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SIAC Year in Review 2023

Happy New Year from all of us at SIAC, and best wishes for a happy, healthy and successful 2024.

As we welcome the new year, we look back fondly at some of the key highlights of 2023.

1. Appointment of New SIAC Board Member and SIAC Court Members

In 2023, SIAC announced its new Board of Directors and Court of Arbitration.

Mr Cyril Shroff was appointed as a Director to SIAC’s Board, which continues under the chairmanship of Mr Davinder Singh, SC.

Two new members, Mr Chan Hock Keng and Mr Vijayendra Pratap Singh, were appointed to SIAC’s Court of Arbitration, which continues under the presidency of Ms Lucy Reed.


Left to right: Mr Cyril Shroff, Mr Chan Hock Keng, and Mr Vijayendra Pratap Singh

The 35-member SIAC Court is comprised of eminent international arbitration experts from Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Peru, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, UAE, UK, Uruguay, USA, and Vietnam.

SIAC is deeply appreciative of SIAC Board member, the late Mr Rajiv Luthra, as well as former Court members, Mr John Savage KC, Mr Chan Leng Sun, SC, Ms Shaneen Parikh, and Mr Fernando Mantilla-Serrano, for their dedication, commitment and unstinting support during their term of office.

To view the members of the SIAC Board and SIAC Court, please click on the hyperlinks.

2. Restructure of YSIAC Council

In line with the growing global reach of Young SIAC (YSIAC), the YSIAC Committee was restructured in 2023 to the YSIAC Council to strengthen engagement, enhance outreach, and increase opportunities for ground-up initiatives.

The YSIAC Council is the central steering and co-ordinating body for YSIAC, which has grown to more than 7,000 members from all around the world. The Council provides a global platform for leading arbitration practitioners to forge deep international networks, develop their arbitration practices, and build thought leadership in the arbitration community.

The YSIAC Council is chaired by Co-Chairs Ms Wendy Lin and Mr Daryl Chew, with regional committees in Asia-Pacific, Americas, and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) led by Regional Leads.

Following overwhelming response to the open call to join the Council in January 2023, and a rigorous selection process, 55 new members were selected to serve on the YSIAC Council, and will serve for a two-year term. The diverse group comprises lawyers, arbitrators, academics, and in-house counsel from 28 jurisdictions. Together with 27 continuing Council members, the YSIAC Council comprises 82 leading arbitration practitioners from all over the world.


YSIAC Council

3. SIAC Symposium 2023

In August 2023, the SIAC Symposium was held at Shangri-La Singapore, in conjunction with the Singapore Convention Week.

Co-developed in discussion with YSIAC, the SIAC Symposium 2023 brought together members of the judiciary, distinguished members of the SIAC Board and SIAC Court of Arbitration, as well as other eminent members and experts from the international arbitration community. The Symposium saw a full house of attendees, with more than 350 participants from all around the world.


Minister K Shanmugam, SC at the SIAC Symposium 2023

Some highlights of the Symposium programme included a Q&A session with Minister K Shanmugam, SC, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law, Singapore, moderated by SIAC Court President Lucy Reed as well as a Plenary Address by Justice Judith Prakash, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Singapore. SIAC Chairman, Mr Davinder Singh, SC delivered the Welcome Address.


Justice Judith Prakash at the SIAC Symposium 2023

The first plenary, titled “The Next Generation of Disputes in International Arbitration”, discussed the future readiness of arbitration in tackling the next generation of disputes, and featured Justice Kannan Ramesh, Judge of the Appellate Division, Supreme Court of Singapore, Justice Christopher Scott Sontchi, International Judge, Singapore International Commercial Court, as well as SIAC Court member, Dr Claudia Annacker, and Mr Kelvin Poon, SC.

Left to right: Mr Kevin Nash, Dr Claudia Annacker, Justice Kannan Ramesh, Justice Christopher Scott Sontchi, and Mr Kelvin Poon, SC at the SIAC Symposium 2023

The second plenary, titled “Themes Arising from the New SIAC Rules”, took a deep dive into the innovations and changes across the consultation draft of the 7th Edition of the SIAC Rules. Ms Judith Knieper, Ms Koh Swee Yen, SC, Mr Dheeraj Nair, Mr Paul Sandosham, and Mr Ramesh Selvaraj spoke on the panel, which was moderated by Registrar Mr Kevin Nash.


Left to right: Mr Pranav Budihal, Justice Robert D. Drain, Justice James M. Peck, Mr Quentin Pak, and Ms Natalie Yap at the SIAC Symposium 2023

The Symposium programme also introduced a new series of interactive Connect & Collaborate sessions, in which the audience and panellists discussed a range of topical and regional themes. The regional sessions focused on developments, trends and forecasts across the Americas; South Asia, Africa and the Middle East; and North East Asia, South East Asia and Asia Pacific. The topical sessions looked into key issues affecting disputes in the area of Tech, IP and AI; Cross-Border Insolvency; and Projects, Infrastructure and Energy. Panellists included former US Judges James Peck and Robert Drain, as well as SIAC Court Members, Ms Karina Goldberg, Mr Tejas Karia, Mr Thomas Snider, Mr Cao Lijun, Mr Minh Dang, Mr Eri Hertiawan, and Mr Eun Young Park.


Left to right: Mr Zhang Cunyuan, Mr Cao Lijun, Mr Minh Dang, Mr Eri Hertiawan, and Ms Samantha Tan at the SIAC Symposium 2023

4. Expansion of the SIAC Secretariat

SIAC was very pleased to welcome back Mr Vivekananda Neelakantan as Deputy Registrar in January 2023, and Mr Samuel Leong as Supervising Counsel in March 2023.

In April 2023, SIAC also welcomed Deputy Counsel Mr Shivam Patanjali, who is qualified in India.

The SIAC Secretariat is at full strength and comprises 16 international arbitration lawyers who are qualified in 13 jurisdictions.

5. Expansion of the Strategy & Development Group, Marketing and Events team, and Growth of Representative Offices

The SIAC Strategy & Development Group comprises the Strategy & Development, SIAC Academy, and Knowledge Management & Research teams, as well as the overseas representative offices.

The Knowledge Management & Research team oversees the newly launched SIAC and Research Innovation Lab, which was announced at the SIAC Symposium 2023. Under this new initiative, SIAC will be setting up task forces, expert roundtables and other knowledge-focused initiatives.

In 2023, Director, Strategy & Development, Ms Michelle Chiam, was re-designated as Director, Academy & Projects.

Knowledge Management Consultant, Ms Swati Jhaveri, was re-designated as Strategy & Development Associate.

In February, Mr Jae Myoung Shin, Strategy & Development Manager (North East Asia) joined Ms Michele Sonen, Director & Head (North East Asia) at SIAC’s Korea Representative Office.

The Strategy & Development Group is supported by the Marketing & Events team. To support SIAC’s growing outreach and engagement activities, the Marketing & Events team was expanded in 2023. We were pleased to welcome new colleagues Ms Mingyi Lim, Director, Marketing & Events, Ms Ong Yan Shan Pamela, Deputy Director, Marketing & Events, Ms Angela Soon, Senior Executive, Marketing & Events, and Ms Cherly Fa, Senior Executive, Marketing & Events.

6. SIAC Academy Courses and the SIAC and Institutional Arbitration Module

The vision and purpose of the SIAC Academy is to nurture and develop future generations of international arbitration experts by providing practical, skills-based arbitration training programmes.

In February 2023, the inaugural two-day written advocacy course titled “A Typical Arbitration Proceeding: Written Advocacy” was launched in Singapore to provide practical training on the written advocacy skills, knowledge and techniques that a budding arbitration counsel needs for the pre-evidentiary hearing stages of the arbitration.


Faculty members of Day 1 of the SIAC Academy “A Typical Arbitration Proceeding: Written Advocacy” course. Left to right: Ms Amanda Lees, Mr Edmund J Kronenburg, Ms Lucy Reed, Ms Joy Tan, and Mr Nicholas Lingard


Faculty members of Day 2 of the SIAC Academy “A Typical Arbitration Proceeding: Written Advocacy” course. Left to right: Mr Lok Vi Ming, SC, Mr Jern-Fei Ng KC, Mr Chong Yee Leong, Mr Timothy Cooke, and Mr Tan Chuan Thye, SC

Participants of the intensive two-day hybrid course were provided with the fact scenario of a hypothetical case and were guided through the stages of a typical arbitration proceeding, as they crafted a case theory, drafted a Notice of Arbitration, Response to the Notice of Arbitration, selected and interviewed their mock arbitrators, prepared for their first Preliminary Meeting, Mock Application for Consolidation, Request to Produce Documents, as well as drafted an outline of a mock witness statement.


Breakout session of Day 1 of the SIAC Academy “A Typical Arbitration Proceeding: Written Advocacy” course


Breakout session of Day 2 of the SIAC Academy “A Typical Arbitration Proceeding: Written Advocacy” course

49 online and in-person participants from Australia, Cambodia, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam participated in the inaugural “A Typical Arbitration Proceeding: Written Advocacy” course. An in-person edition of this written advocacy course was also held in Beijing, China in May 2023 (see write-up below). In addition to written advocacy courses, an in-person edition of an oral advocacy course titled ‘The Making of an Advocate” was held in Mumbai, India in September 2023 (see write-up below).

In 2023, the annual Review of Key Arbitration Developments and Decisions in 2022: Singapore and United Kingdom seminar, as well as the second edition of the Investment Arbitration 101: A Primer course were also held.


Left to right: Lecturers Ms Koh Swee Yen, SC, Mr David Joseph KC, Mr Siraj Omar, SC, and Ms Sapna Jhangiani, KC,at the Review of Key Arbitration Developments and Decisions in 2022: Singapore and United Kingdom seminar


Left to right: Lecturers Mr Luke Sobota, Dr Claudia Annacker, Professor Muthucumaraswamy Sornarajah, Mr Albert Marsman, Mr Philippe Pinsolle, Ms Abby Cohen Smutny, Mr Emmanuel Jacomy, and Mr Matthew Hodgson, at the Investment Arbitration 101: A Primer course

The Specialist Arbitration Series was launched in 2022 to shine the spotlight on the different areas of arbitration disputes, the major stakeholders, contractual relationships, key legal principles and types of claims and defences that are typically brought in that area, as well as the issues and strategic considerations to take note of in each stage of the arbitration for that particular area of dispute. In 2023, the remaining 3rd, 4th and 5th instalments of the Specialist Arbitration Series were held, and focused on Insolvency, Banking and Finance Arbitrations; Maritime and Shipping Arbitrations; and Intellectual Property, Technology and Cryptocurrency Arbitrations respectively.


Left to right: Dr Stanley Lai, SC, Prof Patricia Shaughnessy, Ms Lauren Lindsay, and Mr Shaun Leong, at the Specialist Arbitration Series, Part 5: Intellectual Property, Technology and Cryptocurrency Arbitrations course

The SIAC and Institutional Arbitration Module (SIAC Module) introduces participants to the role and function of arbitral institutions in guiding and shaping the practice and development of international arbitration, and to the complex issues that arbitral institutions face in the administration of arbitrations. Conducted over 6 intensive 3-hour sessions, the module is held in collaboration with leading law schools in Singapore and in the region.

In 2023, an expanded 12-week version of the SIAC Module titled the SIAC and Institutional Arbitration: Law and Practice module was held at the Singapore Management University Yong Pung How School of Law. SIAC Chairman, Mr Davinder Singh, SC served as one of the lecturers in the module.

Online versions of the SIAC Module were also conducted for the second time at the Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Law in Bangkok, Thailand, as well as the Keio University Faculty of Law in Japan. The course convenor for the Chulalongkorn module was SIAC Court Member, Professor Lawrence Boo, with SIAC Court member, Dr Claudia Annacker, serving as one of the lecturers. SIAC Court Member, Mr Hiroyuki Tezuka served as one of the lecturers for the Keio module.

SIAC Board and Court members, leading international arbitration practitioners and arbitrators, as well as the SIAC Secretariat, served as lecturers in the SIAC Academy courses and SIAC Modules, and contributed to curriculum development with their valuable input and suggestions with particular thanks to members of the SIAC Academy Audit Panel comprising SIAC Court President Ms Lucy Reed, and SIAC Court Members Professor Lawrence Boo, Dr Claudia Annacker and Professor Bernard Hanotiau.

7. SIAC International Arbitration Events and Webinars, Partnerships, and Representative Office Activities

As part of SIAC’s outreach efforts in 2023, SIAC hosted the inaugural SIAC Visitors Programme in April, for 38 senior legal practitioners and in-house counsel from Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, USA, and Vietnam.

The SIAC Visitors Programme seeks to provide leading practitioners and in-house counsel from around the world with the opportunity to familiarise themselves with Singapore, meet key representatives and stakeholders of Singapore’s legal and dispute resolution ecosystem and obtain updates on key developments in Singapore’s legal services and international dispute resolution sector as well as Singapore’s broader business and economic environment.


