History of arbitration project receives generous support

A research project to investigate the history of arbitration in the 19th century will go ahead at the University, thanks to the support of the international arbitral community.

Access to Justice: Arbitration and Mediation in 19th Century England will follow on from Professor Derek Roebuck’s 20-year landmark study into the history of arbitration which, since 2013, has been hosted at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS), part of the University’s School of Advanced Study.

A prolific writer of arbitration history, Derek was a Senior Associate Research Fellow at IALS. His research was staunchly supported by Johnny Veeder QC, an influential figure in the field of arbitration. Sadly, both Johnny and Derek passed away in 2020. IALS has had an ambition to complete the final volume of this important historical study in memory of both Johnny and Derek.

The University has almost reached its target of £170,000 in donations, ensuring that this monumental series will be completed. We would like to sincerely thank all those in the international arbitral community who have so generously supported this fundraising effort. Beyond the academic impact, this initiative will be well-placed to inform Government policy, and to provide robust historical foundations to debates around arbitral practice.

To commemorate Johnny’s and Derek’s contribution to IALS and to the wider scholarship, the Institute and the University of London are very pleased to be naming the main event space in IALS in their honour. The VeederRoebuck Conference Room will also house a plaque to acknowledge and thank the most generous donors who have supported the project.

For more information on the project, please contact development@london.ac.uk