On 11 and 12 June, this year’s DIS/DIS40 Retreat took place at the DIS office in Bonn. DIS40 Co‑Chairs, regional Co-Chairs and DIS representatives, including Secretary General Ramona Schardt and members of the DIS Case Management Team, came together for two days of engaging discussions.
The programme offered a lively mix of substantive input and interactive formats, including a keynote by Thomas Winter and Sophie Thürk on recent German Federal Court of Justice case law in arbitration. Participants also engaged in a forward-looking discussion on the German Arbitration Digest, building on the existing collaboration between the DIS and DIS40 and exploring additional ways to further strengthen their joint efforts to make arbitration-related decisions of the highest German courts accessible and visible to a global audience. The DIS Case Management Team provided an insightful presentation on cost decisions and the determination of the amount in dispute, offering valuable practical guidance particularly for younger arbitrators.
The second day focused on collaboration and the future of the DIS40, with participants working in small workshops on ideas for strengthening cooperation between the DIS and DIS40. The workshops sparked lively discussions on the role and identity of the DIS40 and explored how and where the organisation should continue to grow and evolve. Participants also discussed potential marketing initiatives for the DIS and DIS40, reflected on the core strengths of the DIS40 and discussed how to create meaningful added value for the German arbitration community. The presentation of results highlighted the creativity and commitment within the network. Overall, the retreat offered a particularly collegial atmosphere, with ample opportunities for informal exchange, networking, and reconnecting across the DIS40 community. It provided an inspiring platform for shaping the future of the DIS40 and enhancing collaboration with the DIS, while further strengthening the strong sense of community that defines the network.
If you have ideas as to how the DIS and DIS40 could further promote arbitration in Germany and create more value for our members – and especially if you would like to actively contribute to help us do so – please feel free to get in touch with us by email at dis40(at)disarb.org.
Greta Körner