Address by Mdm Rahayu Mahzam, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Law, Singapore during the SIAC Visitors Programme 2023

As part of the inaugural SIAC Visitors Programme in April, in addition to meetings with SIAC Chairman Mr Davinder Singh, SC, SIAC Court President Ms Lucy Reed, members of the SIAC Board, Court, CEO Ms Gloria Lim, Registrar Mr Kevin Nash, and members of the SIAC Secretariat, the visiting delegates also had meetings with Mdm Rahayu Mahzam, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Law, Singapore, and representatives from the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC) comprising President of the SICC and Judge of the High Court Justice Philip Jeyaretnam, Justice Dedar Singh Gill, Justice Andre Maniam, Justice S. Mohan, and Divisional Registrar Phang Hsiao Chung. Meetings were also held with leadership and key representatives from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Singapore Branch), the Economic Development Board of Singapore (EDB), the Law Society of Singapore, Maxwell Chambers, Singapore Academy of Law, Singapore Business Federation (SBF), Singapore Institute of Arbitrators, and the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC). The visiting delegates also enjoyed a specially curated tour of Singapore’s legally significant landmarks in the civic district.


Visit to the Singapore International Commercial Court during the SIAC Visitors Programme 2023

SIAC organised a total of 33 events and webinars in 2023, with participants tuning in globally across different time zones. In-person events were held in Abu Dhabi, Bangalore, Beijing, California, Chennai, Chongqing, Delhi, Dubai, Gujarat, Jakarta, London, Manila, Mumbai, Paris, Seoul, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore, Tokyo, and Toronto.


Speakers and participants at the SIAC Manila Conference 2023

These included joint events organised with various partner organisations, including Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), Chongqing Yuzhong District, Hainan International Arbitration Court (HIAC), Korea’s In-House Counsel Forum (IHCF), Law Society of Singapore, the Madras Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI), Shanghai International Arbitration Center (SHIAC), Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA), Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC), Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC), and Administrative Committee of Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP).


Left to right: Ms Sherly Gunawan, Mr Gavin Margetson, Mr Narendra Adiyasa, Mr Andi Y. Kadir, Mr Paul Sandosham, and Ms Anastasia Debby Sulaiman, at the SIAC Jakarta Conference 2023

Among others, discussion topics at these webinars and events included the draft SIAC Rules, Blockchain, Crypto, and Web 3.0 disputes, strategies on managing projects, infrastructure and energy disputes, development and trends in international construction arbitration, enforcement of arbitral awards, investor-State dispute settlement, best practices for corporate disputes, as well as the challenges and opportunities in international arbitration.


Left to right: Ms Khushboo Shahdadpuri, Ms Sara K. Aranjo, Mr Glenn George Cheng, Mr Montek Mayal, Mr Anshuman Pande, at the SIAC Dubai Conference 2023

SIAC Overseas Representative Offices

The SIAC Overseas Representative Offices based in India, South Korea, USA, and China have had a busy year in 2023.

South Asia

The SIAC South Asia Office, led by Ms Shwetha Bidhuri, Director & Head (South Asia), and assisted by Ms Steffi Mary Punnose, Strategy & Development Manager (South Asia), held the SIAC India Conferences in GIFT City (Gujarat), Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, and Delhi. It also hosted the SIAC India Academy on “The Making of an Advocate” in Mumbai to provide training on advocacy skills to up-and-coming arbitration counsel in September, with the faculty for the India Academy chaired by SIAC Court President Ms Lucy Reed.


Mdm Rahayu Mahzam, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Health & Ministry of Law, Singapore, Retd. Justice U. U Lalit, and Retd. Justice A.K Sikri with the speakers and organisers of the SIAC Annual India Conference


Justice Vibhu Bakhru at the SIAC Annual India Conference

Mdm Rahayu Mahzam, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Health & Ministry of Law, Singapore, graced the SIAC Mumbai and Delhi Conferences in September. Members of the Indian judiciary, international arbitration practitioners, and SIAC Board and Court members, including Mr Davinder Singh, SC, Ms Lucy Reed, Mr Darius Khambata, SC, Mr Cyril Shroff, Mr Siraj Omar, SC, and Mr Vijayendra Pratap Singh also participated in the SIAC India Conferences.

In February, SIAC South Asia Office participated in the Delhi Arbitration Week, with  Registrar Mr Kevin Nash participating as a speaker in a panel session.


Left to right: Ms Sushmita Gandhi, Mr Ashish Kabra, Dr Rishab Gupta, Mr Somasekhar Sundaresan SA, Mr Rabindra Jhunjhunwala, Ms Zia Mody, Mr Anand Desai, Ms Shaneen Parikh, Mr Ritin Rai SA at the SIAC Mumbai Conference

On the side-lines of various conferences in India, SIAC Court President Ms Lucy Reed, CEO Ms Gloria Lim, Registrar Mr Kevin Nash, Deputy Registrar Mr Vivekananda Neelakantan, Director & Head (South Asia) Ms Shwetha Bidhuri, Strategy & Development Manager (South Asia) Ms Steffi Punnose, and Deputy Counsel, Mr Pranav Budihal and Mr Rishabh Malaviya, visited the cities of Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai, and held meetings and roundtable discussions with the practitioners and in-house counsel there.


Left to right: Ms Dorothy Thomas, Mr Thriyambak Kannan, Justice M. Sundar, Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, Retd. Justice K Kannan, Mr Ganesh Chandru, Mr Gaurav Pachnanda SA, Mr Hiroo Advani SA, and Ms Manini Brar at the SIAC – MCCI Chennai Conference

Director & Head (South Asia) spoke at various events in India, including GAR Live India, YAWP event, TAI event, Paris Arbitration Week, FICL Delhi Discourse, and IBA India M&A Conference. She also delivered lectures on international arbitration at NALSAR, Hyderabad and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Strategy & Development Manager (South Asia) spoke at the CCAI NextGen Legal Rumination Summit 2023.

SIAC South Asia Office also collaborated with leading law schools in India on various international competitions, including the NLS – Trilegal International Arbitration Moot at the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, Prof SP Sathe International Moot Competition at ILS Law College, Pune, and the NLIU-Justice R.K. Tankha Memorial International Moot Court Competition at NLIU Bhopal.

In Sri Lanka, SIAC South Asia Office participated in the National Law Conference 2023, where Mr Nusry Hussain, Deputy Counsel, spoke at one of the sessions and held various meetings with practitioners.

China

In 2023, the SIAC Shanghai Representative Office, led by Mr Cunyuan Zhang, Director & Head (China) and assisted by Ms Vanessa Shen, Strategy and Development Manager (China), organised and participated in more than 80 events across 18 cities in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Singapore.


Left to right: Mr Lijun Cao, Mr Fei Ning, Mr Hu Ke, Ms Irene Lee, Ms Lin Yanhua, Mr Liu Xin, and Ms Lu Fei, at the SIAC Beijing Conference

In May, the Shanghai Representative Office held the SIAC Beijing Conference, SIAC Beijing Academy and SIAC Shanghai Open Day. Speakers and participants in these events included Mr Luke Goh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Law, Singapore, Mr Yu Jianlong, Vice Chairman, CCPIT, SIAC Court President Ms Lucy Reed, SIAC Court Members Mr Cao Lijun, Ms Jessica Fei, and Mr Chan Hock Keng, CEO Ms Gloria Lim, SIAC MOU Partners, leading practitioners, arbitrators, in-house counsel, government officials, arbitration institutions, business associations, and scholars from mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Singapore.

SIAC Court President Ms Lucy Reed, CEO Ms Gloria Lim, Director & Head (China) Mr Cunyuan Zhang, Strategy and Development Manager (China) Ms Vanessa Shen, and Manager (Events) Mr Kenneth Lim also met with representatives from the Supreme People’s Court of China, the Ministry of Law of China, and major arbitration institutions in Beijing and Shanghai during the engagement trips.


SIAC-CIETAC-Suzhou Industrial Park Joint Conference in Suzhou, China

The Shanghai Representative Office organised joint events with MOU partners, including China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), Chongqing Yuzhong District, Hainan Court of International Arbitration (HIAC), Shanghai International Arbitration Centre (SHIAC), Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA), Suzhou Industrial Park, and Xi’an Arbitration Commission. These events were held in Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Xi’an and Singapore, and involved SIAC Court Members Mr Cao Lijun, Ms Jessica Fei, and Mr Chan Hock Keng, CEO Ms Gloria Lim, Registrar Mr Kevin Nash, YSIAC Council Co-Chair Mr Daryl Chew, Director & Head (China) Mr Cunyuan Zhang, other leading arbitration practitioners, arbitrators, in-house counsel, government officials, representatives from arbitration institutions and business associations, and scholars from mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, and Singapore.


SIAC Beijing Academy

CEO Ms Gloria Lim spoke at key events in China, including China Arbitration Week, Shanghai Arbitration Week and APRAG Conference 2023. Director & Head (China) Mr Cunyuan Zhang participated as a speaker at several high-profile events including GAR Live Beijing, and multiple sub-forums of Shanghai Arbitration Week.

As part of efforts to enhance SIAC’s outreach in China, the Shanghai Representative Office participated in high profile events in Hangzhou, Harbin, Jinan, Kunming, Nanjing, Xiamen, Xuzhou, Yantai, Zhengzhou, Zhuhai, and other cities.

The Shanghai Representative Office also conducted training sessions for Chinese users. Director & Head (China) Mr Cunyuan Zhang, and SIAC Secretariat, Deputy Counsel Ms Wang Xuanzhong and Ms Zhao Yue held webinars on Case Management of SIAC Arbitrations. SIAC also co-hosted a webinar series with CFA China for users in the finance sector, as well as conducted training sessions with local bar associations in Guangzhou and Shanghai, as well as private training sessions for corporate users.


Training Session at Shandong Province China hosted by the Yantai Academy of Law

Representatives from the Shanghai Representative Office also spoke at courses organised by the Eastern China University of Political Science and Law, Peking University, and Shanghai University of Political Science and Law. In November, SIAC entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Law School of Tsinghua University.

North East Asia

The SIAC North East Asia Office, led by Ms Michele Sonen, Director & Head (North East Asia), and assisted by Strategy & Development Manager (North East Asia) Mr Jae Myoung Shin, conducted a wide range of engagements in 2023.

The North East Asia Office held the first large-scale SIAC Conferences in Seoul and Tokyo since the COVID-19 pandemic.


Mr Hiroyuki Tezuka and Minister Edwin Tong, SC at the SIAC Tokyo Conference

The SIAC Tokyo Conference, titled “Exploring Trends and Developing Practical Solutions for Japanese Companies”, brought together stakeholders from Japan, Singapore, and beyond to discuss the implications of trends and developments in international dispute resolution for Japanese users. Minister Edwin Tong, SC, Singapore’s Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law, participated in a conversation with SIAC Court member, Mr Hiroyuki Tezuka, on policy initiatives in Japan and Singapore to facilitate effective international dispute resolution. Mr Shinsuke Kitagawa, the President of the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association, delivered the Welcome Remarks.


Left to right: Mr Vinod Kumar, Mr Jim Morrison, Mr Yoshihiro Takatori, Ms Chie Nakahara, and Mr Joaquin Terceño at the SIAC Tokyo Conference

During the same week, on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Japan Special Meeting of Justice Ministers in Tokyo, the North East Asia Office co-organised with SIMC and SICC an event titled “ADR = Appropriate Dispute Resolution – Sharing the Singapore Experience and the Japan Perspective”. Minister Edwin Tong, SC delivered the Opening Address at the event, and SIAC Court member Hiroyuki Tezuka co-moderated the panel discussion, where the panellists shared the history and recent trends of ADR in Singapore and Japan.

The SIAC Seoul Conference was held in October during the Seoul ADR Festival 2023. The conference, titled “Prove Your Case: Revisiting Document Production and Witness Testimony for Korean Companies”, explored strategies to make fact-finding in international arbitration more effective for Korean companies. It was held in partnership with Korea’s In-House Counsel Forum (IHCF), and IHCF’s Vice President, Mr Song-yi Son, delivered an Opening Address. SIAC Court member Mr John Bang delivered the Welcome Address, and Court members Mr Chan Hock Keng and Mr Benjamin Hughes participated as panellists.


Left to right: Mr Chan Hock Keng, Ms Ara Cho, Ms Julie Kim, Mr Steven Y.H. Lim, and Mr Ng Kim Beng, at the SIAC Seoul Conference

Throughout the year, CEO Ms Gloria Lim, Registrar Mr Kevin Nash, Director & Head (North East Asia) Ms Michele Sonen, and Strategy & Development Manager (North East Asia) Mr Jae Myoung Shin engaged users in Korea and Japan through meetings and roundtables to better understand their dispute resolution needs and also shared on international arbitration developments at SIAC and in Singapore. As part of the outreach efforts, the SIAC North East Asia office held seminars for corporate counsel, visited leading companies, and participated in roundtable discussions with in-house counsel of leading companies.


Mr Jae Myoung Shin conducting a seminar at a Korean MNC

The SIAC North East Asia office was also delighted to work with IHCF and the Law Society of Singapore to host a networking dinner in Seoul, and to conduct the second edition of the SIAC and Institutional Arbitration module at the Keio University School of Law.

