Baku, FinanceTime. the Conference on “Judicial Reforms in Azerbaijan: Public Discussion with AmCham” took place to focus on the issues arising from the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on İntensifying Reforms in Judicial and Legal System of April 3, 2019. High-level officials from the Presidential Administration and the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan as well as more than 150 AmCham members, partners and representatives of the diplomatic corps participated at the event.

Mrs. Natavan Mammadova, Executive Director of AmCham Azerbaijan, and Mr. Nuran Kerimov, President of the Chamber, delivered opening speeches, welcomed the Conference participants and briefed them about the mission of the Conference and major importance of judicial-legal reforms to further promotion and acceleration of the economic development of Azerbaijan.

Then, the floor was passed to Mr. Gunduz Karimov, Aide to the First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who shared the latest updates on the judicial-legal reforms in Azerbaijan. Referring to the role of the event, he stressed upon that having such kind of business-to-government meetings is essential for the representatives of the private sector to get updated on the judicial-legal reforms agenda in the country and engaged with its ongoing progress. Mr. Karimov reiterated that the very reforms reflect the commitment of the Government to create favorable legal mechanisms for the effective protection of rights of both local businesses and foreign investors.

Afterwards, Mr. Ilgar Mehti, Member of the Board of Directors of AmCham and Managing Partner of Ekvita, summed up the position and expectations of the Chamber towards the judicial-legal reforms in Azerbaijan. He passed the floor toMr. Vusal Isayev, Head of Legal Services Sector of the Department of Work with Law Enforcement Bodies and Military Issues at the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Azer Jafarov, Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ramin Gurbanov, Judge in Baku City Yasamal District Court, President of European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), Mr. Gorkhmaz Aghayev, Head of Legal Department of AtaHolding, Mr. James Hogan, Managing Partner of Dentons Baku, who spoke onthe main directions of the judicial-legal reforms in the country and increasing effectiveness of mechanisms of justice, addressed the issues related to access to justice, including the establishment of specialized courts, enforcement of court decisions, the prospects of developing mediation and arbitration practices.

The Conference closed on a dynamic Q&A session.