Four Senior Judges appointed to Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts

ABU DHABI 9th November 2015 (WAM) -- Abu Dhabi Global Market ADGM today announced the appointment of four judges to the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts; The Right Honourable Lord Mark Saville of Newdigate PC QC The Honourable Justice Kenneth Hayne AC The Right Honourable Sir Peter Blanchard PC KNZM and William D. Stone SBS QC.

All four judges will be responsible for presiding over ADGM's legal framework through ADGM Courts of the First Instance and of Appeal. ADGM Courts is one of the three independent authorities within ADGM and will have jurisdiction over all civil and commercial disputes on Al Maryah Island.

Commenting on the appointments Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh Chairman of ADGM said "The appointment of four highly respected and qualified judges to ADGM Courts has further strengthened ADGM's judicial capacity. The appointees bring vast experience and reaffirm ADGM's commitment to instituting a world class and robust legal framework for local regional and global organisations as they establish a business presence in our financial centre."

The Right Honourable Lord David Hope KT PC FRSE Chief Justice of Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts commented "I am delighted that judges of such outstanding calibre and experience have been willing to join us to serve as Judges to ADGM Courts. Their presence will serve to emphasise the character of the Courts as institutions of international excellence and our commitment to providing a service for the resolution of disputes that is of the highest quality."

The Right Honourable Lord Saville of Newdigate was appointed a Judge of the High Court of the United Kingdom in 1985 and for some years was in charge of the Commercial Court. He was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 1994 and became a Law Lord on his appointment to the House of Lords in 1997. In 2009 when the Law Lords became Justices of the new Supreme Court he became a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. He retired in 2010 but remains active as an international arbitrator specialising in commercial matters.

The Honourable Kenneth Madison Hayne served as a Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1997 to 2015. Prior to joining the High Court he was one of the founding members and appointees of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Victoria which was established in 1995. He was appointed a Companion in the Order of Australia in 2002.

The Right Honourable Sir Peter Blanchard served as a Judge in the senior courts of New Zealand for 20 years spending over 16 of those years as an appellate Judge. He was appointed a member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and became an original member of the Supreme Court of New Zealand when it replaced the Privy Council as New Zealand's highest court in 2004 receiving a Knighthood in 2009.

William D. Stone was appointed to the High Court of Hong Kong in 1997 and was placed in charge of the Commercial List within the High Court. He ran the Commercial Court for 15 years. In 2011 upon achieving the statutory retirement age of 65 Justice Stone left the High Court Bench. He remains active as an international arbitrator and mediates in international commercial disputes.

ADGM Courts is headed by Chief Justice The Right Honourable Lord David Hope. Earlier this month ADGM Courts announced the appointment of Linda Fitz-Alan as its Registrar and Chief Executive. ADGM Courts regulations and rules are currently undergoing open market consultation and are scheduled to be enacted before the end of the year.