Andrew Spink QC appointed to judicial role at new commercial court in Kazakhstan

Andrew Spink QC, joint Head of Outer Temple Chambers, London, has been appointed to a prestigious judicial position at the new commercial court in Kazakhstan.

Andrew is one of a selected number of highly respected UK judges and senior lawyers chosen to help spearhead a modernisation programme in Kazakhstan involving the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), with a view to making it the leading financial centre in Central Asia. A new AIFC Court and International Arbitration Centre will resolve commercial disputes arising in this fast-developing and commercially very active part of the world, applying AIFC Law, which is essentially English common law.

Lord Woolf, formerly Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, has been appointed Chief Justice of the new Court. Andrew Spink QC, together with Sir Robin Jacob, Sir Stephen Richards, Sir Jack Beatson, Sir Rupert Jackson and Lord Faulks QC, have been appointed Justices of the Court to hear first instance cases in the principal first tier-court and to sit when required in the appeal court. The judicial team is completed by Tom Montagu-Smith QC, and Patricia Edwards who will sit as judges in the small claims court applying a fast-track procedure.

In an article in The Times on 1 February 2018, Lord Woolf outlined what he sees as the diplomatic benefit to the UK, and English Law in particular, to be gained from the establishment of the AIFC Court and International Arbitration Centre and Kazakhstan’s decision to base the law of the AIFC on English common law: “The court will promote English commercial law and recognition of the importance of the rule of law. It builds up links between a fast-developing country in Eastern and Central Asia and the UK – so they will look to us for advice and guidance.”

This appointment is a part-time commitment. Andrew will be maintaining his national and international commercial practice at Outer Temple Chambers.

To read more about the new Court and its recent appointments, click here for the Times article published on Thursday 1 February 2018.

News 2 Feb, 2018