Twenty european firms take part in the Annual World Services Group meeting in Barcelona
International arbitration and alternative forms of mediation were the main talking points at the conference held by the European branch
Twenty law firms from throughout Europe attended the annual meeting of the World Services Group held in Barcelona, an international network of professionals which draws together firms from across the globe. The meeting took place at the Hotel AC Miramar in Barcelona, where the debate centered on legal issues of international interest, such as alternative dispute resolution solutions. The alternatives under analysis included arbitration as a rapid means to settle disputes without the need to go to court.
Twenty law firms from throughout Europe attended the annual meeting of the World Services Group held in Barcelona, an international network of professionals which draws together firms from across the globe. The meeting took place at the Hotel AC Miramar in Barcelona, where the debate centered on legal issues of international interest, such as alternative dispute resolution solutions. The alternatives under analysis included arbitration as a rapid means to settle disputes without the need to go to court.
The World Services Group conference was organized by Garrigues, the sole Spanish member of the worldwide network. The World Services Group is a multidisciplinary group of professionals that brings together law firms, architects, economists and environmental experts, among other areas of expertise. The network was designed to provide member firms with support and advice from the finest professionals in the international arena.
In the words of Ramón Bustillo, a director of the World Services Group and a partner at Garrigues, the aim of the annual gathering was to “share knowledge and analyze how certain disputes are settled in different European countries in order to be able to offer clients the best solutions when a problem needs to be resolved or advice is required to close a transaction”. According to Mercedes Tarrazón, the main speaker at the conference, “it is not always necessary to go to court, and it is therefore a good idea to study alternative methods of dispute resolution, such as arbitration or mediation”.
Spain’s bid to become an international benchmark in legal matters has led to the recent creation of the Spanish Arbitration Club, headed by Garrigues’ managing partner José Maria Alonso, who stated “we aim to make Spain a veritable nerve center for international arbitration, a place where disputes which were previously referred to the arbitration courts of Paris or Geneva can be resolved.”