SEPTEMBER 2004 - IMAC PARTICIPATES IN LOS ANGELES EUROPEAN UNION CONFERENCE

On May 1, 2004, in Dublin, Ireland, the leaders of the European Union gathered for a "Day of Welcomes" to celebrate the enlargement of the European Union from 15 to 25 member states. The new members are Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus and Malta.

The enlarged European Union comprises 450 million consumers, producing one quarter of the world's Gross Domestic Product, and is the largest common market in the world. Bilateral trade between the European Union countries and the United States are equally striking, accounting for one fifth of each other's bilateral trade. Bilateral investment exceeds one trillion dollars. Each day, the US and the EU conduct one billion dollars worth of trade. Four million American jobs depend on EU investment, and four million people in the EU owe their jobs to US companies.

In recognition of these significant historic and economic developments, the Law Committee of the British American Business Council Los Angeles (co-chaired by Paul J. Wright) and The State Bar of California, International Law Section, have organized an important Conference on "Doing Business in the Expanding European Union." This Conference takes place on September 15, 2004 at the Los Angeles Center Studios. Distinguished legal specialists from leading cross-border law firms in the EU and the US will present an overview of EU law and practice and a detailed analysis of doing business in the EU. There will also be a breakout panel on litigation within the EU and transatlantic alternative dispute resolution Moderated by Paul J. Wright on behalf of IMAC. Participants also include Roderick D. Margo, a leading Aviation lawyer and John Sharer, a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Both are members of the IMAC panel. In addition, panels comprising of Consuls General, trade representatives and Film Council representatives from ten current EU countries and two countries scheduled to become members in 2007 will discuss EU trade and investment and media/entertainment business opportunities in the EU.

The Conference will include welcome addresses from distinguished EU dignitaries and will utilize the state-of-the-art, high tech capabilities available at the Los Angeles Center Studios to feature a number of speakers (including Elizabeth Birch) appearing via live satellite feed from London.

APRIL 2004 - IMAC PARTICIPATES IN LONDON MARITIME CONGRESS

On April 27, 2004, ACI and IMAC presented a mock mediation of a complex international shipping dispute at the 15th International Congress of Maritime Arbitrators, which took place at the Millennium Mayfair Hotel in London, England. Speakers at this prestigious biannual Congress included the Rt. Hon. Alderman Robert Finch (Lord Mayor of the City of London), the Rt. Hon. Lord Bingham of Cornhill (a Senior Law Lord), the Rt Hon. Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers (Master of the Rolls) and leading international maritime arbitrators. Delegates from 26 countries were in attendance.

The mock mediation (expertly devised by Elizabeth Birch, founding director of ACI) comprised of US and UK parties represented by counsel from their respective countries. It was extremely well received by the international delegates and generated substantial interest in the associated IMAC and ACI panel of leading mediators and arbitrators, which was specifically formed to resolve international commercial disputes, including shipping matters. Both Elizabeth Birch and Paul J. Wright (founding director of IMAC) participated in the mock mediation.

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