2021 International Arbitration Conference Speakers

Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC

Governor of New South Wales, Australia

Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC

Governor of New South Wales, Australia

Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC is the 39th Governor of New South Wales, commencing her five year tenure on 2 May 2019. Prior to her appointment as Governor, Her Excellency enjoyed a long and distinguished law career spanning 43 years, during which time she served as a role model for women in law at both the State and national level. Appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1989, in 1993 she was made a judge of the Federal Court of Australia, the first woman to sit exclusively in that Court. In 1996, she achieved the distinction of being the first woman appointed to the New South Wales Court of Appeal and, subsequently, as the first woman to be appointed as its President. She served, on a number of occasions, as Administrator of the Government of the State of New South Wales. She was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours List on 26 January 2020 for "eminent service to the people of New South Wales, particularly through leadership roles in the judiciary, and as a mentor of young women lawyers".

The Honourable James Spigelman AC QC

Arbitrator, One Essex Court, United Kingdom

The Honourable James Spigelman AC QC

Arbitrator, One Essex Court, United Kingdom

The Honourable James Spigelman AC QC served as Chief Justice of New South Wales, Australia’s largest state, from 1998 until the end May 2011, and as a Non-Permanent Judge of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal from 2013 to 2020. After his retirement as Chief Justice he joined One Essex Court, The Temple, London as an arbitrator. He has since been appointed Chair of panels with seats in London (x6), Singapore (x5), Dubai, Sydney (x2), Perth and ICSID, as an umpire in Singapore, as sole arbitrator in one case in Singapore and one case in Melbourne, and in two, related, disputes in Sydney and to determine a privilege issue in a NAFTA arbitration. He has also been a party appointed arbitrator on five panels in London, five panels in Singapore and panels in Sydney, Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur, Frankfurt, the Court of Arbiration for Sport and in two ICSID and two UNCITRAL investment treaty cases. From 1972 James Spigelman was Senior Advisor and Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister of Australia, before appointment as Permanent Secretary of the Department of Media in 1975. He was a member of the Australian Law Reform Commission from 1976 to 1979. He commenced practice at the NSW Bar in 1980. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1986. He was acting Solicitor General of New South Wales in 1997. He has served on the boards and as chair of a number of cultural and educational institutions. James Spigelman is the author of three books, co-author of a fourth and of some 170 published articles, including on a range of aspects of commercial and corporate law such as contractual interpretation, insurance law, commercial arbitration, insolvency, international commercial litigation, freezing orders and proof of foreign law. Three volumes of his speeches as Chief Justice have been published.

Judith Levine

Independent Arbitrator, Levine Arbitration, Australia

Judith Levine

Independent Arbitrator, Levine Arbitration, Australia

Judith Levine is an independent arbitrator with extensive experience in public international law, investment treaty and commercial contract disputes. She brings valuable insight from her work in both private practice and at public institutions. Judith has sat as presiding arbitrator, sole arbitrator, and co-panellist in ICC, PCA, SIAC, ACICA, and CAS cases seated around the world. In Australia, Judith is a Vice-President of ACICA, a member of the National Sports Tribunal, and a senior member of NCAT. At the 2020 Australian ADR Awards, Judith won “Arbitrator of the Year”. Now Sydney-based, Judith worked for over a decade at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague where, as Senior Legal Counsel, she administered some of the world’s most complex disputes, including South China Sea and Yukos. She also represented the PCA at multilateral negotiations including COP21 in Paris. From 2003-2008 Judith practised arbitration at White & Case in New York. Earlier in her career, Judith served with the International Court of Justice, the Australian Attorney-General, and the High Court of Australia. Judith has published and lectured on diverse issues in dispute resolution, including arbitration and climate change. She has an LLM from NYU (Hauser & Fulbright scholar) and a BA/LLB (University Medal) from UNSW.

