On 6 July 2016, Ashurst and the Australian Maritime and Transport and Arbitration Commission (AMTAC) co-hosted a seminar in Brisbane to celebrate AMTAC’s 10th Anniversary. The seminar was titled “Current Issues for Maritime Law Practitioners” and was held in the Common Room at the Inns of Court.
Presentations were given by the Honourable Justice Reeves, Patrick Quirk (General Manager, Maritime Safety Queensland), and Adrian Duffy QC.
Justice Reeves spoke about “Judicial Specialisation – the Federal Court’s National Court Framework: International Arbitration and Admiralty”, and made thoughtful observations about the intersection between arbitration and litigation. Mr Quick gave an overview of key current issues in maritime safety and operations in Queensland; and Mr Duffy QC spoke about key features of resolving disputes by arbitration.
The event was well attended by an array of practitioners and clients, as well as members of the Queensland judiciary. The success of the event demonstrates the vibrancy of maritime arbitration in Australia, 10 years after the establishment of AMTAC in 2006.