Americas

In 2023, the SIAC Americas Office, led by Ms Adriana Uson, Director & Head (Americas), extended and deepened connections between SIAC and users and stakeholders from various regions in the Americas.

In March, CEO Ms Gloria Lim and Director & Head (Americas) Ms Adriana Uson engaged users in Los Angeles and SIAC entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Centre.

CEO and Director & Head (Americas) also hosted the SIAC panel on “Web 3.0 Disputes – Insights from the Asia Pacific” during the California International Arbitration Week, and CEO participated in the panel titled “Opportunities and New Trends in the US to Asia-Pacific Practice,” organised by the California Lawyers Association ADR Subcommittees. At the 7th Annual USC-JAMS Arbitration Symposium, Director & Head (Americas) moderated a panel and CEO delivered the closing address. YSIAC Council Members Ms Sonali Mathur and Ms Lijun Chui, in partnership with Allen & Overy, also hosted a YSIAC Pub Quiz in Los Angeles. As a final stop in California, SIAC CEO and SIAC Director & Head (Americas) gave presentations at Pepperdine University.


Left to right: Mr Luan Tran, Ms Lijun Chui, Mr Dan Tan, Mr Dan Perera, and Ms Adriana Uson at SIAC’s panel during the California International Arbitration Week

In the same month, Director & Head (Americas) and Deputy Counsel Ms Xuanzhong Wang also visited Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana, engaging with law firms and users, and held lunchtime talks at Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor, and at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.


Ms Adriana Uson and Ms Xuanzhong Wang at the Michigan Journal of International Law’s “International Arbitration: Institutions & Ecosystems” Event in University of Michigan

Continuing the journey of engagement, Director & Head (Americas) Ms Adriana Uson headed to Latin America, engaging key arbitration stakeholders in Colombia, México and Peru. She also travelled with Deputy Counsel Mr Andres Larrea to Chile and Ecuador. Notable activities in Latin America included entering into MOUs with AMCHAM Quito, the Arbitration Centre of the Quito Chamber of Commerce, and the Center for Analysis and Dispute Resolution of Pontificia Universidad Cátolica del Perú.

Director & Head (Americas) also spoke at various conferences, including the XIV International Arbitration Conference in Ecuador, the Inter-Pacific Bar Association’s Latin American Regional Conference in Lima, the Peruvian Arbitration Institute’s Arbitration Week, and the 2nd Edition of the MERCOSUR Arbitration and Mediation Week.


Ms Adriana Uson and Mr Andres Larrea with SIAC MOU Partner, Camara de Comercio de Santiago Arbitration and Mediation Centre

Over in Canada, Registrar Mr Kevin Nash hosted the inaugural SIAC event in Toronto at the 2023 CanArb Week in October. He led the panel on “Exploring Dispute Resolution Opportunities: Canada-Asia Relations”, contributed insights at the Campaign for Greener Arbitrations Breakfast Event, and spoke at the Young Canadian Arbitration Practitioner’s Fall Symposium on “Tribunal Secretaries”. Later that month, he also participated in the California Arbitration’s event on “Comparative International Commercial Arbitration” alongside leaders from other arbitration institutions.


Left to right: Mr Kevin Nash, Mr John Judge, Mr J Christopher Thomas, KC, Professor Benjamin Hughes, and Mr Donny Surtani at SIAC’s panel during the Canadian Arbitration Week

8. YSIAC Events and Webinar

International YSIAC in-person events in 2023 included “The Art of Arbitration” in Mumbai, “Witness Evidence and Preparation in International Arbitration Cross-Cultural Perspective” held in conjunction with Paris Arbitration Week, “Fireside Chat with Registrar” in Jakarta, a “Wine and Dine + 7 Questions with SIAC Registrar” in Seoul, as well as events in London on “Artificial Intelligence – Hope or Hype for Dispute Resolution” and the first instalment of the “Get Candid with” interview series with leading figures in the international arbitration community.

 
Left to right: Mr Gerald Leong, Ms Kate Davies KC, Mr Toby Lansdau KC, and Ms Dharshini Prasad at the YSIAC “Get Candid With” event in London

In addition, discussions on the consultation draft of the 7th edition of the SIAC Rules were held at an in-person event in Singapore, as well as online at a webinar titled “Battle-Testing the Draft Rules”.


Left to right: Mr Arjun Argawal, Mr Piyush Prasad, Professor Darius Chan, Dr Matthew Secomb and Ms Wendy Lin at the YSIAC Public Consultation on Draft 7th Edition of the SIAC Rules event in Singapore

We would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to members of the SIAC Board, SIAC Court and the YSIAC Council, as well as all of our partners and friends in the local and international legal and business communities for their invaluable contributions and participation in SIAC’s initiatives and activities.

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to working with you in 2024!

With best regards,
The SIAC Team

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margarita drobyshevskaIa, DEPUTY COUNSEL

Margarita is a Russian qualified lawyer. Before joining SIAC, Margarita worked at an arbitral institution in Russia, managing both domestic and international commercial arbitration cases and contributing to research and educational initiatives.

Margarita holds a Bachelor of Laws from the Higher School of Economics, Moscow (HSE University) and a Master of Laws from the Russian School of Private Law, Moscow. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Contract Law at the Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Margarita is actively involved in the moot court community, coaching teams for the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot and holding a leadership role in the Moot Alumni Association (MAA). Margarita is also a member of the Steering Committee of the Russian Women in Arbitration (RWA).

Margarita is fluent in English and Russian.

Email: mdrobyshevskaia@siac-staging.cloudwps.net

NGUYEN THI MAI ANH, DEPUTY COUNSEL

Mai Anh is a Vietnamese-qualified lawyer. She holds an LL.B. from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and an LL.M. from Maastricht University, the Netherlands.

Before joining SIAC, Mai Anh was an associate at a tier-one law firm in Vietnam. Her practice focussed on litigation and international arbitration, primarily in the construction sector. She also brings experience from an international arbitration centre and worked as an assistant lecturer and researcher at the International Law Faculty of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.

Mai Anh has co-authored several publications on arbitration practice in Vietnam, including the Vietnam chapters in the Global Arbitration Review (2020-2023), the Delos Guide to Arbitration Places (2020-2021), the World Arbitration Reporter (2019), and the ICC Guide to National Rules of Procedure for Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Awards under the New York Convention (2019).

Mai Anh can work in English and Vietnamese.

Email: maianhnt@siac-staging.cloudwps.net

PAULINE LOW, COUNSEL

Pauline is a Malaysian-qualified lawyer with a background in litigation and arbitration. Prior to joining SIAC, Pauline practiced at a top-tier law firm in Malaysia. She read law at the University of Malaya under a full scholarship from an international oil & gas company and was placed on the Dean’s List. During her time in law school, Pauline was active in moot court competitions and represented Malaysia in international competitions.

Pauline is fluent in English and Bahasa Malaysia and a competent speaker of Cantonese and Mandarin. She also has a good understanding of Bahasa Indonesia.

Email: paulinelow@siac-staging.cloudwps.net

LIM SHI JEAN, COUNSEL (TEAM LEAD)

Shi Jean graduated with an LL.B. (Hons) from the Singapore Management University School of Law. She is admitted to practice as an Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore. Prior to joining SIAC, she practiced shipping and commercial litigation at a law firm in Singapore.

Email: shijeanlim@siac-staging.cloudwps.net

CHONG YEE LEONG

CHONG YEE LEONG, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN

Yee Leong is the Co-Head of Allen & Gledhill LLP’s International Arbitration practice. His primary area of practice is in international arbitration focusing on the areas of energy, oil and gas, power and infrastructure projects in Singapore, Malaysia and the region. In practice for more than 29 years, Yee Leong is recognised as a leading international dispute resolution practitioner in the Asia-Pacific region.

Yee Leong is a Chartered Arbitrator and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators. He is a Director of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and also on the panel of arbitrators for SIAC, Asian International Arbitration Centre and CIArb Presidential Panel of Arbitrators. He is also a Jurisdictional Council Member for Singapore for Inter-Pacific Bar Association and Chairman for Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee for the Law Society of Singapore.

Yee Leong also served as a director of Singapore LNG Pte Ltd from 2011 to 2015. In 2018, he was among the inaugural batch of select practitioners to be recognised as a Senior Accredited Specialist in Building and Construction Law by the Singapore Academy of Law.

PRANAV BUDIHAL, DEPUTY COUNSEL

Pranav graduated with an LL.M (International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution) from the National University of Singapore. He also holds a B.B.A.LL.B (Hons) degree from National Law University Odisha, India. During his time at NLUO, he represented the university in various moot court competitions, including the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, Vienna.

He is admitted as an Advocate with the Bar Council of India. Prior to joining SIAC, Pranav worked with a boutique dispute resolution firm in India where his practice focussed on commercial litigation and arbitrations across the construction, energy and trade sectors.

Pranav is fluent in English and can speak Hindi and Kannada. He also has a good understanding of Telugu.

Email: pranavbudihal@siac-staging.cloudwps.net

SIRAJ OMAR

SIRAJ OMAR, SC, MEMBER

Mr Siraj Omar, S.C. is a Director in the Dispute Resolution department at Drew & Napier LLC. He specializes in complex, high-value commercial disputes and has more than two decades of active trial and appellate practice in the Singapore Courts and in international arbitrations.

He is a civilian panel member on the Military Court of Appeal, Deputy Commissioner of the Government Procurement Adjudication Tribunal and a member of the Specialist Mediator Panel (Singapore) of the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC).

Siraj holds Fellowships at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators (SIArb) and the Singapore Academy of Law. He is also a member of the International Association of Defence Counsel.

He sits on the Working Group of the Professional Conduct Council chaired by the Chief Justice of Singapore and the Accreditation Committee of the Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE) and was a member of the Singapore International Commercial Court Rules Sub-Committee. He is a past member of the Council of The Law Society of Singapore and has been a member of its Inquiry Panel since 2009.
 
Siraj is recognized in all the leading legal directories and has been described as “a star” and “a formidable litigator”.

He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2019.

THEA ELYSSA VEGA, COUNSEL

Prior to joining the SIAC, Thea was an Associate Solicitor at the Office of the Solicitor General in the Philippines where she handled criminal, civil, international commercial, and investor-state arbitration. She has also handled cases across various sectors such as energy, public-private partnerships, gaming, competition law, among others. She was also once part of the Philippine delegation in the UNCITRAL Working Group III on Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform.  She also worked as legal intern at the Philippine Supreme Court. 

Thea earned her Juris Doctor Degree (J.D.) from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law in the Philippines and is admitted to the Philippine Bar.

Thea speaks Filipino (Cebuano and Tagalog) and English.

Email: theavega@siac-staging.cloudwps.net

GERALD SINGHAM

GERALD SINGHAM, MEMBER

Gerald Singham is the Global Vice-Chair & ASEAN CEO at Dentons Rodyk & Davidson LLP. He is also a Senior Partner of Dentons Rodyk’s Corporate Practice Department and Co-Head of the Competition and Antitrust Practice. Gerald has extensive experience advising domestic and multinational clients from a broad range of industries on competition law matters and deals with all aspects of competition law, including merger clearance/notifications, cartel investigations, and advising on competition restrictive practices and sectoral competition laws. Apart from the competition area, he has experience in other aspects of corporate transactions like mergers and acquisitions, private equity and foreign direct investments.

Gerald is named in numerous legal guides and directories including the Chambers Asia Pacific, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Global Competition Review, Who’s Who Legal, IFLR1000, Asialaw Leading Lawyers and Best Lawyers.

Gerald is also appointed on the boards of several public agencies including as Chairman of National Crime Prevention Council, National Heritage Board and Republic Polytechnic. He is also appointed as a member of the Military Court of Appeal.

RAJIV K LUTHRA

RAJIV K LUTHRA, MEMBER

Mr Rajiv K Luthra is the Founder and Managing Partner of L&L Partners (formerly Luthra & Luthra Law Offices), a full- service top-tier Indian law firm.

Mr Luthra has been closely involved with the development of Project Finance and Public-Private-Partnership models in India and has advised on Infrastructure Projects worth over US$ 100 billion and recently he has been recognised as ‘Leader’ for Project Finance practice by Who’s Who Legal, 2021.

He has also been inducted in ‘Hall of Fame’ for Corporate and M&A, India by Legal 500, 2021. And has been featured in ‘Top 50 Legal Icons, India’ by India Business Law Journal. He is also a recipient of the ‘National Law Day Award’ bestowed upon him by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and the Chief justice of India the ‘Managing Partner of the Year 2020’ Award by ALB India, Inducted in the ‘M&A Hall of Fame, New York’ and the ‘International Jurists Award’’ by the Attorney-General and Chief Justice of the United Kingdom among several others.

He has been conferred with Alumni of Harvard Law School and a Fellow of the British Commerce Society and the Royal Geographical Society and has served on a number of high-level committees, including the High Level Advisory Group, appointed by Commerce Ministry to formulate India’s trade policies; High Level Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility; Securities Exchange Board of India high level committees for (i) Reviewing Insider Trading Regulations and (iii) Rationalization of Investment Routes and Monitoring of Foreign Portfolio Investments; Advisory Board of the Competition Commission of India amongst others. He is also the Convener of the Joint Economic & Trade Committee, formed to advise the Government of India on the liberalisation of legal services between India and the UK.