Professor the Honourable Bob Carr

Industry Professor (Business and Climate Change), UTS, Australia

Professor the Honourable Bob Carr

Industry Professor (Business and Climate Change), UTS, Australia

Former Foreign Minister Bob Carr is also the longest continuously serving Premier in New South Wales history. He served as Minister for Planning and Environment 1984 to 1988 and as Leader of the Opposition from 1988 until his election as Premier in March 1995. He was re-elected in 1999 and 2003 securing an historic third four-year term. He retired from state politics in 2005. During his 10 years the State Government set new records for spending on infrastructure, became the first government in the State’s history to retire debt, hosted the world’s best Olympics in 2000 and achieved the nation’s best school literacy levels. Forbes magazine called Bob Carr a “dragon slayer” for his landmark tort law reforms. As Premier he received the World Conservation Union International Parks Merit Award for creating 350 new national parks. He introduced the world’s first carbon trading scheme and curbed the clearing of native vegetation, both anti-greenhouse measures. He was a member of the International Task Force on Climate Change convened by Tony Blair, and was made a life member of the Wilderness Society in 2003. Bob Carr has received the Fulbright Distinguished Fellow Award Scholarship. He has served as Honorary Scholar of the Australian American Leadership Dialogue. He is the author of Thoughtlines (2002), What Australia Means to Me (2003), My Reading Life (2008) Diary of a Foreign Minister (2014) and Run for Your Life (2018). In March 2012 he was designated by Prime Minister Julia Gillard as Australia’s Foreign Minister, elected to the Australian Senate to fill a casual Senate vacancy and sworn in to the Senate and Cabinet on March 13, 2012. As Foreign Minister, Bob Carr fostered stronger relations between Australia and Southeast Asia, lifted sanctions on Myanmar, campaigned for the passage of a global Arms Trade Treaty and led the final stages of Australia’s successful bid for Australia’s seat on the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member. His plan for a Syrian medical pact was backed at the G20. He assisted Prime Minister Gillard in achieving a strategic partnership with China. Following his resignation from the Senate on October 24, 2013, the University of Technology, Sydney appointed him to lead the Australia-China Relations Institute – a think tank dedicated to Australia-China relations, serving for five years. In May 2019 he was appointed Professor of Industry in Climate and Business at the University of Technology Sydney. Bob Carr is a Director of The Lysicrates Foundation and a Committee Member of the UNSW Matraville Education Program Advisory Council.

Stuart Bruce

Associate Director, KPMG, London, United Kingdom

Stuart Bruce

Associate Director, KPMG, London, United Kingdom

Stuart Bruce is an Associate Director in the Climate Risk & Decarbonisation Strategy team at KPMG (London), an Expert Reviewer of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report, Fellow of the Platform on International Energy Governance, and Vice-Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce United Kingdom Energy & Environment Committee. He is formerly a Senior Associate in the International Arbitration Group at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr LLP, Board Member of the Stockholm Treaty Lab at the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, and Research Associate to the late Professor James Crawford AC SC.

Ilona Millar

Partner, Baker McKenzie, Sydney, Australia

Ilona Millar

Partner, Baker McKenzie, Sydney, Australia

Ilona Millar is a Partner with Baker McKenzie's Environmental Markets Practice and has 20 years’ experience advising on international and domestic climate change law and policy, and environmental markets. This experience extends to complex multi-jurisdictional transactions as well as the development of innovative responses to climate change and sustainability problems. Ilona has held previous roles with the Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development (FIELD) and International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) in London, and as the Principal Solicitor for the Environmental Defenders Office Ltd (NSW). Ilona advises governments and businesses on the development and implementation of climate change laws, including emissions trading schemes, greenhouse and energy reporting, renewable energy and emerging low carbon technologies. Her most recent work involves helping companies and government agencies navigate the legal and policy issues associated with climate change risk assessment and disclosure obligations and to develop their climate change strategies.

Nicola Swan

Partner, Chapman Tripp, New Zealand

Nicola Swan

Partner, Chapman Tripp, New Zealand

Nicola Swan is a Wellington-based litigation and dispute resolution partner at Chapman Tripp, which is the only New Zealand firm to be ranked in the GAR 100. Nicola leads the firm’s international law practice. Nicola specialised in international arbitration while practising at a major US firm in London for seven years, returning to Wellington in late 2019. Alongside her disputes practice, Nicola is recognised for her expertise in climate change risk management. She regularly advises board of directors and executive teams on climate change regulatory, reputational and litigation risk and ESG risk management. Nicola is the co-author of several published legal opinions on climate change legal obligations for directors, fund managers and trustees. Nicola is a Fellow of CIArb and AMINZ and active within the IBA and ICC. Nicola is recognised as a leading arbitration advisor by Who’s Who Legal 2021 and a rising star by Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021.

