AtlAS Desk Book 2020: The International Lawyer’s Dispute Resolution Manual

AtlAS, the Atlanta International Arbitration Society, announces the publication of the fourth edition of its manual. An annual project of the society, the book is intended as a consolidated resource and drafting guide for lawyers in practices related to international commercial arbitration. 

Renamed the “AtlAS Desk Book”, the manual is for the first time available on-line and can be consulted and downloaded without charge at: https://arbitrateatlanta.org/atlas-desk-book-2020/ 

The table of contents of the 618-page book is searchable and linked to each of its 41 chapters. In addition to the UNCITRAL Model Rules, arbitration rules and model clauses from eighteen of the world’s principal arbitral institutions appear in the book, including: 

• Arbitration Institute of Stockholm 

• Asia International Arbitration Centre (formerly Kuala Lumpur International Arbitration Centre) 

• Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration 

• Center for Arbitration and Mediation of the Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce 

• British Virgin Islands International Arbitration Centre 

• China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) 

• CPR Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution 

• Deutsche Institution Fur Schiedsgericthtsbarkeit (DIS) 

• Henning Mediation and Arbitration Services 

• Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) 

• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) 

• JAMS 

• London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) 

• Singapore International Arbitration Centre 

• Swiss Chamber’s Arbitration Institution 

• Vienna International Arbitral Centre 

• World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Mediation Centre (WIPO) 

The book also contains arbitral convention materials (New York and Singapore) and statutory provisions (United States and UNCITRAL Model Law). Drafting guides provided by the International Bar Association, the International Centre for Dispute Resolution and JAMS are reprinted in the book along with prominent “soft law” publications by the International Bar Association dealing with the admission of evidence, conflicts and party representation and the 2018 Prague Rules.. A newly added chapter details steps taken by AtlAS to develop Atlanta as a venue for international dispute resolution. Updated chapters discuss the advantages favoring the use of Atlanta as an arbitral seat under Georgia and United States law.

Chapter 21 is a chart comparing various aspects of the rules contained the desk book. Originally prepared by Elizabeth Silbert of King & Spalding and edited and amplified by Troy Covington and Ashwadha Manoharan, copies while available, can be obtained by emailing shelby.grubbs@grubbsADR.com. 

Andy Tuck, a partner at Alston & Bird and the current AtlAS president noted: “We are grateful to the editorial team consisting of Ashwadha Manoharan, a lawyer qualified in India and currently a JD candidate at Emory University, and Heather Kuhn, an inhouse lawyer at Cox Communications, Inc. in Atlanta, Shelby Grubbs of Grubbs ADR and, most especially to the tireless Kirk Watkins, a former AtlAS president, who annually takes on the massive task of formatting the book. As in the past, thanks also go to the world’s premier institutions for kindly permitting AtlAS to republish their materials.” 

Glenn Hendrix, the founding president of AtlAS noted that the book is dedicated to Ben Greer, a former president of AtlAS and for many years to head of the international practice at Alston & Bird. Mr Hendrix stated: “Ben’s work in various contexts – at Lex Mundi, at the IBA, with the ABA and the State Bar of Georgia and in private practice – have all contributed to the international rule of law and to raising the profile of Atlanta as an international city.”