He also serves on the Board of the Symphony International Holdings Limited (a London Stock Exchange listed company) and Network18 Media & Investments Limited as an Independent Director. He is also a former member of the Corporate Governance & Audit Committee of the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation (India) [HSBC].

MICHAEL MOSE

MICHAEL MOSER, MEMBER

Michael Moser is an international arbitrator with Twenty Essex Chambers. He is a Chartered Arbitrator, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators. He received his law degree from the Harvard Law School and holds a PhD (With Distinction) from Columbia University.

Mr Moser has served as Chairman of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), Board Member of the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC) and Court Member of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). He currently sits as a member of the Board of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the Vienna International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) and the Governing Board of the International Council on Commercial Arbitration (ICCA).

Mr Moser is the author or editor of many books and articles, including Manging “Belt and Road” Business Disputes: A Case Study of Legal Problems and Solutions (Kluwer, 2021), A Guide to the HKIAC Arbitration Rules (OUP, 2021 and 2017), The Asia Arbitration Handbook (OUP, 2011) and former General Editor of The Journal of International Arbitration.

Resident in Asia for more than 40 years, Mr Moser works principally from offices in Hong Kong and Singapore. He has acted as arbitrator in more than 300 cases under the UNCITRAL Rules and the institutional rules of the SIAC, the ICC, ICSID, HKIAC, JCAA, LCIA, ICDR and others. Fluent in Chinese (Putonghua), he was the first foreigner to be appointed an arbitrator in China in the 1980’s. In recognition of his contributions to arbitration in Asia, Mr Moser was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by Chambers. He is consistently rated as being one of the “very best” and “most in demand” arbitrators globally.

LUCY F. REED

LUCY REED, PRESIDENT

Lucy Reed is President of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre Court. Lucy, an independent arbitrator with Arbitration Chambers (New York), is also the immediate past President of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA). She retired in 2016 from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where she led the global international arbitration group from the New York, Hong Kong and Singapore offices, and then was Professor of Practice and Director of the Centre for International Law at NUS through 2019. 

In addition to practicing international commercial and investment treaty arbitration, she served as an arbitrator on the Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission (a humanitarian law/Geneva Convention claims commission), co-director of the Claims Resolution Tribunal for Dormant Accounts in Switzerland (a Holocaust claims tribunal) and, while with the US State Department, the US Agent to the Iran-US Claims Tribunal. 

Lucy, a member of the US Council on Foreign Relations, is a former President of the American Society of International Law. She was educated at the University of Chicago Law School and Brown University.

LUKE ANDREW SOBOTA

LUKE ANDREW SOBOTA, MEMBER

Luke Sobota is a founding and managing partner of Three Crowns, resident in the Washington DC office. His practice is dedicated to commercial, investor-state, and inter-state arbitration, and he has extensive experience in the technology, energy, and financial sectors. He is recognized in leading directories and rankings, such as Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, and Who’s Who Legal.

Luke is a Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Miami Law School. Among other publications, he is co-author of General Principles of Law and International Due Process (Oxford University Press, 2017) and the second edition of Judge Stephen Schwebel’s International Arbitration: Three Salient Principles (Cambridge University Press, anticipated 2020).

THAM SAI CHOY

THAM SAI CHOY, MEMBER

Mr Tham Sai Choy is a chartered accountant. He was the managing partner of KPMG Singapore and then chairman of its KPMG Asia Pacific operations when he retired. As an accountant in practice, he led audits, investigations and consultancy work at a wide range of Singapore companies.

He serves on the boards of the Nanyang Polytechnic and Mount Alvernia Hospital, chairing their audit committees, and on the boards of Keppel Corporation Limited, and DBS Group Holdings Limited. He is also the Chairman of EM Services Private Limited.

Mr Tham trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in the UK. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and the Singapore Institute of Directors.

ARIEL YE

ARIEL YE, MEMBER

Ms Ye is the senior partner of King & Wood Mallesons PRC’s cross-border dispute resolution practice and a recognised expert on PRC-related dispute resolution in the Asia Pacific region.

Ms Ye is a former member of the board of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) and a member of the advisory board of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), a former court member of Singapore International Arbitration Center (SIAC) and a member of the SIAC Board of Directors. Ms. Ye is also a former court member of London Court of International Arbitration. She has been frequently invited to speak at international and regional professional conferences as an international arbitration expert as she is recognized as a leading counsel and arbitrator for international arbitration cases.

Ms Ye received her LL.B. from Peking University Law School, and holds LL.Ms from the Law School of China Academy of Social Sciences and Harvard Law School. She was admitted to practice in PRC and New York State in 1988 and 1999, respectively.

GLORIA LIM, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

As the Singapore International Arbitration Centre’s (SIAC) Chief Executive Officer, Gloria works closely with the Chairman and the Board in formulating and fulfilling the vision and strategies for SIAC, and is responsible for the overall management and operations of the institution.

Gloria was previously the Director of the Legal Industry Division in Singapore’s Ministry of Law and concurrently held the statutory appointment of Director of Legal Services, heading its Legal Services Regulatory Authority. As Director of the Legal Industry Division, she oversaw the development of Singapore’s legal sector, as well as the development and promotion of the international dispute resolution regime in Singapore. In 2008, Gloria was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) for her contributions as General Manager of the Community Mediation Unit. In 2016, she was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) for her contributions as Director of the Legal Industry Division. In 2023, she was a recipient of the National Awards (Covid-19) – Covid-19 Resilience Medal. 

Gloria also headed the Singapore delegation involved in the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Working Group II (Dispute Settlement) discussions from 2019-2021. Gloria is experienced in legal policy, alternative dispute resolution and community mediation.

She graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and is called to the Singapore Bar. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in International Arbitration from NUS and an LL.M from Harvard University.

KEVIN NASH, REGISTRAR

As Registrar of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, Kevin leads the SIAC Secretariat in the provision of case management services. Over the course of the past decade, Kevin has overseen the administration of thousands of international cases under all versions of the SIAC Rules and the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. Under the Singapore International Arbitration Act 1994, Kevin is the statutory taxation authority and he is empowered to authenticate and certify awards and arbitration agreements. 

Kevin worked closely on the revisions to the SIAC Rules 2013, SIAC Rules 2016, SIAC Investment Arbitration Rules 2017, and leads the SIAC Secretariat on the drafting of the seventh edition of the SIAC Rules. He is an active participant at UNCITRAL Working Group II (Dispute Settlement) and UNCITRAL Working Group III (ISDS) and frequently speaks, lectures and conducts training on contemporary issues in arbitration. 

Recognised for being ‘truly exceptional in his passion for, and knowledge of, international arbitration’, Kevin is listed by Who’s Who Legal as a Global Leader and National Leader for Southeast Asia in international arbitration. Described as a ‘rock star of arbitration’ and ‘a calm presence and a safe pair of hands for the most complex matters’, peers and clients say that he is ‘without equal in the region, in terms of institutional knowledge and expertise in international arbitration’ and that ‘no one knows more about arbitration in Singapore’. 

Kevin is qualified as a Barrister and Solicitor with the Law Society of Upper Canada. He speaks English and French. 

Email: kevinnash@siac-staging.cloudwps.net

ALIONA BITKIVSKAJA

ALIONA BITKIVSKAJA, COUNSEL

Aliona graduated with an LL.M. in International Business Law from the National University of Singapore, specializing in International Arbitration, International Investment Law and Comparative Oil and Gas Law. She also holds a B.A. degree in Anthropology and Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Prior to joining SIAC, Aliona worked at a global financial services provider and completed internships at international law firms in Europe and Asia.

Aliona is a New York-qualified lawyer. She is fluent in English, Russian and Lithuanian.

Email: alionabitkivskaja@siac-staging.cloudwps.net

QIAN WU, COUNSEL (TEAM LEAD)

Qian is a graduate of Sichuan University (Bachelor’s degree in law), Xiamen University (Master’s degree in law) and the Geneva LL.M. in International Dispute Settlement (MIDS). Qian is also the Assistant Editor of Asian International Arbitration Journal.

Qualified in China, Qian practiced litigation and arbitration in Beijing with a Chinese law firm prior to joining SIAC.

Qian is fluent in Mandarin and English.

Email: qianwu@siac-staging.cloudwps.net

KENDISTA WANTAH

KENDISTA WANTAH, COUNSEL

Kendista graduated from Universitas Katolik Parahyangan where he actively participated and performed with distinction in international moot court competitions. Kendista thereafter practiced commercial litigation and arbitration – both national and international – with leading dispute resolution firms in Indonesia. He also clerked for one of the foremost Indonesian arbitrators prior to joining SIAC.

Kendista is admitted to the Indonesian Bar. He is fluent in English and Bahasa Indonesia.

Email: kendistawantah@siac-staging.cloudwps.net

DEXTER CHENG, COUNSEL

Dexter graduated with a LL.B. (Hons) from the National University of Singapore. He is admitted to practice as an Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore. Prior to joining SIAC, Dexter trained with a boutique law firm in Singapore which specialises in corporate and commercial law.

Dexter is fluent in English and Madarin.

Email: dextercheng@siac-staging.cloudwps.net

VIJAYENDRA PRATAP SINGH, MEMBER

Vijayendra Pratap Singh is a Senior Partner and Head (Dispute Resolution) at AZB & Partners, Delhi. Vijayendra has spearheaded various arbitrations concerning shareholder agreements, option contracts, long term supply (including restitution claims on account of cancellation of coal blocks), confidentiality, franchising and intellectual property issues. The arbitrations are both ad hoc as well as institutional and seated across multiple jurisdictions. He represented SIAC in the BALCO case before the Supreme Court on the scope and extent of judicial intervention of Indian courts with foreign seated arbitrations. He presently represents Amazon in the much publicised dispute with Future Retail Limited which recognized the enforceability of a SIAC emergency arbitrator award in India. 

Vijayendra is listed in various legal directories such as Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. He has been named as the Dispute Resolution Star of the Year by Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific and has been named in the Global Arbitration Review. He has been involved with capacity building initiatives in the field of arbitration and is a visiting faculty at various Universities and Institutions. He has also appeared before Parliamentary committees looking at various laws, including India’s Model Bilateral Investment Treaty.

CHAN HOCK KENG, MEMBER

CHAN Hock Keng is the Co-Head of WongPartnership’s Commercial & Corporate Disputes Practice and a Partner in the International Arbitration Practice. He has an active practice as a counsel in Court proceedings and international arbitrations and regularly sits as an arbitrator.

He is a Honorary Legal Adviser to the Singapore Medical Association, a panel member of the Inquiry Committee as well as the Disciplinary Tribunal appointed by the Chief Justice to hear complaints against lawyers. He is also a Honorary Council Member of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

On the arbitration front, Hock Keng has been newly appointed as a member of the Court of Arbitration of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre. He is also a Chartered Arbitrator of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a panel member of various arbitration centres.

Hock Keng is recognised as a leading individual for his arbitration expertise by Chambers Asia-Pacific Leading Lawyers for Business and is commended by clients as a “very creative lawyer” and who is “commercially minded and very quick to grasp points opposing counsels make”.

CYRIL SHROFF, MEMBER

Cyril Shroff has over 41 years of experience in a wide range of practices areas, including corporate and securities law, disputes, banking, bankruptcy and infrastructure.

Over the years, his passion for a just world, blended with a keen sense of fairness and empathy has helped cam firmly establish itself as a trusted advisor to its clients. Mr. Shroff has consistently been ranked as “eminent practitioner” in India by Chambers & Partners and is often regarded as the “M&A King of India”. A thought leader and a visionary, Mr. Shroff is known for advising on many first of their kind transactions in India.

He is the Chairman of FICCI’s Corporate Laws Committee and chair of the CII Financial Regulatory Committee. He is a member of the RBI working committee on regulatory issues relating to Fintech. He is also a member of CII’s national start-up council, a member on the Board of SIAC, a member of the first apex advisory committee of the IMC International ADR Centre, and a Task force member of the Society of Insolvency Practitioners of India. He was a member of SEBI’s constituted Uday Kotak Committee on Corporate Governance.

He is also a member of the Thought Committee on Bank Insolvency of the Insolvency Law Academy.

Andres Larrea Savinovich

ANDRES LARREA SAVINOVICH, DEPUTY COUNSEL

Andres is an Ecuadorian-qualified lawyer. Prior to joining SIAC, Andres worked as a Senior Associate at an Ecuadorian law firm for twelve years where he represented parties in commercial and investment arbitrations across a range of sectors, including natural resources, mining, insurance, telecommunications and construction. Andres has been appointed as an arbitral secretary in over 60 arbitration cases administered by the most important arbitration centres in Ecuador.

Andres holds an LL.M. from McGill University. While he was at McGill he served as an associate editor for the McGill Journal of Dispute Resolution. He is a member of the LATAM Subcommittee of the Campaign for Greener Arbitrations, CyberArb, Rising Arbitrators Initiative and the Club of Arbitration of Spain.

