Uploaded November 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
BOOK REVIEW
MORE DISPUTES AND DIFFERENCES
Essays on the History of Arbitration and its Continuing Relevance
By Derek Roebuck
Edited by Susanna Hoe
ISBN 978 1 91963 183 7
THE ARBITRATION PRESS/HOLO BOOKS
holobooks.co.uk
A FINE TRIBUTE TO DEREK
An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator
In some ways, Derek Roebuck’s last book “More Disputes and Differences: Essays on the History of Arbitration and its Continuing Relevance” remains a work in progress. And he had a special rule that, where possible, he would suggest what research still needed to be done, hence 'ADR in Business: Topics for Research' (2012). Whatever one’s view of ADR, it is here to stay even though the less convinced practitioner may dispute the concept (as many clients do!).
This book has been edited by Susanna Hoe. It comprises articles, lectures and chapters dating from Derek’s 2010 volume “Disputes and Differences: Comparisons in Law, Language and History”. Although the chapters of that earlier, thematic work were quite disparate, this book, particularly the contents in Part 1, entitled 'The Past', covers the history of arbitration and mediation from prehistory to the early nineteenth century.
What makes this volume particularly interesting to us is that it is possible, on a chapter-by-chapter basis, to conclude “which of Derek's multi-volume histories he was working on at the time, and what other works he was reading or hearing then”.
Readers will find this point well illustrated by the final essay in Part 1 - 'A Pinch of Reality: Private Dispute Resolution in 18th Century England (2019)'. We then move on to Part 2 entitled 'Past, Present and Future' (2013). It begins with 'The Future of Arbitration' (2013) which embraces just that, finishing with 'Keeping an Eye on Fundamentals' (2012). And finally, in Part 3, 'Language, Research and Comparison', the collection features fascinating commentaries which illustrate the author's particular interests and their connection to arbitration and its history.
Sadly, this is the last volume which was worked on by Derek Roebuck. Unfortunately, though not quite completed before his death in 2020, the rich detail has, therefore, been prepared for publication by his widow, and sometimes co-author, women's historian Susanna Hoe.
The final chapter - 'Return to that Other Country: Legal History and Comparative Law' (2019) – “one of the last pieces written”, says it all. We will miss Derek’s tremendous range of knowledge in what will continue to be a developing area of dispute resolution. But we have his books, and for us, the memory of his undoubted learning and erudite wisdom contained in what he has left us. Thank you, Derek, and Susanna for this last tribute.
The date of publication of this new hardback edition from Holo Books and the Arbitration Press is cited as 5th November 2022.
BOOK REVIEW
MORE DISPUTES AND DIFFERENCES
Essays on the History of Arbitration and its Continuing Relevance
By Derek Roebuck
Edited by Susanna Hoe
ISBN 978 1 91963 183 7
THE ARBITRATION PRESS/HOLO BOOKS
holobooks.co.uk
A FINE TRIBUTE TO DEREK
An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator
In some ways, Derek Roebuck’s last book “More Disputes and Differences: Essays on the History of Arbitration and its Continuing Relevance” remains a work in progress. And he had a special rule that, where possible, he would suggest what research still needed to be done, hence 'ADR in Business: Topics for Research' (2012). Whatever one’s view of ADR, it is here to stay even though the less convinced practitioner may dispute the concept (as many clients do!).
This book has been edited by Susanna Hoe. It comprises articles, lectures and chapters dating from Derek’s 2010 volume “Disputes and Differences: Comparisons in Law, Language and History”. Although the chapters of that earlier, thematic work were quite disparate, this book, particularly the contents in Part 1, entitled 'The Past', covers the history of arbitration and mediation from prehistory to the early nineteenth century.
What makes this volume particularly interesting to us is that it is possible, on a chapter-by-chapter basis, to conclude “which of Derek's multi-volume histories he was working on at the time, and what other works he was reading or hearing then”.
Readers will find this point well illustrated by the final essay in Part 1 - 'A Pinch of Reality: Private Dispute Resolution in 18th Century England (2019)'. We then move on to Part 2 entitled 'Past, Present and Future' (2013). It begins with 'The Future of Arbitration' (2013) which embraces just that, finishing with 'Keeping an Eye on Fundamentals' (2012). And finally, in Part 3, 'Language, Research and Comparison', the collection features fascinating commentaries which illustrate the author's particular interests and their connection to arbitration and its history.
Sadly, this is the last volume which was worked on by Derek Roebuck. Unfortunately, though not quite completed before his death in 2020, the rich detail has, therefore, been prepared for publication by his widow, and sometimes co-author, women's historian Susanna Hoe.
The final chapter - 'Return to that Other Country: Legal History and Comparative Law' (2019) – “one of the last pieces written”, says it all. We will miss Derek’s tremendous range of knowledge in what will continue to be a developing area of dispute resolution. But we have his books, and for us, the memory of his undoubted learning and erudite wisdom contained in what he has left us. Thank you, Derek, and Susanna for this last tribute.
The date of publication of this new hardback edition from Holo Books and the Arbitration Press is cited as 5th November 2022.
