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2025 Masterclass: International Arbitration

Masterclass: International Arbitration
6 – 7 August, 2025
Herbert Smith Freehills, Sydney

Photo Gallery  Credit: Quentin Jones, Think Mammoth
Masterclass Event Photos
Masterclass Dinner Photos
Feedback from 2025 participants

As part of its 30th Anniversary celebrations, Ciarb Australia will be holding an exclusive Masterclass on International Arbitration led by distinguished Professors Doug Jones AO and Janet Walker CM, leading international commercial and ISDS arbitrators.

Guest Speaker will be Ciarb Global President: Prof Dr Mohamed Abdel Wahab

This interactive two-day event is tailored for a select group of senior and emerging Australian practitioners who specialise in domestic and international arbitration, and who would make a significant contribution to the success of the masterclass.

You will delve into cutting-edge approaches for effectively managing a number of the challenging issues when conducting arbitrations, such as process design, proactive case administration, evidence presentation, hearing execution, and award preparation.

You will be invited to critically examine processes which contribute to the efficiency and quality of arbitral proceedings, with a view to enhancing the skill sets of Australian counsel and arbitrators.

A three-course dinner to be addressed by The Hon Justice Angus Stewart, Federal Court of Australia will be held on 6 August with a Cocktail Reception hosted by Herbert Smith Freehills at the conclusion of class on 7 August.

Please join us for an exceptional opportunity to sharpen your arbitration skills and network with peers and esteemed arbitration leaders.

The following fees for in-person include: two-day masterclass, materials, dinner and cocktail reception. 

$875 for Ciarb Members
$1075 for Non-Ciarb Members

The following fees for online include: two-day masterclass and materials.

$675 for Ciarb Members
$875 for Non-Ciarb Members


Proceedings:

Welcome: Geoff Farnsworth, Ciarb Australia President

Introduction and Vote of Thanks: Chad Catterwell and James Allsop

Prof Doug Jones AO
Janet Walker

Proudly sponsored by:

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Date: Wednesday, 6 August 2025
8.30 am Registration
9.00 am – 5.00 pm Masterclass
6.30 pm – 10.00 pm Dinner
Date: Thursday, 7 August 2025
8.30 am Registration
9.00 am – 5.00 pm Masterclass
5.00 pm – 7.00 pm Cocktail Reception

Venue:
Herbert Smith Freehills
ANZ Tower, Level 34
161 Castlereagh Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Google Map

RSVP: Friday, 1 August 2025

Enquiries:
Gianna Totaro
CEO, CIArb Australia
Mob: 0438 337 328
info@ciarb.net.au

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About the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Since 1915 the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators exists for the global promotion, facilitation and development of all forms of private dispute resolution. In addition to providing education, training and accreditation for arbitrators, mediators and adjudicators, Ciarb acts as an international centre for practitioners, policymakers, academics and the business community. Our international membership of over 19,000 professionals spans more than 150 jurisdictions, connected by over 40 active Ciarb Branches worldwide. We support our members with learning and networking opportunities, qualifications, mentorship, research and resources, events and best practice guidance via our global branch network.

Ciarb Australia Branch, formed in 1995, provides tailored support for its membership and is involved in legislative policy and the development of legal principle. Branch membership comprises eminent and experienced professionals with globally recognised qualifications, resolving disputes in a wide range of sectors including major infrastructure and construction, transport, energy and resources, maritime, sport, finance, IT, the arts, media and government schemes.

Ciarb Australia With Strapline

Ben Katekar SC, New Chambers:

Ciarb’s 2025 Masterclass was a riveting two days of intense professional growth. It’s impossible to overstate the value in having Doug Jones AO and Janet Walker CM generously and unreservedly share their insights on how to successfully conduct a complex, hard-fought arbitration.

The spectacular Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab C.Arb, FCIArb.  kicked things off with a typically engaging and perspicacious discussion.

Doug and Janet chaired an electric round-table conversation. They supplied us with a suite of precedents that contain the solutions they’ve developed to the many intractable problems they’ve confronted in their vast experience as world-leading arbitrators. A priceless trove of ideas offered with genuine humility, in the most engaging, kind and digestible way.

Justice Angus Stewart of the Federal Court of Australia attended the dinner and delivered an incisive and provocative keynote.

I shared this precious experience with an elite group, which made the conversation sparkle, and with whom I forged new friendships.

I’m sincerely grateful to Ciarb Australia President, Geoff Farnsworth for inviting me,  Ciarb Australia CEO, Gianna Totaro and Christin Ji for organising everything so magnificently, and to James Allsop and Chad Catterwell of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer for generously hosting us. It was a privilege to be a part of it. I have learned so much over these last two days that I’ll be needing to come back to the next one for a refresher, if they’ll have me back.

Jennifer Chambers, Partner, King & Spalding:

Many thanks Professors Douglas Jones AO and Janet Walker CM It was a privilege to be invited along to collaborate with a number of exceptional leaders in the Australian arbitration space, including guest speaker Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab C.Arb, FCIArb. All participants shared invaluable insights from their vast collective experience and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Australia provided a set of excellent practical resources for future use.

Matt Lee, Partner, Lindsay Francis & Mangan:

Professors Doug Jones AO and Janet Walker CM are giants in the world of international arbitration and the Australian arbitration community was extremely privileged to have them take the time to dive deep into how they think strategically about the mechanics, structure, and procedure of running effective arbitrations across the globe. Doug and Janet should be commended on their masterclass, which will no doubt have important capacity building impacts for future domestic and international arbitrations across the APAC region. Having the chance to learn from Doug, Janet, and some of Australia’s leading arbitration counsel was a priceless learning experience about international best practice in arbitration.

Katie Sutton, Barrister, Maxwell 42 International Arbitration Chambers:

I highly recommend this international arbitration master-class. Convened by the distinguished Professor Doug Jones AO and Professor Janet Walker CM, the program offered excellent practical discussions with highly experienced practitioners. The format felt much like a small “Tynley Hall” style working group: collegial, interactive, and focused on real-world issues that arise in complex arbitrations.

I left with practical ideas and concrete suggestions for addressing common challenges when running arbitration proceedings. The atmosphere throughout was genuinely collegiate, encouraging open discussion and the sharing of experience.

The dinner was a particular highlight, complemented by Justice Stewart’s keynote speech, which provided thoughtful reflections to round out an already outstanding program.

Tim Breakspear SC, Banco Chambers:

The convenors generously shared their wealth of experience and deep practical insights. The interweaving of participants’ collective expertise through robust discussion developed a shared vision for continual innovation of arbitration practice, and a mandate for renewal of Australian arbitration that integrates the best of global practice.

CiArb Masterclass 2025

The Hon Justice Angus Stewart is a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia. His Honour is a National Coordinating Judge of the Court’s Admiralty & Maritime practice area and the National List Judge for the Commercial Arbitration practice area. He is chair of the Judicial Liaison Committee of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA).

Prior to his appointment to the bench in 2019, Justice Stewart practiced at the Bar in South Africa and then from chambers in Sydney from 2011. He was awarded silk in both jurisdictions. He specialised in admiralty and maritime law and international arbitration. He was a Fellow of the Chartered Institute or Arbitrators (FCIArb) and of ACICA, and a member of various arbitration panels in Australia and abroad. He appeared in many arbitrations as counsel and sat as arbitrator, including in Hong Kong and Singapore.