Andres is fluent in English and Spanish.

Email: andresfrancisco@siac-staging.cloudwps.net

Lee Yoke Peng, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

As the Chief Operating Officer, Yoke Peng works with the Board and the Senior Management team to create value for SIAC by transforming corporate and organisational processes and implementing productivity and technology initiatives.  She was previously the Registrar for Re-Align Framework Registry in Ministry of Law, where she set up and headed the Registry to help businesses to realign their contracts with the pandemic business conditions.  Yoke Peng had a myriad of experiences from both the private and public sectors, ranging from legal practice, to entrepreneurial set-ups, and government agencies.  In her stint in Public Service Division, she was in the PS21 office where she helped to develop and implement programmes that promoted increasing levels of innovation and positive change in public services, and enhanced their efficiency and responsiveness.  In Civil Service College, she headed up departments that were in-charge of corporate functions like human resource, training, talent retention and attraction, strategic planning, corporate communications, IT, corporate governance, administrative and infrastructure work, and board secretariat work.  Yoke Peng graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and is called to the Singapore Bar.

RISHABH, DEPUTY COUNSEL

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Mr Cunyuan Zhang, Director & Head, China / Chief Representative of Shanghai Representative Office

Mr Cunyuan Zhang is Head (China) of Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), and Chief Representative of SIAC’s Shanghai Representative Office. He is responsible for overseeing SIAC’s activities in China.

Since joining SIAC, Cunyuan has worked with key stakeholders of business and legal communities to promote the development of international arbitration and global best practices, by organising training workshops and networking events for in-house counsel, practitioners and arbitrators. He is a frequent speaker on arbitration topics, and conducts lectures and training sessions for arbitration users. He is a member of the SIAC delegation at UNCITRAL Working Group II (Dispute Resolution). He graduated from Renmin University of China and Peking University School of Transnational Law, with Bachelor’s degree, JD and JM Degrees. He is qualified as an attorney in China.

Prior to joining SIAC, he worked in a leading Chinese law firm in Beijing, where he advised and represented clients in international arbitrations and related lawsuits.

张寸渊先生担任新加坡国际仲裁中心（SIAC）中国区主任兼上海代表处首席代表，负责处理新仲在中国区的各项事务。

自加入新仲以来，他与商界和法律界的主要利益相关者合作，为公司法务、律师和仲裁员组织培训研讨会和交流活动，促进国际仲裁和全球最佳实践的发展。他经常就仲裁相关话题发言，并为用户提供培训。他是新仲在联合国国际贸易法委员会第二工作组（争议解决）的代表团成员。他毕业于中国人民大学和北京大学国际法学院，获得文学学士，美国法JD以及中国法律硕士学位。他具有中国律师资格。

在加入新仲之前，他曾在一家行业领先的中国律师事务所北京办公室工作，代理国际仲裁及相关诉讼案件。

ADRIANA USON, Director & Head, Americas

As Director & Head, Americas, at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), Adriana oversees SIAC’s activities in North and South America. She has broad experience as an arbitration practitioner – having served as arbitrator, international arbitration lawyer, and Counsel in the SIAC Secretariat.

Adriana first joined SIAC as Counsel, during which time she administered over two hundred cases under the SIAC Rules and UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules, with a particular focus on disputes involving States, State-controlled entities, and intergovernmental organisations. She was involved in the drafting of the SIAC Rules 2016, SIAC Investment Arbitration Rules 2017, and the SIAC Practice Notes on third party funding. She was also a key contributor in the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators (SIArb) working group that published the SIArb Guidelines on Party-Representative Ethics.

Prior to rejoining SIAC, Adriana was a disputes lawyer at a leading international law firm in Singapore, where she advised and represented clients in international commercial and ICSID arbitrations.

Adriana is an active member of the Young SIAC Committee (YSIAC) and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Singapore) Young Members Group.

Shwetha Bidhuri, Director & Head, South Asia

Shwetha joined SIAC in November 2018 and is based in the SIAC Mumbai Office.

Shwetha was enrolled as an Advocate in 2007 and holds a Master of Laws degree. Prior to joining SIAC, Shwetha worked in the dispute resolution practice of a leading law firm in New Delhi for nearly a decade on commercial litigation cases as well as investment treaty arbitrations involving foreign and Indian investors. Shwetha has worked on many leading cases which have contributed to the development of law affecting global companies.

ALVIN YEO, SC, MEMBER

Mr Alvin Yeo, Senior Counsel, is the Chairman and Senior Partner at WongPartnership LLP, Singapore. His main areas of practice are litigation and arbitration in banking, corporate/commercial and infrastructure disputes. Mr Yeo has extensive experience as counsel in arbitration proceedings both in Singapore and in the region, and also sits as an arbitrator. Mr Yeo graduated from King’s College, University of London, and is admitted to the English Bar (Gray’s Inn) and the Singapore Bar. In January 2000, Mr Yeo became the youngest lawyer to be appointed Senior Counsel.

Mr Yeo is a member of the Court of the SIAC, the ICC Commission and a fellow of the Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution, the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and the Singapore Institute of Directors, and a former member of the LCIA Court and the IBA Arbitration Committee. He is also on the panel of arbitrators of the ICDR, HKIAC, KCAB, SCIA and the SIArb’s Panel for Sports in Singapore.

Mr Yeo is recognised as a leading litigation and arbitration counsel in international legal directories such as The Legal 500; IFLR1000; Chambers Global; Chambers Asia Pacific; PLC Which Lawyer; Best Lawyers; Expert Guides; and Who’s Who Legal.

GAËTAN VERHOOSEL KC, MEMBER

Gaëtan is a founding partner of Three Crowns. He has served as advocate and as arbitrator in a large number of both commercial and investment treaty arbitrations.

Gaëtan is a past Senior Co-Chair of the Arbitration Committee of the International Bar Association and was appointed to the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators by the Kingdom of Belgium. He teaches at King’s College School of Law in London. Before entering private practice, he served as a Legal Advisor at the World Trade Organization in Geneva, where he advised dispute settlement panels adjudicating disputes between sovereigns across a range of industry sectors.

Gaëtan is admitted to practice in England & Wales, where he was appointed Queen’s Counsel in December 2021, as well as France and Spain. He was educated at Columbia Law School, the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and the Catholic University of Leuven.

ALAN THAMBIAYAH, MEMBER

Since 1989, Mr Thambiayah has been appointed as chairman of arbitral tribunals, sole arbitrator or co-arbitrator in over 450 ad-hoc and institutional arbitrations of disputes arising from international investment contracts and joint ventures, infrastructure, building & civil engineering contracts, oil and gas operation, distribution and transport network contracts, and maritime and international trade contracts (including charterparties and export finance), in Bangkok, Colombo, Delhi, Hong Kong, Karachi, Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur, London, Mumbai, New York, Paris, Perth, Seoul, Sydney and Singapore, with the total value of claims in excess of US$8 billion.

These appointments include: as sole arbitrator by the High Court of Singapore, by the ICC, ICDR, HKIAC and SIAC, acting as the appointing authorities; as presiding arbitrator by party appointed arbitrators from Australia, Malaysia, Seoul, London, U.S.A., Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore, and by the ICC and AIAC, acting as the appointing authorities; and as co-arbitrator by parties from various countries and by the ICC, ICDR and SIAC, acting as the appointing authorities.

Mr Thambiayah is a member of the SIAC Court of Arbitration, Vice-Chair of the Council of the ICC Institute of World Business Law, Chair of the Australasian Chapter of the ICC Institute, and is on the panel of arbitrators of ACICA, AIAC, AMTAC, APRAG, HKIAC, ICDR, MLAANZ, SIAC and SCMA.

HIROYUKI TEZUKA, MEMBER

Hiroyuki Tezuka is a partner at Nishimura & Asahi, and heads the firm’s international dispute resolution practice group. He specialises in international commercial litigation and arbitration. He has been involved in a number of international arbitrations as counsel, sole-arbitrator, co-arbitrator or chairman including before the ICC, JCAA, AAA-ICDR, VIAC, KCAB and SIAC.

Hiroyuki serves as an executive director of the Japan Association of Arbitrators, was a vice-chair of the Arbitration Committee of the IBA Legal Practice Division, and was a committee co-chair of the Dispute Resolution and Arbitration Committee at the IPBA. Since 2013, he has been a member of SIAC’s Court of Arbitration. From 2013 to 2016, he taught international arbitration at the University of Tokyo, School of Law as visiting professor. Since 2016, he has been a member of the ICC Institute of World Business Law, the ACICA council, the Seoul IDRC Advisory Board and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb). Since 2018 he has been a Council member of the ICC Institute of World Business Law.

Hiroyuki graduated from the University of Tokyo (LL.B., 1984) and Harvard Law School (LL.M., 1992). He is admitted as an attorney in Japan (1986) and in New York (1993).

GUIDO TAWIL

GUIDO TAWIL, MEMBER

Prof. Dr. Guido Santiago Tawil has been an independent arbitrator since 2018. He was formerly the Senior Partner and Head of the International Arbitration, Administrative Law and Regulatory practices at M. & M. Bomchil (1993-2018) in Buenos Aires, and previously a Commissioner of Argentina´s Securities & Exchange Commission (1991-1993).

He was a Chair Professor of Administrative Law at the University of Buenos Aires School of Law and member of its Ph.D. and Awards Committees (1984-2019), and was awarded the University of Buenos Aires School of Law Award (1991) for the best doctoral dissertation in all areas of law. He has also received the “Alejandro E. Shaw Award” from the Buenos Aires Bar and the “Konex Award (2016) for his legal contributions.

His other accolades include being a founding member and the first President of the Latin American Arbitration Association (ALArb) (2011-2014), a Co-Chair of the IBA´s Arbitration Committee (2009-2010) and its Latin American Forum (2008), a member of the IBA´s LPD Council (2011-2014), a Governing Council Member of ICCA (2011-2019) and Co-Chair of its Initiatives Committee. He currently serves as member of ICCA’s Advisory Board, Co-chair of ICCA´s Task Force on Standards of Practice and member of its Nominations Committee, a member of the Foundation for International Arbitration Advocacy’s (FIAA) Board of Trustees, a Chair of SIAC’s Latin America Regional Committee and member of its Users Council Executive Committee (2017-2021).

In addition, he is a former Court member of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) (2008-2013) and current member of the LCIA Company, a member of the ICC´s Latin American Arbitration Group; a member of ITA´s Academic Council (2004-2013), a member of the Administrative Law Institute of Argentina National Law Academy and of the Argentine Chamber of Commerce (CAC) Advisory Committee.

Prof. Tawil received his law degree in 1983, an LL. M. in Administrative Law and Public Administration in 1986, and a Ph. D. in 1991, with the highest academic qualifications, all of them issued by the University of Buenos Aires School of Law.

THOMAS SNIDER, MEMBER

Thomas R. Snider is a Partner and the Head of International Arbitration at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP based in the firm’s Dubai office. He has represented corporate entities and sovereign states in a wide range of matters involving international arbitration and other forms of cross-border dispute resolution, including state-to-state arbitration, international commercial arbitration, international investment disputes, and U.S. court litigation.

Mr. Snider is recognised as a Global Elite Thought Leader in Who’s Who Legal Arbitration and is ranked for dispute resolution in Chambers United Arab Emirates. Among other roles, he is a member of Court of Arbitration of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and the Board of Directors of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC).

Mr. Snider frequently speaks and writes on topics involving international law and dispute resolution.  Before relocating to Dubai, he was a Professorial Lecturer in Law at the George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. 

Mr. Snider received his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

ABBY COHEN SMUTNY

ABBY COHEN SMUTNY, MEMBER

Abby Cohen Smutny is Global Head of White & Case’s international arbitration practice group. She is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading international arbitration practitioners and is an experienced arbitrator.

She has over 30 years’ experience representing both private as well as State parties in international commercial as well as treaty-based arbitrations relating to a wide range of industries including banking, financial services, oil & gas, mining, electric power, real estate development, water supply, retail, pharmaceuticals, construction, tobacco, railroads, telecommunications, and manufacturing. She has significant experience managing claims arising out of project financing, privatizations, natural resource concessions, contracts with States and State-entities, and political risk insurance.

Among other positions, she has served as Chair of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA), Vice-President of American Society of International Law, Vice-Chair of the Arbitration Committee of the IBA, Chair of the IBA’s Investment Treaty Sub-Committee, President of LCIA’s North American Users Council, Member of the Board of the American Arbitration Association, and Chair of the International Law Section of the Washington DC Bar.

MICHAEL E. SCHNEIDER

MICHAEL E SCHNEIDER, MEMBER

Michael E. Schneider is a founding partner of LALIVE, an international and independent law firm based in Switzerland and London (http://www.lalive.law). He has practised in international arbitration for more than 40 years as counsel in disputes involving States and corporations in construction, industrial engineering and infrastructure projects, state responsibility foreign investment and natural resources (in particular oil and gas), organising and leading teams of specialists from different fields and different legal and cultural backgrounds. The cases were subject to various domestic laws or international law and applied various rules, including those of the UNCITRAL, ICC, ICSID, LCIA, Swiss Rules, Stockholm Institute, the Cairo Regional Centre (CRCICA), Dubai (DIAC), European Development Fund and before other international bodies, including the WTO Appellate Body and the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC). He has also acted as arbitrator (sole, presiding or co-arbitrator) under the rules of many institutions.

