95% of our virtual hearings are conducted on Zoom. We can, however, use other platforms if preferred , including Cisco WebEx, Skype, Microsoft Teams, BlueJeans. 

We recommend a laptop/desktop, high quality camera and microphone for active participant and noise cancelling headset for each active participant. You may wish to have a second monitor to view documents on a larger scale. A second device may also be required for purposes of the transcript.

Most clients book tests for their team only, as it is often easier to find a suitable date when there are fewer people. But we welcome all-party tests if preferred, or where it is deemed necessary.

As many as you need. Ideally, each side should book a team test for as many participants as possible to ensure everyone is on the same page. However, you are welcome to book additional test sessions if needed.

We do encourage all participants to participate in at least one session with the IDRC team to optimise their experience during the hearing, as our test runs also involve a short training on the platform.

We recommend that all remote attendees participate in a test/training session with us at least one week in advance of the hearing. This allows everyone sufficient time to resolve any technical issues identified during the test, to source any equipment needed, and to book in any additional tests as required.

Given the confidential nature of arbitral hearings, IDRC cannot record them without the prior written confirmation of all parties and the tribunal. Some transcription companies record hearings for the purposes of checking and editing their transcripts and they have the responsibility of notifying the parties and the tribunal of their intention of doing so.

Yes, this is a standard feature of virtual bookings.

Yes, technically, any person in the meeting will be able to share their screen with another participant. If there is an EPE Operator on the call, they just need to be informed to stop sharing their screen and then someone else will be able to start sharing theirs. 

Do not panic! Disconnection occurs from time to time and you do not need to inform the Moderator of this. As long as the disconnected participant re-joins in a proper and identifiable manner, the Moderator will admit them as soon as they re-join.

Yes, subject always to adherence to the tribunal’s directions and notice to the other side. The meeting details that are circulated include a link for dialling in for audio only. The participant joining on audio simply needs to locate their country dialling code and use the corresponding number. They will then be asked to enter the Meeting ID and/or Passcode. 

Currently, only Zoom and Cisco WebEx support simultaneous interpretation/translation. On these platforms, once enabled, participants just need to select the appropriate language channel they wish to listen to.

Clients must source and contract with their own interpreters, but IDRC can, if requested, liaise with them to test simultaneous translation/interpretation on the applicable platform.

All meetings are opened at least 30 minutes before the hearing is scheduled to start, to give participants sufficient time to set up and to make use of the breakout rooms if they wish to. 

IDRC supervisors are able to mute participants and switch off their videos. However, to reverse the process, we are only able to send a prompt to the participant to unmute and to start their video themselves.