Ms Mary Howard
International Commercial Arbitrator, Secretary of the SEB CIArb (South East branch)
LLM, PGD in Oil and Gas Law, FCIArb, MIBA, MCMI, Mbiicl, GradEI, M.Inst.Pa. MSSSPG.
Profile: Ms. M. Howard is the company director,she is a Qualified International Arbitrator specializing in Oil and Gas Law.
A major challenge in international interactions is the cultural barrier between western customs, attitudes and those of other parts of the world, for example the Middle East.
With a deep understanding of both cultures it is possible to understand not just what is happening on the surface but the thought processes of various parties. Equally important is an understanding of what works best and what does not work on each side.
Ms. Howard has extensive experience in legal consulting, training, advice, writing/editing contracts and advocacy including the High Courts of Justice in London with extensive negotiation and out of court settlement skills. She is the Secretary of the South East Branch of the Charted Institute of Arbitrators. In addition to Masters level academic training in writing awards and contracts, posses hands on practical experience in legal procedures, including Claim handling and case management.
Mr. RODERICK DANIEL O’DRISCOLL
FCIArb, MBEng.
Solicitor of the Supreme Court
Chartered Arbitrator
Accredited Mediator
Notary Public
Mr Roderick O’Driscoll is a Chartered Arbitrator, Accredited Mediator, a Notary Public and a qualified Solicitor of the Supreme Court.
Mr O'Driscoll was admitted as a solicitor in 1967 and has specialised in Construction and commercial matters for over twenty years. He became a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in 1991 and an accredited mediator in 1996. As well as acting in a private capacity in the above, he has for the last ten years or so lectured and run courses for the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and others in all forms of ADR. He currently acts as an assessor and moderator for the Institute in Arbitration and mediation. His practical experience has primarily included the resolution of all forms of commercial disputes, and building and civil engineering projects both here and abroad and, as a solicitor, he has had a full working experience of the Court practices and systems.
Legal Professional History
March 1957 to 1962 • Articled to the Rt. Hon. Lewis Silkin - Minister of Town & Country Planning of Lewis Silkin & Partners, Stories Gate, Westminster, London
March 1962 • Qualified Solicitor of the Supreme Court and became Partner in Lewis Silkin & Partners practising from Storey’s gate, London
March 1970 • Appointment as Notary Public
1972 – 2001 • As Senior Partner in Roderick O’Driscoll & Partners, Maidstone, Kent specialising in commercial, industrial and building disputes principally in the High Court.
• Practising advocate in Magistrates, County Courts and Official Referee’s Court with experience of Court of Appeal and House of Lords.
• Involvement in Official Referee’s Court (now Technology and Construction Court) as advocate and instructing solicitor relating to disputes concerned with general construction matters.
• Instructed by many large companies in Europe and throughout the world dealing in a number of international cases.
2001 – 2008 • As Senior Partner in Gulland & Gulland, Maidstone, Kent as Head of Construction and Arbitration Department.
Current Professional Activities:
Practising Arbitrator and Mediator
Legal Adviser on all ADR matters
Course lecturer, tutor, and examiner for CIArb.
Provision of Notarial Services
Memberships and associated activities
The Law Society of England.
The Institute of Chartered Arbitrators..
Fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Panel member of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Accredited Mediator (CIArb)
Assessor for Mediation Accreditation for the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Member of the Law Society Arbitration Panel
Professional member of the Dispute Resolution Board Federation
Approved Member of the Civil Mediation Council
Founder member of Keep Talking Eu (mediation suppliers)
Approved Tutor for the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Member of the Association of Building Engineers
Honorary Life Member of the Institute of Clerks of Works
Member of the Society of Construction Arbitrators
Member of the European Court d’Arbitage, Strasbourg
SICA FICA, (an international organisation dealing with dispute resolution.)
Lecturer and author of several articles on Arbitration Law
Co-founder of the South Eastern Dispute and Arbitration Centre
Vice Chairman of South East Branch of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
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Synopsis of previous experience and case work
Roderick has been involved in several hundred cases in his capacity as Arbitrator and/or Mediator both international and domestic, involving commercial, construction and engineering issues. He has gained close familiarity with all the principle forms of construction contracts. His experience extends to all types of building and civil engineering matters and he has a detailed knowledge of prolongation issues.
His commercial experience covers all forms of agreements including, amongst other subjects, intellectual property, partnership agreements, franchise agreements, Landlord and Tenant, and boundary issues.
In recent years, he has been involved both as advocate, mediator and as arbitrator in a number of International and Domestic disputes and issues involving commercial and construction cases. His appointments, other than private appointments, are made by the Law Society or the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and he is a panel member of both organisations. He now regularly assesses and moderates for the CIArb.
(2009 edition)
Mr. Jonathan Hall
Solicitor
Mr Hall was qualified as a solicitor in May 1978,
He was awarded BA (Hons) from the University of Cambridge.
Mr Hall has over thirty years of practice in Property law and currently is part of a team at ENG Focus Legal Services.
Mr Hall designs and runs varies workshops on Property Law at EnG Focus Legal Services as well as case work and legal advise.
Mr. Robert Babak Madadi Howard
Senior Analyst
Profile: Since 2005 Robert Babak Madadi Howard's main multidisciplinary research focus has been on the heterogeneous nature of systemic effects precipitated by the interaction of the twin challenges in energy and finance. In simple terms, how big an effect, how soon, and what does it look like in a specific locality or sector. His other research projects have included nanotechnology and Artificial Intelligence between 1994 and 2005.
Trained in engineering, electronics and IT. With over 20 Years Experience in engineering, IT and financial systems gained as a senior IT consultant and business analyst for major global companies.
He has acted as a key senior consulted on several multi billion dollar projects. His clients have included BOC Gases, Thermo Electron Corporation, NFC Plc, Capgemeni Ernst and Young, Lloyds TSB, Barclays bank, Hyder Plc, NTL, FOX Network, NHS, Pfizer and the Inland Revenue. His experience includes Real time process control, computerised mechatronics, computerised Telecomms exchange software, real time tracking and packet switch communication systems, computerised vacuum pumps for the semiconductor industry, medical systems, financial systems development and business process analysis.
Mr R.B.M Howard is the company Secretary and the company's business and investment analyst as well as the company's IT Consultant.
Ms. K. Gillet
Finance Manager
Profile: Before joining the team Kathryn had spent 28 years in the finance sector, gaining experience working for a major high street bank. Serving as a Finance Manager she managed budgets, forecasts and provided financial reports. Ms Gillet is the company's accounts and admin Manager.