Honorary President of the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA). Past chairman of the UNCITRAL Working Group II (Arbitration) at its Sessions in New York and Vienna (2006-2010) on the revision of the Arbitration Rules and on the revision of the Notes on Organizing Arbitral Proceedings (2014-2015) and Vice-chair of the Commission (2015-2017). Past Vice chair of the ICC Commission on Arbitration until 2014, and member of several of its working groups (1998 and 2012 revisions of the ICC Rules, Construction, Pre-arbitral Referee). Immediate past president of the International Academy of Construction Lawyers (IACL). Member of the Board of Trustees of the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA).

JOHN SAVAGE

JOHN SAVAGE KC, MEMBER

John Savage KC is a Partner in King & Spalding’s International Arbitration group based in the firm’s London and Singapore offices. He is member of the SIAC Court and was a Vice-President of the SIAC Court from 2013 to March 2018 and a Director of the SIAC from 2009 to 2017.

Mr Savage has more than 25 years’ experience representing governments and corporations in over 200 international arbitrations around the world. These include many corporate, construction, energy and investment treaty disputes, with an emphasis on the oil & gas and power sectors. Mr Savage has worked in Asia since 2001 and his experience extends across the Asia-Pacific region. In addition to his work as counsel, Mr Savage has been appointed chairman of the tribunal, sole arbitrator and co-arbitrator in more than 30 commercial and investment treaty arbitrations in Asia and beyond.

HARISH SALVE

HARISH SALVE KC, MEMBER

Mr Harish Salve is a KC practicing in London and a tenant of Blackstone Chambers.

He is also a Senior Advocate practicing in the Supreme Court of India. Mr Salve is also a Registered Foreign Lawyer in the Singapore International Commercial Court.

He is a qualified Chartered Accountant who started work in taxation in 1978 and then shifted to law in 1980. He set up his independent chambers in 1986. He was designated a Senior Advocate in 1992. He held the office of the Solicitor General of India from 1999 until November 2001 being the youngest Solicitor General ever at the age of 42 years.

In 2013 he took tenancy in Blackstone Chambers after joining the UK Bar and becoming a member of the Grays Inn.

He has handled some of the most important cases decided by the Indian Supreme Court in the last two decades. Since 2013, he has been appearing in International Arbitrations, and in the Courts of England and Wales. He also has appeared in two cases in the International Court of Justice.

He has been active in the field of international arbitration both as counsel as well as an arbitrator. He has been appointed as an arbitrator in a number of arbitrations under the rules of the ICC, LCIA and the SIAC.

PHILIPPE PINSOLLE

PHILIPPE PINSOLLE, MEMBER

Philippe Pinsolle is a partner of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, he is heading international arbitration for continental Europe.  He is based in the firm’s Geneva Office.  Philippe Pinsolle has over twenty-five years of experience as counsel, expert and arbitrator in international arbitration with a particular focus in international commercial arbitration, investment treaty arbitration, disputes between sovereign states in such sectors as major infrastructures, energy and other capital intensive industries.  He has been involved in more than 300 arbitrations as counsel or arbitrator under the auspices of virtually all major arbitration institutions.  Among his many professional activities, Philippe Pinsolle is also Senior Vice-Chair of the IBA Arbitration Committee.

EUN YOUNG PARK, MEMBER

Dr Eun Young Park is an independent arbitrator who has served as serves as co-chair of Kim & Chang’s International Arbitration & Cross-Border Litigation Practice Group.

After serving as a judge in the Seoul District Court, Dr Park joined Kim & Chang where he has led the firm’s international arbitration and cross-border dispute practice. He specializes in international arbitration on various issues including commercial and investment disputes, regularly sits as an arbitrator.

Dr Park is a Member of the SIAC Court of Arbitration and has served as a Vice-President of the LCIA Court. He also acted as a Vice-Chair of the IBA Arbitration Committee and a founding Co-Chair of the IBA’s Asia-Pacific Arbitration Group. He received a J.S.D from the NYU School of Law and is admitted to the Korean bar and the New York bar.

SHANEEN PARIKH

SHANEEN PARIKH, MEMBER

Shaneen has over two decades of experience is a qualified to practice as an advocate and solicitor in India, and also qualified as a solicitor in England & Wales).

She focuses on arbitration (both domestic and international) having represented clients in disputes administered by various international arbitral institutions as also ad hoc arbitrations.

She is a Member of the SIAC Court of Arbitration and the LCIA Users Council.She also serves as an ambassador of Asia Pacific Arbitration Group of the International Bar Association.

Shaneen also handles commercial litigation in disputes relating to commercial contracts, shareholder issues, infrastructure, power and construction projects, financial and structured products, infrastructure, power and construction projects and white collar crime. She has also represented clients in various courts and tribunal across India, including the NCLT, High Courts and the Supreme Court of India.

Shaneen has been recommended by Who’s Who Legal as a Future Leader in arbitration and ranked as “Most Highly Regarded (Partner)” 2021 for Arbitration in the Asia-Pacific Region. She has also been ranked as a Notable Practitioner in Dispute Resolution by Asia Law, and was recognised as one of ALB India Top Disputes Lawyers. Shaneen is also ranked as a key lawyer for arbitration and litigation in The Legal 500, and by Chambers & Partners – Asia-Pacific – Dispute Resolution.

Shaneen is also actively involved in dispute resolution-related initiatives, as a speaker at multiple events and also as a published author.

SHANTI MOGAN

SHANTI MOGAN, MEMBER

Shanti Mogan has over 30 years of experience in a broad commercial practice, representing clients in commercial litigation and arbitration, both domestic and international. She acts both as counsel and arbitrator. She is head of the Arbitration Practice and Personal Data Protection & Privacy Law Practice and co-heads the Competition Law Practice. She is a Member of the Court of Arbitration (SIAC). She is a recognised and recommended dispute resolution lawyer (Chambers, Legal 500, Expert Guides, Who’s Who Legal, Asialaw).

Her experience covers a wide range range of disputes including banking, commercial, corporate, regulatory and technology related disputes.

She regularly acts for banks, regulatory bodies and corporations in relation to consumer protection, data protection and privacy, defamation, entertainment, multimedia and communications disputes.

Her arbitral experience is varied; the most recent of which involves large scale disputes relating to a cellular blocking system, an integrated complex in respect of the provision of chilled water and delays in the construction and operation of an airport. Other disputes involve the design, construction and commissioning of a steel plant, software development agreement for a regulatory body, disputes relating to a public automated enforcement system, design and construction contract, contract for the marketing of natural resources, pharmaceutical supplies to a government concessionaire, hotel management agreement, development of an integrated resort, warranty claims for a car tracking system.

Some significant Court matters relating to arbitration disputes include injunctions relating to cellular access network for an airport and the termination of a public service pending arbitration. Shanti also has experience in the area of competition and antitrust laws, and offers advisory services, compliance audits and legal representation in competition law investigations and disputes. Specific industries she has represented in her competition practice include the pharmaceutical, insurance, energy, travel, banking, automotive, entertainment and retail sectors.

Shanti advises on regulatory compliance and activities coming under the purview of various authorities including the Securities Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Communications and Multimedia Commission.

She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators, a member of the LCIA and sits on various committees relating to the practice of arbitration including the Bar Council, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Malaysia and the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

FERNANDO MANTILLA-SERRANO

FERNANDO MANTILLA-SERRANO, MEMBER

Fernando Mantilla-Serrano is a partner and global Co-chair of the International Arbitration Practice at Latham & Watkins. A graduate from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, where he received his Law degree (JD) together with a major in Economics, Mr. Mantilla-Serrano has also received a MCJ (LLM) from New York University (Fulbright Scholar), a DEA in International Private Law and International Trade and a DSU in EU Law from the Université de Paris II. He is acclaimed for the depth of his knowledge and experience in international arbitration representing companies, states, and state-owned entities in highly complex commercial and investor-state disputes. Mr Mantilla-Serrano has acted as lead counsel in arbitrations conducted under the main institutional arbitration rules (ICC, ICSID, LCIA, SCC, ICDR), as well as ad hoc rules. His articles on arbitration have been published in Arbitration International, the French Revue de l’Arbitrage, the Journal of International Arbitration and the Spanish Revista de la Corte Española de Arbitraje. He is fluent in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. He was one of a four-member commission created by the Spanish Minister of Justice to draft Spain’s new arbitration act (Law 60 of December 23, 2003). Mr Mantilla-Serrano is fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and member of the International Law Association (ILA). Mr Mantilla-Serrano is admitted to the bars of Colombia, New York (USA), Paris (France) and Madrid (Spain).

DARIUS J. KHAMBATA

DARIUS J. KHAMBATA, SC, MEMBER

Darius J. Khambata, Senior Counsel, LL.M. (Harvard), practises before the Supreme Court of India, the Bombay High Court and other High Courts and Tribunals across India.

He has held two distinguished public law offices, as Advocate General for Maharashtra and as Additional Solicitor General of India.

Mr Khambata has a large and varied practice and has appeared in several important constitutional, commercial, securities and administrative law matters and in significant domestic and international commercial arbitrations.

He was a member of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Committee that framed new insider trading regulations and is currently a member of SEBI’s Takeover Panel. He was part of the Law Commission of India’s Committee that in 2015 recommended amendments to the Indian Arbitration & Conciliation Act 1996. He was a Vice-President of the LCIA and is a member of the SIAC Court. He sits on the Advisory Council to the Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai. He is a member of One Essex Court, London apart from having his own chambers in Mumbai.

TEJAS KARIA

TEJAS KARIA, MEMBER

Tejas Karia is Partner and Head of Arbitration practice at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. He specializes in International and Domestic Commercial Arbitrations across sectors. He has represented multinational and Indian corporations in ad hoc and institutional arbitrations involving major arbitration institutions. He was part of committee of Law Commission of India for recommending amendments to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and of High-powered Committee for Institutionalization of Arbitration in India. He regularly appears as counsel before the Arbitration Tribunals, High Courts and Supreme Court of India as well as sits as an Arbitrator. He is a Fellow of CIArb and Director of CIArb-India. He is Director of Indian Arbitration Forum and Vice-Chairman of Society of Construction Law – India.

He is recognised as “Global Leader” by Who’s Who Legal, “Leading Lawyer in Dispute Resolution” by Asialaw Leading Lawyers, “Leading Individual” by Legal 500, ranked in Band – 2 for Arbitration by Chambers & Partners and “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation. He is a member of Governing Council of Indian Law Society and ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR. He served as member of task forces for Study of International Commercial Arbitration by Commonwealth Secretariat and for revision of IBA Rules on Taking Evidence in International Commercial Arbitration. He has co-authored a number of publications and extensively spoken on Arbitration and Mediation globally.

BENJAMIN HUGHES

PROF BENJAMIN HUGHES, MEMBER

Professor Benjamin Hughes is an independent arbitrator with the Arbitration Chambers in Singapore and Fountain Court Chambers in London. He has been appointed as arbitrator in over 150 international commercial arbitrations around the world and across a broad range of commercial sectors, with several billion dollars in dispute. He is recognized as a leading international commercial arbitrator in numerous legal publications, including Chambers and Partners and Who’s Who Legal.

Professor Hughes has taught extensively in the field of international dispute resolution and comparative law, including as adjunct professor at the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law (2019-present), associate professor at Seoul National University Law School (2015-2019), and visiting professor at the law faculties of Hong Kong University and National Taiwan University, among others. He also serves on the editorial boards of the Asian International Arbitration Journal, the Korea Arbitration Review and the Journal of Korean Law.

Prior to commencing his practice as an independent arbitrator, Professor Hughes was the founding co-chair of the international dispute resolution practice group at Shin & Kim, one of Korea’s oldest and largest full-service law firms. Previously he practiced as counsel at Shearman and Sterling in the US and Singapore.

Professor Hughes was educated in both the civil law and the common law traditions, having studied first at Seoul National University College of Law (all coursework in Korean), and then at NYU School of Law. While at NYU, he spent one semester in Buenos Aires, Argentina (all coursework in Spanish). He also studied Chinese (Mandarin) and East Asian history at Harvard University.

ERI HERTIAWAN

ERI HERTIAWAN, MEMBER

Eri is the Co-Head of the Dispute Resolution Group at Assegaf Hamzah & Partners. With experience of almost 30 years, Eri is an arbitration specialist and a seasoned litigator with extensive experience in commercial disputes, alternative disputes resolution, aviation law, and shipping law.

Eri is the first and sole Indonesian lawyer appointed as member of SIAC Court of Arbitration. He is also one of only a few Indonesian lawyers to be appointed a member of both the SIAC Users Council and the SIAC panel of arbitrators. In addition, Eri is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and a certified mediator with both the Indonesian National Mediation Centre and the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) in United Kingdom.

