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· Agreement between DIFC Dispute Resolution Authority and Microsoft sets foundations for the commercial courts of the future
· Partnership is 'prime example of how digital transformation can deliver operational excellence', says Microsoft's Regional GM
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts today announced its partnership with Microsoft to drive the digital transformation of the commercial courts systems in the region and beyond. Building on successful digital courts projects such as the DIFC Courts’ Smart Small Claims Tribunal (SCT), the DIFC Dispute Resolution Authority (DRA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft – during the International Association of Court Administrators (IACA) in Washington, DC
The English language, common-law DIFC Courts offers businesses in the Middle East, Asia and Africa access to one of the world’s most advanced and innovative commercial courts. Utilising leading-edge technologies, the Smart SCT has already proven the promise of digital courts, enabling parties to attend a virtual court from anywhere in the world, and to benefit from globally enforceable judgements. In 2017, this service was named one of the world’s Top 10 Court Technology Solutions by the US-based National Association for Court Management (NACM).
As a first step, the agreement is aimed at enhancing connectivity and virtual solutions to advance the more traditional court areas such as registrations, filings, case management, and even trials. For the courts of the future, DRA’s unique partnership with Microsoft formalises a joint ambition to advance technological innovation by leveraging their combined skillsets of court management, judicial excellence and digital transformation to create new standards of digital excellence - in line with achieving DIFC Courts’ 2021 vision of establishing and maintaining a world-class courts system that is reliable, accessible, efficient and fair.
Mark Beer, OBE, Registrar-General of DIFC Courts, CEO of DRA and President-elect of the International Association of Court Administrators (IACA), said: “As technology becomes universal, entrepreneurs and investors should be able to rely on courts to provide certainty, even as old models are disrupted. By bringing together two pioneers in their respective fields, the DIFC Courts and Microsoft believe we can help to secure businesses in the future by ensuring commercial dispute resolution keeps pace with the new digitised, connected, virtual world.”
Technology has been central to the DIFC Courts’ operating model since starting operations in 2006. Among the many technologies the courts have pioneered to increase access to justice, is the state-of-the-art e-filing system that now accounts for approximately 90% of all documents filed.
“Microsoft is committed to empowering every individual and organisation on the planet achieve more,” said Sayed Hashish, Regional General Manager, Microsoft Gulf. “Our partnership with DRA’s DIFC Courts is a prime example of how digital transformation can open up new avenues of operational excellence. By focusing on the pillars of engaging customers, empowering employees, enhancing operations and transforming services, organisations like DIFC Courts can deliver tangible change that sets them apart from peers. We look forward to working with them in their continuing campaign to envision and promote excellence within the global legal community.”
In addition to exploring the potential of the Microsoft cloud for continuous innovation, DIFC Courts will also engage in thought leadership discussions with Microsoft experts to drive digital transformation, and collaborate further to bring about disruptive technological concepts for ground-breaking advancement in civil and commercial dispute resolution.
“This is what makes digital transformation so exciting,” Hashish explained. “Organisations take a due-diligence path to excellence, supported by the technologies of the cloud, and then go on to become leaders and teachers. We are thrilled to be a part of those journeys – to watch innovators innovate and then move on to help others benefit from lessons learned.”
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About the Dispute Resolution Authority (DRA)
The Dispute Resolution Authority administers justice and legal excellence within the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC). Established in 2014, it is the third body of the DIFC, alongside the DIFC Authority and the Dubai Financial Services Authority.
The DRA currently incorporates the DIFC Courts, Dubai’s established English-language, commercial common law judicial system; DIFC Wills & Probate Registry (WPR), the first common-law, English language wills and probate service for non-Muslims in the Middle East; and the DIFC Dispute Resolution Authority Academy of Law, an independent entity that provides quality education and support to the UAE legal community; and the DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Centre (DIFC-LCIA), the Arab world’s leading international arbitration and mediation centre.
Each division is fully operational and working together in partnership, while the DRA’s flexible structure means new entities and initiatives can be seamlessly added over time. Together, the divisions of the DRA are helping to support the Dubai Plan 2021, Expo 2020 & UAE Vision 2021 to make the UAE the Preferred Place to Live, Work & Visit.
About Microsoft Gulf
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) is the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile-first, cloud-first world, and its mission is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more. Microsoft Gulf opened its Dubai-based headquarters in 1991. Today, the Gulf office oversees Microsoft Gulf activities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and UAE. More information can be found here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gulf/
© Press Release 2017
