Welcome to RESOLVE Abu Dhabi International Dispute Resolution Forum

Your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the fourth edition of Resolve, the Abu Dhabi International Dispute Resolution Forum. My name is Rachel Pther and I have the pleasure of being your MC today. I've also been a resident of Abu Dhabi for almost 18 years now and a tenant of ADGM since it first opened back in 2015 during my time with MBA. So I can honestly say that it's a great place to live and do business knowing that you're supported by this not only a robust judicial system but also a really progressive and technologically advanced one. I would like to personally thank our partners, the UAE Ministry of Justice, the Judicial Department, Arbitrate AD, innovation partner, Altameian Co.

and knowledge partner Lexus Nexus for bringing together such a world-class local and international community for this fourth edition. Now, building on the success of the previous three editions, this year's forum is held under the theme of courage. The official dictionary definition of the word courage is strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger or difficulty. But I appreciate we have a number of lawyers in the room and you understand ethmology perhaps better than anyone. But the word courage actually comes from the Latin core meaning heart.

So I would like to widen the dictionary definition to be strength of mind and heart to carry on in spite of danger or difficulty. We have a number of fantastic speakers today that have overcome challenges legal or otherwise with clarity, conviction, and strength of heart. So, what to expect today? Key discussions will include how AI is redefining legal strategy, how crypto innovation is testing jurisdictional boundaries, and how titans of industry are confronting complexity and regulatory scrutiny.