Leading international publications consistently recommended and ranked Eri for his expertise as a dispute resolution specialist. He won “Lawyer of the Year – Indonesia” from Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Awards 2021, ranked in “Band 1” for Dispute Resolution by Chambers Asia Pacific 2021, ranked as “Elite Practitioner” for Dispute Resolution by Asialaw Leading Lawyers since 2020, and ranked as “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation since 2018.

One interviewee notes that “he is very well connected in Indonesian legal and political circles,” while another source says that “there is nobody more experienced in arbitration than him.” (Chambers Asia Pacific 2021)

BERNARD HANOTIAU

BERNARD HANOTIAU, MEMBER

Prof. Bernard Hanotiau has been actively involved in international arbitration as party-appointed arbitrator, chairman, sole arbitrator, counsel and expert in all parts of the world, under the rules of all major arbitral institutions including the ICC, LCIA, SIAC, DIAC, HKIAC, SCC, AAA, Swiss Chambers, NAI, CRCICA, KCAB, PCA and in many ad hoc cases for the last 40 years.

Professor Hanotiau is Emeritus Professor of the University of Louvain (Belgium). He is a member of the ICCA Advisory Board and of the Council of the ICC Institute and a member of the ICC International Arbitration Commission. He is also a former Vice-President of the Institute of Transnational Arbitration (Dallas), of Cepani (Belgian Arbitration Center) and of the LCIA Court. He is also member of the SIAC Court of Arbitration, Vice-President of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai International Arbitration Center (DIAC) and a member of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre’s Advisory Board.

In March 2011, Professor Hanotiau received the GAR “Arbitrator of the Year” award. In April 2016, he also received the Who’s Who Legal “Lawyer of the Year” for Arbitration Award.

KARINA GOLDBERG

KARINA GOLDBERG, MEMBER

Karina Goldberg is partner of Ferro, Castro Neves, Daltro & Gomide (FCDG), a Brazilian boutique law firm with offices in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, with focus in commercial disputes, both in court litigation and arbitration.

Karina has distinguished herself in commercial dispute resolution, mainly domestic and international arbitration, including shareholders disputes, contractual and M&A disputes, infrastructure and construction disputes, security and investment cases.

Karina has obtained Master’s Degree (LLM) in European Private Law from Utrecht University, Holland, in 2003 and was educated at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in law in 2001.

Karina is currently a member of the ICC Commission on International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution and of the IBA Subcommittees on International Commercial Arbitration Case Law and Unidroit Principles.

JESSICA FEI

JESSICA FEI, MEMBER

Ms Jessica Fei is a widely recognized leading international arbitration and dispute resolution practitioner with over 25 years’ experience in international arbitration. She is global co-head of international arbitration practice of King & Wood Mallessons. Her practice focuses on large-scale international arbitration and cross-border litigation, for clients including Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and private companies, multinationals and major regional corporates. Qualified in the New York State and China, Jessica is one of the very few leading international dispute resolution practitioners in China who can effectively handle cases in both English and Chinese languages as counsel and arbitrator, and has significant international background and experience as well as deep understanding of the Chinese corporate culture and law.

Jessica handles disputes relating to energy (oil & gas, power etc), infrastructure and construction, trade (international sale of goods), cross-border investment (e.g. Sino-foreign joint venture disputes), manufacturing, distribution, and intellectual property matters among others. She represents and assists clients in international arbitrations (including ICC, CIETAC, HKIAC, SIAC, SCC, LCIA, AAA/ICDR, CEAC and UNCITRAL) and litigation matters inside and outside China in both English and Chinese languages. She sits regularly as arbitrator in commercial cases, and is listed on the panel of arbitrators of SIAC, HKIAC, CIETAC, ICDR, AIAC, CRCICA, KCAB etc.

DMITRY DYAKIN

DMITRY DYAKIN, MEMBER

Dmitry B. Dyakin is an advocate, a Partner and Co-Head of Dispute Resolution practice at Rybalkin, Gortsunyan and Partners in Moscow.

Dmitry has vast experience resolving international commercial and investment disputes. He represents leading Russian and international companies operating in various industries in high-profile proceedings, with many of them becoming landmark precedent-setting cases for the Russian community of legal practitioners. He possesses wealth of experience in handling arbitrations both as a sole arbitrator or a member of an arbitral tribunal. He regularly takes part as an expert on Russian law in court and arbitration proceedings abroad.

Dmitry is a member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, mandate 2021-2024. He is also a deputy head of the ICC Arbitration Commission in Russia and heads the Investment Arbitration Working Group of the Russian Arbitration Association (RAA). Dmitry is a member of the Russia/Eurasia Committee of the American Bar Association (ABA), the International Bar Association (IBA), the LCIA User’s Council, and the SIAC User’s Council. He is included in the list of arbitrators of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), the Tehran Regional Arbitration Centre (TRAC), is also a Member of the Panel of Arbitrators at The Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA) and he also added to the List of Practitioners on VIAC’s website.

In 2017, Dmitry was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the Arbitration Centre at the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RUIE). He is included in the list of recommended arbitrators of the RUIE Arbitration Centre and currently is a member of the RUIE Management Board.

Dmitry holds an Honours Degree in Law from the Moscow State Social University (2000), a Master’s degree in Private Law (M.P.L.) from the Russian School of Private Law (2007), a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from the New York University School of Law (USA) (2009), and the Executive MBA degree from the London Business School and the Columbia Business School (2013).

MINH DANG

K. MINH DANG, MEMBER

Minh Dang is the Senior Partner of YKVN and has 40 years of experience in international matters. Minh heads up YKVN’s international arbitration practice where he focuses on complex Vietnam related disputes, often partnering with major international firms and regional firms. His experience includes disputes in the areas of oil & gas taxation, oil & gas investment, outbound telecom investments, pharmaceutical manufacturing investments, real estate investments, insurance and construction projects.

Minh has been active in Vietnam for 25 years, since 1994. He led the legal team advising Vietnam in the London Club restructuring of Vietnam’s commercial debts that closed in 1998 with Vietnam’s maiden issuance of international bonds. He has also been advising Petrovietnam in international matters since the late 90’s. Minh has been individually recognized by leading professional publications as a “Vietnam expert” for many years.

Minh is fluent in English, French and Vietnamese.

CHAN LENG SUN, SC, MEMBER

Leng Sun was appointed a Senior Counsel of the Supreme Court of Singapore in 2011. He is a member of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre Court of Arbitration He is the former Global Head of Arbitration of an international law firm and the Immediate Past President of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators (SIArb). He is the Deputy Chairman of the SGX Appeals Board.

Leng Sun is qualified in Malaysia, Singapore and England. He has a broad commercial practice that covers technical disputes, maritime law (including sea, air and land transportation), international trade, insurance and company law. Leng Sun has acted as counsel or sat as arbitrator in arbitrations seated in Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, China, Korea, Malaysia, London and USA under ad hoc and institutional rules such as SIAC, ICC, SCMA, LMAA, ICDR, CIETAC, HKIAC, AIAC and KCAB rules. He is a Chartered Arbitrator. He is a Chairperson of the arbitration panel jointly appointed by the EU and Korea under the protocol on cultural cooperation of the Korea-EU FTA. Leng Sun had also served as a legal officer of the United Nations Compensation Commission in Geneva.

Leng Sun is the author of the book, Singapore Law on Arbitral Awards and Co-Editor of Conflict of Laws in Arbitration.

Leng Sun is the Singapore country contributor to Tetley’s Marine Cargo Claims (4th Ed). He has contributed chapters for numerous treatises, such as The Role of Arbitration in Shipping Law, published by Oxford University Press (Goldby and Mistellis eds, 2016), The Developing World of Arbitration, published by Hart Publishing (Reyes and Gu eds, 2018) and ASEAN and the Belt and Road Initiative, published by Academy Publishing (Bitas ed, 2021).

LIJUN CAO

LIJUN CAO, MEMBER

Lijun Cao is licensed to practice law in China and the State of New York. He has extensive experience in international arbitration and commercial litigation and has represented clients in over 300 commercial arbitration cases. He also handles investment arbitration.

Lijun is a Member of the SIAC Court of Arbitration, a Member of the Advisory Committee of CRCICA, a Vice Chair of the Arbitration and ADR Committee of ICC China, and a Vice Chair of the Arbitration and Lawyer Mediation Committee of the All China Lawyers Association (ACLA). Lijun is also an experienced arbitrator. He sits on the panel of arbitrators of several arbitral institutions, including CIETAC, BAC, HKIAC, SIAC, AIAC, ICDR, WIPO, etc.

Lijun has received numerous awards and recognitions from legal media and directories. Since 2014, Chambers Global has continuously ranked Lijun as a “Band 1” international arbitration lawyer.

LAWRENCE BOO, MEMBER

Lawrence Boo is a pioneer in the development of Singapore arbitration. He served as the first Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of SIAC (1991-1996) and was recalled to serve SIAC from 2004 to 2009 as the Deputy Chairman. Boo is one of Singapore’s leading international arbitrators, having sat as arbitrator in more than 300 cases and written numerous awards. His cases included those administered by the AAA, ICC, ICSID, CIETAC, SIAC, LCIA, KLRCA, BANI, HKIAC and ad hoc arbitrations. He is designated by Singapore to the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators (Dec 2013-Dec 2019).

Boo leads the teaching of international commercial arbitration at the Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore since 1994. He also teaches at Bond University, Australia. He is the author of “Halsbury’s Laws of Singapore Volume 1(2) – Arbitration” (Lexis-Nexis 1998, 2003 Re-issue, 2011 Re-issue, 2017 Re-issue) and one of the co-authors of UNCITRAL Digest on the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration (UN July 2012).

For his contribution to the development of international arbitration and mediation, Boo was conferred the honour of Bintang Bakti Masyarakat (BBM)(The Public Service Star) in August 2009 by the President of Singapore.

NIGEL BLACKABY

NIGEL BLACKABY KC, MEMBER

Nigel Blackaby QC is a partner of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Washington DC and global head of the firm’s international arbitration group. He has acted as counsel and arbitrator in over 100 ad hoc and institutional arbitrations (including over 40 investment arbitrations for investors and states). He has particular expertise in Latin America and energy and mining disputes. Recent cases include:

• Burlington Resources, Inc. v Ecuador (ICSID);
• Repsol v Argentina (ICSID);
• Pan American Energy v Bolivia (ICSID);
• Total, CMS, Suez, BG Group, Aguas de Barcelona and National Grid (among others) v Argentina;
• Crystallex International Corporation v Venezuela (ICSID Additional Facility)
• Tenaris and Talta v Venezuela

Nigel is a former president of the IBA Subcommittee on Investment Arbitration, an editor since 1995 of Arbitration International, co-author of Redfern and Hunter on International Arbitration (6th edition, Oxford, 2015), Guide to ICSID Arbitration (2nd edition, Kluwer, 2010) and International Arbitration in Latin America (Kluwer, 2003). He is an adjunct professor of international arbitration at American University Washington College of Law.

He is a graduate of the University of Exeter (UK) and the Université d’Aix-Marseille III (France) and has conducted arbitrations in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French.

PIERRE BIENVENU

PIERRE BIENVENU, MEMBER

Pierre Bienvenu, Ad. E. is a disputes lawyer with more than 35 years’ experience practising in international commercial arbitration, commercial litigation, and constitutional law. He has acted as counsel or served as arbitrator in international arbitrations involving disputes in telecommunications, transportation, energy, international distribution and joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, construction, pharmaceuticals, and foreign investment.

A former co-chair of the IBA’s Arbitration Committee (2008-2009), he has served on the LCIA Court (2010-2015), of which he was a vice-president (2011-2015), and the ICC International Court of Arbitration (2015-2021). He was appointed by the Government of Canada to ICSID’s Panel of Arbitrators in 2021 for a six-year term. Mr Bienvenu has pleaded before the courts of Quebec, the Federal Court of Canada, and the Supreme Court of Canada. He was involved in numerous challenges to the constitutional validity of provincial and federal legislation and has extensive experience in public law litigation. He has participated in more than 15 appeals before the Supreme Court of Canada, representing government bodies, institutions, corporations, and individuals in a range of international, constitutional, and commercial law disputes, including representing the Attorney General of Canada in the landmark Reference re Secession of Quebec.

Mr. Bienvenu practiced for more than 35 years at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada (previously Ogilvy Renault LLP) and served as global co-head of Norton Rose Fulbright’s international arbitration practice from 2011 to 2022. He withdrew from the partnership of Norton Rose Fulbright in June 2022 to focus on his practice as an international arbitrator and joined IMK LLP, a Montreal-based disputes firm, in July 2022. He is also a member of the roster of arbitrators of Arbitration Place, in Toronto. Mr Bienvenu is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

He was awarded the distinction Advocatus Emeritus by the Quebec Bar in 2008, and the Paul-André Crépeau Medal by the Canadian Bar Association in 2013 for his contribution to the advancement of the international dimension of private law and commercial law in Canada.

YAS BANIFATEMI

YAS BANIFATEMI, MEMBER

Ms Yas Banifatemi is a founding partner of Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes. Prior to founding Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes, she served as Shearman & Sterling’s Global International Arbitration Practice Group Leader, Public International Law Team Leader and Lead Industry Coordinator for Energy. She is a former Vice-President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, a former member of the LCIA Court and a member of the ICSID panel of arbitrators.

