ArbitralWomen and Dispute Resolution Data (DRD) are delighted to announce having entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote diversity in ADR, a few weeks after Diana Droulers succeeded Bill Slate as the new CEO of DRD. Diana Droulers, along with Debi Slate, DRD’s Co-Founder and COO, are both ArbitralWomen Founding Members and former Board Directors. ArbitralWomen is thrilled to see Diana and Debi leading a pioneering initiative that offers the benefits of data analytics.
The DRD global database allows users to access yearly trends starting in 2005 and set multi-year parameters in their data and statistical searches. DRD’s dynamic data is unique in its uniformity and sheds light on many aspects of international arbitration and mediation that were previously not accessible. DRD addressed the vision of Bill and Debi Slate, to better equip international arbitration and mediation with data that supplement lawyers’ knowledge and confidence via uniform data-based statistics and analysis. The mission of DRD is to enhance and expand the practice of arbitration and mediation through the collection and dissemination of trusted aggregated case data, while maintaining confidentiality, a key component for DRD. This data provides insights into ADR practices and trends for parties, dispute resolution institutions, advocates, arbitrators, mediators, researchers and policy makers.
DRD is the first and only global database pertaining to international commercial arbitration and mediation dispositions. Global Arbitration Review (GAR) awarded DRD in 2017 the Best Innovation by an Individual or Organization award. This innovation refers to the development of a robust, dynamic database, now over 5,000 cases and 172,000 data points, for data collection and reporting. The number of institutions contributing their closed case data has more than doubled from nine in 2015 to nineteen in 2021. Thus far the data that has been contributed includes data from CACC, ICDR, CEDR, ACICA, CAM, CECAP CAM Santiago, BCDR, CANACO, CCB, CAM-CCBC, CEDCA, CRC, ICC, VIAC, CAINCO, MCIA, MIAC, CAC with more on the horizon. DRD is grateful that so many institutions understand the value of the DRD’s mission to advocate for transparency and inclusiveness in international commercial arbitral data in order to enhance the abilities of those working within this area.
To effectively be available to those wanting the most current data, DRD offers “on-demand” customized reports, as well as the ability to have API access. Look for more information in the coming months as DRD becomes a universal resource in the field of international commercial arbitration.
DRD first began collecting gender information on arbitrator tribunals by case type and region when it became a signatory of the Equal Representation in Arbitration pledge in 2015. The diversity data collected shows incremental progress of the number of female arbitrators. While more progress is needed, Diana and Debi are happy to see the changes in a field where they have contributed to promote gender diversity.
In addition to bringing her experience as former Executive Director of the Centro de Arbitraje de la Cámara de Caracas (CACC) for sixteen years, President of IFCAI for eight years, member of the ICC Court for a second mandate of three years, and former Latin America Advisor for DRD for five years, Diana has continuously promoted female practitioners in Latin America (click here to see an interview with Diana published in ArbitralWomen Newsletter 2014). Diana and Debi, former National Vice President of Online Dispute Resolution with American Arbitration Association, combine an invaluable experience in international dispute resolution, which will help them steer DRD as it becomes a necessary resource for anyone working in the international ADR field.
Debi commented, “Diana was the natural choice to follow Bill as she has been integrally involved with DRD since its start five years ago. She immediately understood the necessity and benefits to the world of international commercial arbitration that DRD’s data analytics could provide. We are pleased to have Diana at the helm moving DRD forward.”
Submitted by Diana Droulers, CEO of DRD, and Debi Slate, Co-Founder and COO of DRD – both former ArbitralWomen Board members.