The Honourable Justice Frances Williams

Supreme Court of Queensland, Australia

The Honourable Justice Frances Williams

Supreme Court of Queensland, Australia

Justice Frances Williams was appointed to the Supreme Court of Queensland in February 2020. This follows 25 years as a solicitor with three Australian law firms, including as a partner since 2011. Her experience in private practice included commercial arbitrations, dispute resolution boards, mediations as well as large scale litigation. She practiced in a number of jurisdictions including the Federal Court, the Australian Competition Tribunal and the Supreme Courts of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Prior to her appointment, Justice Williams was on the Board of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Queensland Law Society’s Litigation Rules Committee.

Eric Ng

Managing Counsel, HKIAC, Hong Kong

Eric Ng

Managing Counsel, HKIAC, Hong Kong

Eric is Managing Counsel at the HKIAC. Prior to joining the HKIAC, Eric worked for five years as a barrister-at-law in Hong Kong focusing primarily on international commercial and construction arbitrations, as well as general commercial litigation in Hong Kong, and has worked as counsel as well as tribunal secretary in several major international commercial, construction, and financial arbitrations seated around the world. In addition to his work as a barrister, Eric was previously Adjunct Professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, lecturing in advocacy and investor-state arbitration. Eric has also published on issues of international dispute resolution and investor-state arbitration. Eric holds a BCL from Oxford University, PCLL and JD from City University from Hong Kong, MSc E-commerce from the University of Hong Kong, as well as a BS in Business Administration and Information Systems from Babson College in the USA. He is admitted to practice law in Hong Kong.

Owain Stone

Partner, KordaMentha, Melbourne, Australia

Owain Stone

Partner, KordaMentha, Melbourne, Australia

Owain has over 35 years’ experience in a wide range of forensic accounting projects and prior to arriving in Melbourne in 1997 he worked in Singapore (1990–1997) and London (1984–1990). His extensive experience includes expert witness related forensic accounting services (including preparation of expert reports and/or giving oral testimony) in the Australian Federal Court, the Supreme Court and County Court of Victoria, the High Court of Singapore, the Supreme Court of Vanuatu and arbitrations in Australia, Hong Kong and USA across various matters including breach of contract, tort, purchase price disputes, forensic accounting investigations and intellectual property breaches. His arbitration experience includes preparing reports for and giving evidence on the quantification of loss and damage and related commercial issues in a number of institutional arbitrations (including ICC, ACICA, ICSID, UNCITRAL, SIAC, and HKIAC) as well as ‘ad-hoc’ arbitration matters, seated and heard in a number of locations around the world. The matters have involved some domestic, but primarily international arbitrations across a wide range of industries, including construction, utilities, manufacturing, property, tourism and hospitality. Owain has also gained a Post-Graduate Professional Certificate in Arbitration in 2012 from The University of Adelaide. Recent Arbitration insights from Owain published by CIArb Evolution or Revolution: The Innovation Challenge for Expert Evidence in Arbitration - Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Australia (ciarb.net.au)

James Hosking

Founding Partner, Chaffetz Lindsey LLP, New York, USA

James Hosking

Founding Partner, Chaffetz Lindsey LLP, New York, USA

James Hosking has been practicing in the international disputes arena for over 25 years. Prior to co-founding international dispute resolution boutique Chaffetz Lindsey, he was a partner in Clifford Chance’s New York office and previously practiced in New Zealand. James’ practice focuses on international commercial and investment arbitration, both as counsel and arbitrator. In addition, he regularly writes, teaches and comments on dispute resolution. Amongst his recent projects, he was the Co-Chair of the ICC Task Force on Emergency Arbitrator Proceedings, is Co-Editor of the ICCA Right to a Physical Hearing report, and was involved with reviews of the AAA/ICDR International Rules and those of the Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration. Who’s Who recently recognized James as a Global Elite Thought Leader, one of only twelve such lawyers in North America. More information is available at www.chaffetzlindsey.com.

Jo Delaney

Partner, HFW, Sydney, Australia

Jo Delaney

Partner, HFW, Sydney, Australia

Jo has over 20 years of experience in complex cross-border projects and disputes based in Sydney and London. Jo is experienced in all forms of dispute resolution, including mediation, expert determination, arbitration or litigation. Jo's passion is international arbitration. She draws on extensive experience in commercial, construction and investment arbitrations under the ICC, ACICA, SIAC, LCIA AAA, UNCITRAL and ICSID arbitration rules in a diverse range of industries, including energy, resources and infrastructure, construction, telecommunications and information technology. Jo has acted for private parties and States in many investment treaty cases under the UNCITRAL and ICSID Arbitration Rules. Jo is one of Australia's two members of the ICC Court of Arbitration and involved with ACICA, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and The Pledge Steering Committee.

