KUALA LUMPUR: Even before the London Olympics began on Saturday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport was already operational – with a Malaysian on board.
The Lausanne-based CAS has had an ad-hoc division in London from July 17. The London tribunal is presided over by Judge Juan Torruella of Puerto Rico and Gunnar Werner of Sweden.
The tribunal consists of 12 arbitrators from 12 countries, all of whom are lawyers or professors specialising in sports law and arbitration.
Among them is Malaysian Datuk Thomas Lee, a senior partner at law firm Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill.
Lee has also served as an arbitrator during the 2000 Sydney and 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as the Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
“All arbitrators must be lawyers with a background in sport.
“In my case, I have been in involved with golf internationally and nationally for a long time as well as tennis,” said the former president of the Malaysian Golf Association in an e-mail interview from London.
At the Sydney Olympics, Lee arbitrated in two appeals that involved drugs.
“In Beijing, I had a case involving nationality and another involved a wrestler who lost a silver medal bout.”
As for the difference between sports and international commercial arbitration, Lee said arbitrations at the Olympics “are usually concluded in a day and decisions rendered within 24 hours”.
“Commercial arbitrations can last much longer,” said Lee who likes watching athletics, swimming, gymnastics and tennis.
“If (Datuk) Lee Chong Wei gets to the final (in badminton), I hope to be able to support (him).”
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Kuala Lumpur Bar Strategic Litigation Camp (21 to 23 June 2013) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Young Lawyers Committee and the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights, this event will be held at the Firefly Park Resort, Kuala Selangor, from 21 to 23 June 2013 (Friday to Sunday). Click on the link above for more details.
Kuala Lumpur Bar Luncheon: Feast with the Giants of the Bar (22 June 2013) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Pupils Welfare Committee and Young Lawyers Committee, this event will be held at 12:00 noon, at The Smokehouse Restaurant, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar, on 22 June 2013 (Saturday). Click on the link above for more details.
The Legacy Series | Gopal Sri Ram Lectures (June and July 2013) Organised by the Bar Council Professional Standards and Development Committee, these lectures by Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram will be held at 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, at Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 24 June 2013 (Monday), and 9, 16 and 23 July 2013 (Tuesdays). The lectures carry two CPD points each. Click on the link above for more details.
Kuala Lumpur Bar Seminar on the Torrens System and Equitable Principles (2 July 2013) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, this session by SY Kok will be held at 3:00 pm, at Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, Wisma Kraftangan, on 2 July 2013 (Tuesday). The seminar carries two CPD points. Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on Medical Disability and the Assessment of Damages (6 and 7 July 2013) Co-organised by Malaysian Occupational Therapy Association, Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society and Perdana University, in collaboration with Bar Council, this seminar will be held at Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur, on 6 and 7 July 2013 (Saturday and Sunday). The seminar carries 10 CPD points. Click on the link above for more details.
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Circular No 141/2013: Closure of the Bar Council Library on 22 June 2013 (Saturday)
