Supreme Court judges hold first official meeting with colleagues from the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts (SIFoCC)

Among the participants of the event were Larysa Rohach, President of the Commercial Cassation Court of the Supreme Court, Supreme Court judges Olena Kibenko, Kostiantyn Pilkov, Ivan Mishchenko and Head of the Division for International Cooperation of the Supreme Court Lina Hubar, as well as former Chief Justice of the High Court of England and Wales, President of the International Court of Justice of Qatar Lord Thomas Cwmgiedd, on whose initiative the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts (SIFoCC) was established in 2017, Judge Robin Knowles of the High Court of England and Wales and Head of the SIFoCC Secretariat Niké Adewale.

Recently, the Supreme Court joined the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts, and Ukraine became the 58th jurisdiction in the network of commercial courts. The online meeting focused on specific opportunities for cooperation between Ukraine and the SIFoCC, as well as joint initiatives to strengthen the capacity of commercial litigation in Ukraine, exchange of experience in resolving commercial disputes, and the introduction of new approaches that will increase the level of rule of law by commercial courts.

The discussion focused on the experience of the judicial system during the war, which Ukraine can share with other countries participating in the forum. In addition, the meeting noted Ukraine's involvement in the international community to improve the quality of justice and the effective operation of commercial courts. At the same time, on the path to EU integration, an important task is to gain investors' trust and ensure the implementation of best practices in the work of commercial courts, an important element of which will be Ukraine's cooperation with the SIFoCC.  

For reference. The Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts (SIFoCC) was established in May 2017 and unites 58 countries, including Ukraine, which became a full member on 29 May 2024. The three key objectives of the SIFoCC are:

1. Sharing best practices: The SIFoCC aims to facilitate the exchange of best practices among commercial courts to successfully adapt to a rapidly evolving business environment.
2. Promoting the Rule of Law: By working together, judicial institutions collectively contribute to a more effective legal system that promotes global stability and prosperity.
3. Supporting developing jurisdictions: The SIFoCC helps developing countries attract systemic investment by providing reliable mechanisms for resolving commercial disputes, aligning its efforts with the initiatives of international organisations such as the World Bank.