Access to justice is a fundamental right, but for many individuals, businesses, and organisations in Africa, traditional court systems are slow, inefficient, and expensive. This has led to a growing demand for alternative dispute resolution methods that are faster, more efficient, and more cost-effective. E-Arbitrator, a digital platform that connects businesses, organisations and individuals with qualified arbitrators, mediators, and other dispute resolution specialists, is one such solution. The platform recently took third place at the Hague Institute of Law (HiiL) 2023 Innovating Justice Awards.

Angelo Kweli, the founder of E-Arbitrator, explained the idea for E-Arbitrator came from his personal experience with a long drawn-out court commercial land case that is still ongoing five years later. “This led to frustration with the traditional dispute resolution method and a desire to promote access to justice,” he said. “I had considerable experience and a background in e-commerce connecting people and products online, and knew I could use the same systems and technology, this time to connect people with dispute resolution specialists.” 

One of the benefits of using E-Arbitrator is convenience. Users can submit their case and evidence online and participate in hearings remotely. This saves time and money, especially for SMEs involved in cross-border trade in the East African Community. 

Kweli pointed out that “E-Arbitrator provides qualified arbitrators with expertise in international trade law, ensuring that disputes are resolved in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.”

Legal fees can be prohibitive, especially for small businesses, but E-Arbitrator provides access to qualified experts at a fraction of the cost of traditional legal services. Kweli noted that the platform has a high success rate in resolving disputes, with the majority of cases being resolved within weeks of being submitted. 

E-Arbitrator also ensures impartiality and transparency in the selection of arbitrators and mediators. Confidentiality and security are top priorities, so the platform is built with state-of-the-art security features, including data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular security audits. 

Kweli highlighted that E-Arbitrator also provides tools to avoid disputes in the first place. The legal AI tool enables users to generate contracts for various fields such as construction, oil and gas, and finance. Once contracts and clauses are generated, users can engage a legal expert from anywhere in Africa to review and explain the contract clauses based on local jurisdiction and country-specific law. 

The significance of E-Arbitrator in the African market is clear. According to Kweli, there are more than 11 000 pending commercial cases in East Africa alone. These cases go unresolved because of the insufficient number of judges to hear them. Resolving commercial disputes quickly and efficiently on platforms like E-Arbitrator is critical to enhancing economic growth, promoting secure property rights, and increasing access to credit.

For more information about joining the platform as an arbitrator/mediator or to gain access to the legal AI tool, visit their website or email info@e-arbitrator.com 

For more information on this year’s HiiL Justice Accelerator Programme click here.

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