Duncan Miller SC

Barrister and Arbitrator, Seven Wentworth Chambers, Sydney, Australia

Duncan Miller SC

Barrister and Arbitrator, Seven Wentworth Chambers, Sydney, Australia

Duncan Miller SC practices primarily in the areas of construction / infrastructure, mining, arbitration, planning and environment, commercial and common law. With over 25 years’ experience at the Bar, Duncan is widely regarded as a leader in the field of construction litigation and arbitration. Matters include construction-related and insurance disputes covering buildings, roads, railway infrastructure and rolling stock, mining and manufacturing operations, ports, airports, pipelines and other energy-related infrastructure. Duncan also acts as a mediator, expert determiner, referee and arbitrator.

Jonathan Humphrey

Partner, HKA, Sydney, Australia

Jonathan Humphrey

Partner, HKA, Sydney, Australia

Jonathan Humphrey has more than 20 years of experience advising clients as an accounting and finance expert on complex contentious matters and in an advisory capacity. His experience includes the quantification of lost profits arising from breach of contracts and warranties, valuations resulting from expropriation and shareholder disputes and quantification of damages in respect of class actions, professional negligence, insurance claims, business interruption and post-acquisition disputes. He has worked across sectors including oil and gas, power, construction, IT and telecoms, financial services and manufacturing; and has an established international background working in jurisdictions including Australia, Asia, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Jonathan is appointed regularly as an expert in contentious matters and has experience providing oral evidence in commercial and investment treaty cases. He has worked in multiple forums, including international arbitration under ICC, UNCITRAL, LCIA, SIAC, DIAC and HKIAC rules, court litigation and mediation.

Beth Cubitt

Partner, Clyde & Co, Perth, Australia

Beth Cubitt

Partner, Clyde & Co, Perth, Australia

Beth, who is based in Perth, advises clients on major construction disputes, international commercial arbitrations and cross-border disputes throughout Australia and Asia. Her experience includes advising on claims and cross-border transactions, organising project structures, developing procurement systems and drafting contract documents. Beth has developed her practice in Australia for almost 20 years, initially based in Brisbane and Melbourne. She is also a qualified lawyer in South Africa where she acted for various commercial clients in respect of dispute resolution and the negotiation and drafting of commercial contracts before moving to Australia in 2000. Beth is regularly called upon to present at legal and infrastructure sector-focused conferences and seminars in Australia, London, Asia and South Africa. She is also a graded arbitrator and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London), the Australian Institute of Commercial Arbitration and the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia. Beth is recognised in the legal directories as a leading practitioner in construction and arbitration - Chambers & Partners, Best Lawyers, Legal 500, Who's Who Legal and Doyles. Beth has recently been acknowledged by Best Lawyers in Australia 2021 for her work in the fields of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Construction/Infrastructure Law, International Arbitration and Litigation.

Victoria Hawkins

General Counsel, DRA Global, Perth

Victoria Hawkins

General Counsel, DRA Global, Perth

Victoria Hawkins is the General Counsel at DRA based in Perth, Western Australia. Previously, Victoria was the Senior Legal Counsel at KBR. She is a dynamic and highly motivated senior legal executive and probity and governance expert with specialist experience in structuring and managing legal and commercial risks in complex capital investment projects and mitigating reputational risks.

Iain Anderson

Deputy Secretary, Legal Services and Families Group, Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department, Australia

Iain Anderson

Deputy Secretary, Legal Services and Families Group, Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department, Australia

Since joining AGD in 1990 Iain has worked in many areas of the department, including as a practitioner in the Australian Government Solicitor Group. Before becoming Deputy Secretary, Iain led divisions responsible for: • criminal justice • strategic policy • native title • territories • legal services • Classification. He has also been the department's Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for all enabling services and has led the in-house legal area of the Australian Taxation Office. Iain has degrees in law and economics from Sydney University.

