The Law Society is to start a campaign next month that promotes England and Wales as the leading jurisdiction for international companies to resolve their commercial disputes.


The campaign will be launched during the autumn conference of the American Bar Association's section on international law (ABA International), when up to 1,500 US lawyers are expected to descend on London. The conference runs from 3-6 October.



Chancery Lane aims to draw attention to the advantages of England and Wales as a centre for international dispute resolution. More than 5,000 international disputes are handled in London already, through institutions such as the International Chamber of Commerce, the Court of International Arbitration and the Commercial Court.



The campaign - prompted in part by increased competition from the likes of Germany, Switzerland and Holland - will involve the promotion of draft clauses for insertion into commercial contracts recognising the application of English law. The Society is also looking to produce booklets highlighting England and Wales as the jurisdiction of choice, which will be circulated by UK embassies and consulates.



Law Society President Andrew Holroyd said: 'London has the reputation of being the financial capital of the world, which leads to it also being a leading international dispute resolution centre. With the aim of maintaining the status of the jurisdiction of England and Wales in international dispute resolution, as well as promoting it within the international community, particularly to corporate counsel, the Law Society has produced a brochure that sets out the positive aspects of using our jurisdiction to resolve disputes, illustrated with real-life examples.'



The chairman of ABA International, London-based Allen & Overy partner Jeffrey Golden, said this was the first time that his organisation had held its autumn conference in the UK but that it would not be the last.



Jonathan Rayner