February 2009: We are pleased to publish the following announcement on behalf of Charlotte Wälde:

Announcement for TDM and OGEL

My late husband, Thomas Wälde, was immensely proud of TDM and OGEL and of the associated discussion fora, OGEMID and OGELForum. He started OGEL and OGELForum in 2003 and TDM and OGEMID in 2004. Designed to fill a niche market - the provision of intelligence on developments in their respective fields - the enterprise has gone from strength to strength.

My family and I are determined that Thomas's legacy should survive and grow into the future. To that end I am most pleased to announce, with the agreement of MARIS (the publisher), that a strong editorial committee has been appointed comprised of highly regarded individuals expert within these fields and who have agreed to take leadership of the various roles that Thomas created and occupied. The following individuals are on the committee: Arif Hyder Ali, Co-Chair, International Dispute Resolution Practice, Crowell & Moring LLP and Adjunct Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Centre; Mark Kantor, Arbitrator; Maurice Mendelson QC, Barrister, Blackstone Chambers, London, Public International Law specialist, (including investment law and arbitration); Todd Weiler, Investment Treaty law and Arbitration specialist; Kim Talus, Research Fellow, Institute of International Economic Law, Helsinki; Professor Philip Andrews-Speed, Director CEPMLP; Dr Anas Alhajji, Chief Economist, NGP Energy Capital Management, Texas.

Mark Kantor has agreed to be editor of TDM; Maurice Mendelson QC has agreed to act as Moderator in Chief of OGEMID and will be joined by Todd Weiler, Sophie Nappert, Arbitrator and Dev Krishan, Associate, Baker Botts LLP; Kim Talus has agreed to act as Editor-in-Chief of OGEL; Anas Alhajji will moderate OGELForum; and Philip Andrews-Speed will support both activities, with CEPMLP students in the case of OGEL; Arif Hyder Ali and Todd Weiler, with Jacques Werner are leading the initiative to produce a Festschrift and collection of essays in Thomas's memory.

Exciting issues have already been planned and will shortly be published in both TDM and OGEL. Close to my professional interests are two forthcoming special issues:
'The Protection of Intellectual Property Rights through International Investments Agreements - Only a romance or true love?' in TDM and in OGEL a special edition on indigenous people and natural resources. But these of course are not the only issues planned. As in previous years, we have several other special issues in preparation for TDM and OGEL. This is in addition to the regular issues which will include material on a wide range of topics.

On both OGEMID and OGELForum lively discussion continues. The fora will, I am certain, continue to be the places for those within the energy and arbitration communities to be 'heard' and within which to stay abreast of key developments in the respective fields. Thomas, I know, would have been very appreciative at having won the 2008 Best Article award on OGEMID for his jointly authored article with Borzu Sabahi, 'Compensation, Damages and Valuation in International Investment Law.'

My family and I were profoundly touched by the tributes that were paid to Thomas on OGEMID when his death was announced. All of those kind words showed us what a remarkable community he had created and how much he meant to those within the community. By appointing the expert team that we have, we are confident that this community will thrive and grow. For us, that would be the greatest tribute to his memory.