She represents States, State entities and companies in international arbitration cases under the ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, LCIA, SCC, CRCICA, HKIAC, DIS and Swiss Arbitration Rules, with particular focus on international investment and energy disputes. She also advises States, State entities and corporations on a variety of public international law issues, such as the law of treaties, State responsibility, State contracts, immunity of States and other.

Yas Banifatemi has served as Chair and arbitrator in numerous commercial and investor-State arbitrations, including international arbitration proceedings under the Rules of the ICC, ICSID, SCC, LCIA, CRCICA, SIAC, HKIAC and the Swiss Rules of International Arbitration, as well as in ad hoc proceedings.

A Visiting Lecturer in Law at Yale and Harvard Law Schools, Yas Banifatemi also teaches International Investment Law at Panthéon-Sorbonne University. She has written extensively on international arbitration and public international law issues.

JOHN P. BANG

JOHN P. BANG, MEMBER

Mr John P Bang is a senior partner (foreign attorney) at Peter & Kim, a specialized law firm in international arbitration. He was previously the head and co-founder of the International Arbitration and Cross-Border Litigation Practice at Bae, Kim & Lee LLC.

Over the past 20 years, he has represented parties in over 250 domestic and international arbitral proceedings seated in Asia, Europe and North America, ranging from multi-million to multi-billion dollar disputes. He has also served as sole arbitrator, co-arbitrator and chair in arbitral disputes under various arbitral institutions.

John is recognised as a leading arbitration practitioner in industry rankings such as Who’s Who Legal, Chambers Asia and Asialaw Leading Lawyers. In 2016, he was Asialaw’s “Disputes Star of the Year” for South Korea, and in 2018, Who’s Who Legal listed him as a Thought Leader in international arbitration. In April 2018, he received a Special Commendation from the Minister of Justice of Korea for his contribution to the development of arbitration in Korea. Chambers & Partners quotes a client as praising him for his “most-effective advocacy, comprehensive understanding of Korean disputes and dedication to detail”.

John is presently a member of the Executive Committee of the Korea Council for International Arbitration and a senior officer in the IBA Litigation Committee. Previously, he was a member of the drafting committee for the ICCA Sourcebook for Logistical Matters in Procedural Orders. He also served as Federal Law Clerk to the Honorable Kathryn C. Ferguson, USBJ, New Jersey.

DR CLAUDIA ANNACKER, MEMBER

Dr. Claudia Annacker is an independent arbitrator and counsel based in Paris.  She specializes in international arbitration and public international law, in particular investor-State disputes, inter-State disputes, disputes involving international organizations and human rights disputes.

Dr. Annacker has represented sovereign and private parties in more than 35 investment arbitrations, as well as in commercial and inter-State arbitrations.  Dr. Annacker has also served as arbitrator in investment treaty and commercial arbitrations.  She is a member of several arbitrator panels, including the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators and the SIAC Panel of Arbitrators.  She is a member of the SIAC Court of Arbitration and the VIAC Board (President of the Investment Arbitration Committee).

Dr. Annacker received a Ph.D. with high honors and a venia legendi et docendi (habilitation) for public international law from the University of Vienna.  Dr. Annacker is an adjunct professor at the University of Vienna and has been a visiting professor at the Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense University.  She has published widely in the fields of international arbitration and public international law.

CATHERINE AMIRFAR

CATHERINE AMIRFAR, MEMBER

Catherine Amirfar is a litigation partner at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. She co-chairs the firm’s International Dispute Resolution Group and Public International Law Group.

Her practice focuses on public international law, international commercial and treaty arbitration, and international and complex commercial litigation. She is also a member of the firm’s Management Committee.

Ms Amirfar has been ranked among the leading international arbitration practitioners by Chambers Global, which has described her as “very composed, intelligent and a master of investment arbitration.”

Prior to rejoining Debevoise in 2016, Ms Amirfar spent two years as the Counselor on International Law to the Legal Adviser at the U.S. Department of State. During her tenure as Counselor, Ms. Amirfar advised the State Department on its most significant litigation matters involving international law and foreign relations. She received the Superior Honor Award for her service to the Department.

Ms Amirfar serves as the President of the American Society of International Law and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Law Institute, and the Advisory Committee on International Law for the U.S. Department of State. She has written extensively on international arbitration, the relationship between international law and U.S. domestic law, international human rights and humanitarian law, investor-state disputes, and the law of consular and diplomatic immunities.

JOSE AMADO

JOSE AMADO, MEMBER

Mr. Jose Daniel Amado is a founding partner of Miranda & Amado in Lima and teaches international arbitration law at the Catholic University of Peru. His professional practice focuses on Corporate Law, Infrastructure Projects and International Arbitration. He has acted in some of the most important cross-border transactions and international disputes that have taken place in Peru in the last two decades.

Mr. Amado is regularly ranked as an international arbitration and corporate law expert by publications such as Who’sWhoLegal, GAR100, Chambers, Legal500, Best Lawyers and IFLR1000 and, in 2009, was named “Latin American Law Firm Leader of the Year” by LatinLawyer magazine. Mr. Amado regularly acts as party counsel, arbitrator and expert witness in domestic and international arbitrations.

From 2001 to 2002, Mr. Amado was Deputy to the Prime Minister of Peru and Chief of Advisors to the Council of Ministers. From 2013 to 2014, Mr. Amado was a Visiting Fellow at the University of Cambridge’s Lauterpacht Centre for International Law, as well as Scholar-in-Residence at Wilmer Hale’s international arbitration group. From 2014 to 2016, Mr. Amado was a Member of the Arbitration Court of the Lima Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Amado is the Chair of the Court of Arbitration of AmCham Peru´s International Arbitration Centre. He is also a Member of the ICC Arbitration Commission, of SIAC´s Users Council and of the Award Scrutiny Commission of CIAM (Madrid). Mr. Amado is further the Website Officer of the IBA Arbitration Committee and a Member of the Board of Advisors of Delos Dispute Resolution.

Mr. Amado received his LL.B. degree summa cum laude from the Catholic University of Peru and he holds an LL.M. from Harvard University, where he was awarded the Laylin Prize of Public International Law.

Mr. Amado is the author or co-author of several articles, essays and publications including a book titled “Arbitrating the Conduct of International Investors” (Cambridge University Press, 2018).

OLUFUNKE ADEKOYA

OLUFUNKE ADEKOYA, MEMBER

Funke Adekoya is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and partner and head of the arbitration practice at ǼLEX, a Lagos Nigeria based law firm with offices in Accra, Ghana. She has dual nationality (Nigerian/British) and is dual qualified; in addition to having qualified as a legal practitioner in Nigeria in 1975, she was admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2004 where she maintains a current practicing licence. She is a Chartered Arbitrator of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a Governing Board Member of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration.

In addition to being appointed as counsel in arbitration related litigation, she also represents parties as counsel or arbitrator in commercial arbitrations. Her appointments have been both ad-hoc and institutional under the LCIA, ICC and ICSID Rules, where she has acted as either sole or party-appointed arbitrator or chaired arbitral panels in disputes in the commercial, energy and natural resources, construction and infrastructure sectors.

She is ranked in Chambers Global and in Who’s Who Legal Arbitration, is listed on the Chairman’s Panel of Arbitrators at ICSID as well as the panels of many other international arbitration institutions, and is currently a member of the ICC Africa Commission.

TOBY LANDAU KC, VICE PRESIDENT

Toby Landau KC is a barrister and arbitrator, and a member of the Bars of England & Wales, Singapore, New York, BVI and Northern Ireland (and the DIFC). He practices from Duxton Hill Chambers in Singapore, and as a Sole Practitioner in London.

As Arbitrator, he has sat as President and Co-Arbitrator in numerous Investor-State and commercial disputes worldwide, under most of the leading institutional and ad hoc rules. As Counsel, he has argued hundreds of major international investor-State and commercial arbitrations, as well as many ground-breaking arbitration cases in Court (including Halliburton v Chubb; Enka v Chubb; Dallah v Pakistan; Jivraj v Hashwani; Ust-Kamenogorsk v AES; IPCO v NNPC in the UK Supreme Court, and First Media v Astro in the Courts of Singapore and Hong Kong).

He is Visiting Professor at Kings College London; a Court Member of SIAC; previously LCIA Court Member and SCC Board Member; UK delegate to the UNCITRAL Working Group on Arbitration (1994-2013); and a draftsman of the English Arbitration Act 1996 as well as many other laws and arbitration rules in several countries. Since April 2012, he has been a member of the Panel of Advisors of the Attorney-General of Singapore.

CAVINDER BULL

CAVINDER BULL, SC, VICE PRESIDENT

Mr Cavinder Bull, SC is a Vice-President of the Court of Arbitration and the Chief Executive Officer of Drew & Napier LLC. He is also a member of the Governing Board of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) and Vice-President of the Asia Pacific Regional Arbitration Group. He was Deputy Chairman of the SIAC from October 2010 to April 2017.

Mr Bull has an active practice in complex litigation and international arbitration. He has acted as counsel in numerous international arbitrations and has represented governments, financial institutions and corporations from various parts of the world. He is also experienced in investor-state disputes, where he has acted as both counsel and arbitrator. Legal 500 praised him as a “very astute lawyer on strategy and law” while Chambers & Partners describes him as a “consummate advocate”; a “very rare talent in disputes”; and says that “complex arbitrations are his specialisation”.

Mr Bull is on the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators and has been appointed as an arbitrator in ICSID, PCA, NAFTA, ICC, SIAC, LCIA, UNCITRAL and ad hoc arbitrations.

Mr Bull graduated with First Class Honours in law from Oxford University and has a Masters in law from Harvard Law School. He has been called to the Bar in Singapore, New York and England & Wales. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2008.

DUONG HOANG, DEPUTY COUNSEL

Duong is qualified to practice law in Vietnam.

Prior to joining SIAC, Duong worked as a counsel at a leading international arbitration centre in Vietnam where she administered domestic and international arbitration matters conducted under the auspice of the arbitration law of Vietnam and UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. She thereafter practiced international arbitration with the Singapore office of a leading Vietnam-based law firm where she focused on Vietnam-related matters in construction and petroleum sectors. 

Duong speaks Vietnamese and English.

Email: duonghoang@siac-staging.cloudwps.net

CHEN WU

CHEN WU, ASSOCIATE COUNSEL

Chen graduated from Fudan University (Bachelor’s degree in law), Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (LL.M. in International Trade Law) and Georgetown University (LL.M. in International Business and Economic Law).

Prior to joining SIAC, Chen worked as legal officer at the Court of Justice of the European Union, and practiced WTO dispute settlement and trade remedy investigation at law firms in Brussels and Beijing.

Chen is qualified to practice law in China and New York State. She speaks Chinese (Mandarin and Shanghainese), English and French.

Email: chenwu@siac-staging.cloudwps.net

JAYDEN ZHAO

JAYDEN ZHAO, ASSOCIATE COUNSEL

Jayden graduated with an LL.B. (Hons) from the Singapore Management University School of Law. He is admitted to practice as an Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore. Prior to joining SIAC, he practiced arbitration and litigation at a law firm in Singapore.

Jayden is fluent in English and Mandarin.

Email: jaydenzhao@siac-staging.cloudwps.net

LYNNETTE LEE, COUNSEL

Lynnette graduated with an LL.B. (Hons) from Monash Law School, Melbourne, Australia and holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies (Hons) from the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. She is admitted to practice as an Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore. During law school, Lynnette participated in moot court competitions, which included representing Monash at the FDI Moot.

Prior to joining SIAC, Lynnette practiced with Singapore law firms and worked at the chambers of a leading international arbitrator. She also worked with the Legal Aid Bureau in Singapore as a legal executive.

Email: lynnettelee@siac-staging.cloudwps.net

DAVINDER SINGH

DAVINDER SINGH, SC, CHAIRMAN

Mr Davinder Singh, SC is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of SIAC and the Executive Chairman of Davinder Singh Chambers LLC.

Mr Singh’s legal experience spans four decades. He has an active international arbitration practice involving complex commercial disputes, international clients and multiple jurisdictions. He has advised and/or acted in numerous institutional and ad hoc arbitrations.

At the Chambers Asia-Pacific Awards 2014, Mr Singh was conferred the “Outstanding Contribution to the Legal Profession” Award. He is the only litigator in Singapore to be ranked by Chambers & Partners as a “Star Individual” for thirteen years running from 2011 to 2023.

Mr Singh is also recognised in the “Hall of Fame” for both Dispute Resolution and International Arbitration by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific.

According to Chambers and Legal 500 researchers, Mr Singh is “number one in Singapore”; “a bona fide star performer”; “in a class of his own” and a “standout figure in arbitration as well as litigation; “an exceptionally good lawyer – always top of the tree.”

Mr Singh also sits on the Board of Directors of the Singapore International Mediation Centre.

He was in the first batch of Senior Counsel appointed by the Singapore Supreme Court in 1997.