are engaged in a dialogue. It was a privilege to work with ISLP and I look forward to many more collaborations.

Read on here for more from Irina and Isa on the experience, impact, and takeaways of this ISLP pro bono engagement.

Irina Sivachenko (left) & Isa Garcez (right)

Two ISLP board members appointed to the Court of the International Chamber of Commerce

The ISLP team heartily congratulates our board members Yasmine Lahlou of Chaffetz Lindsay and Ank Santens of White & Case on their recent appointments to the Court of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Yasmine has been appointed Member of the ICC Court representing Morocco as well as co-chair of the Working Group on Expedited Procedure Provisions and Update of Commission Reports, part of the Commission on Arbitration and ADR. Ank has been appointed Member of the ICC Court representing Belgium and, accordingly, is also an ex officio member of the Commission on Arbitration and ADR.

We are so lucky to have Ank and Yasmine both as leaders of ISLP and as volunteers on various ISLP pro bono arbitration matters in support of governments and legal communities around the world, including in Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Afghanistan, and Guyana.