6. News from the National Chapters

ITALY

With deep sorrow I announce the unexpected and untimely death of the Assistant General Secretary General Dr. Brando Battistig, affected by a disease that appeared to be improving and that instead it has quickly lead him to leave all of us.

For the whole Association this is a big void. Dr. Battistig has passionately and for many years dedicated to AIDA a continuous and effective commitment. He has always been active in contributing to the reciprocal knowledge, the comparison and the rapprochement of the legal cultures of the insurance represented in the Association by constantly taking part in the international activity of AIDA.

Professor Agostino Gambino Vice-President AIDA

UK:

The British Chapter of AIDA, British Insurance Law Association (BILA), is the organiser of the London Colloquia which are held every two to three years and an active participant of AIDA's quadrennial world congresses. The BILA's most recent Colloquium was held on 16-17 May 2002 under the theme "Brave New World" and discussed the most relevant legal and insurance issues following the September 11th terrorist attacks in the United States. (please see previous AIDA Mail for more details) BILA intends to stage the next London Colloquium in 2004.

BILA hosts a regular series of lunchtime lectures and the programme for 2003 includes lectures on asbestos claims and contaminated land insurance.

On 11 February 2003 the annual BILA President's lunch took place, the theme of which was "Reform, Research and Resources".

A further highlight in BILA's 2003 Programme is a Claims conference, to take place on 16 May 2003 in London.

To view BILA's programme for 2003, please click on the link below:
http://www.bila.org.uk/program.htm

To view the most recent lectures such as " The Developments of Insurance Litigation over 25 years" or "A review of the Law Commissions 'Report on the Third Parties' " please click the link below. This link will also give to access to an archive of lecture scripts dating back to 2000.
http://www.bila.org.uk/lecture.htm

THE VIII IBERO-LATIN-AMERICAN CONGRESS ON INSURANCE LAW IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL ON 30 APRIL, 1 AND 2 MAY 2003

The Brazilian AIDA Chapter is organizing the VIII Congress of CILA - Iberian Latin-American Committee. The congress will take place in Rio de Janeiro, at the Sofitel Hotel, from April 30th until May 2nd 2003.

The Congress will pay particular attention to the topics such as "Insurance, Reinsurance and Terrorism", "Pension funds in the XXI century", "Insurance Fraud", "Legal problems on the workers compensation insurance - models and experiences", "New forms of life insurance development" and "Mediation and arbitration in insurance and reinsurance". On May 2, 2003, the scheduling is assigned to the Working Party Meetings. There would be simultaneous translation from and into Portuguese, Spanish and English. For full information on the programme please visit the Brazilian Section's website at www.aida.org.br where an online registration from is also available.