Deborah Tomkinson

Secretary-General, ACICA, Australia

Deborah Tomkinson

Secretary-General, ACICA, Australia

Deborah Tomkinson is the Secretary General of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA). Deborah joined ACICA from private practice in 2012, having previously specialised in commercial dispute resolution in the energy, projects and construction and infrastructure industries at a number of top tier law firms in Australia and the United Arab Emirates. Deborah is responsible for the overall management and operations of ACICA and oversees the ACICA Secretariat in the provision of case management and related services. Deborah is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Brenda Horrigan

Independent Arbitrator, Singapore

Brenda Horrigan

Independent Arbitrator, Singapore

Brenda Horrigan is an internationally recognised arbitration practitioner with nearly 30 years of extensive global experience, having worked from the US, Paris, Moscow, Shanghai, Sydney and now Singapore. Prior to establishing her own practice in 2021, Brenda was the Head of International Arbitration in Australia at Herbert Smith Freehills’ Sydney office. She commenced her career as a transactional lawyer and has spent nearly 20 years focussing exclusively on complex international commercial and investment treaty matters. Brenda is the immediate past president of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) and remains a member of its Executive. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and is listed on the panels of numerous arbitral institutions. Brenda has taught international arbitration as a Global Adjunct Professor of Law at New York University’s Shanghai campus and as a guest lecturer at the University of New South Wales. She is regularly invited to speak at conferences and seminars on arbitration and is consistently ranked in Chambers and in Global Arbitration Review’s Who’s Who: Legal as a leading arbitration practitioner.

Victor Ageev

Director, FTI Consulting, Perth, Australia

Victor Ageev

Director, FTI Consulting, Perth, Australia

Victor Ageev has extensive experience in the construction, mining, and oil and gas industries, during which he has assisted in dispute resolution proceedings, claims preparation and defence, commercial management, and contract administration. Victor’s consulting experience spans a wide range of markets including Australia, the Philippines, and South Korea. Victor specializes in formal dispute resolution and has assisted in the preparation of numerous expert reports for arbitration and litigation. The services Victor provides also include responses to expert reports, as well as preparing and defending claims made under Security of Payment legislation.

The Honourable Justice Peter Riordan

Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia

The Honourable Justice Peter Riordan

Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia

Justice Peter Riordan was appointed to the Supreme Court of Victoria in March 2015. Justice Riordan was appointed as senior counsel in 2003 and served as President of the Australian Bar Association in 2009-10. He is also a Past Chairman of the Victorian Bar Council. Justice Riordan practised at the Victorian Bar from 1992 to 2015 principally in commercial litigation. His Honour also had extensive experience as a mediator and arbitrator, including International Arbitration, throughout the States and Territories of Australia. In March 2018, his Honour was appointed as the Principal Judge in charge of the Commercial Court of the Supreme Court of Victoria. His Honour is also currently the Judge in charge of the Supreme Court’s Arbitration List.

Joshua Paffey

Partner, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Australia

Joshua Paffey

Partner, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Australia

Joshua is a specialist in company-critical, complex arbitrations and litigation. He represents clients in significant commercial, trade and commerce, energy and resources, oil and gas, and infrastructure-related disputes in Australia and overseas, including cross-border investment disputes. Joshua’s clients include listed and private companies, project owners and sponsors, EPC contractors, commodity traders, governments and government-owned corporations from Australia, Asia, UK, Europe, US and South America. Joshua lectures on International Commercial Arbitration to university law students. He also is an Executive Director of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) and the Chair of the ACICA Queensland State Committee.

Leah Ratcliff

Of Counsel, Jones Day, Melbourne, Australia

Leah Ratcliff

Of Counsel, Jones Day, Melbourne, Australia

Leah Ratcliff is Of Counsel at Jones Day in Melbourne and has more than 15 years of experience acting in and advising on complex cross-border disputes. Leah’s practice encompasses disputes management and avoidance, international arbitration, cross-border litigation and crisis and risk management. Leah has a particular focus on the energy and natural resources sector, as well as on ESG matters. Between 2015 and 2019, Leah was head of dispute resolution at BHP, one of the world's leading energy and resources companies, where she managed disputes and regulatory matters across four continents. Leah is qualified to practice law in both Australia and New York. Between 2015 and 2019, Leah was head of dispute resolution at BHP, one of the world's leading energy and resources companies, where she managed disputes and regulatory matters across four continents. Prior to that she practiced at law firms in London, Sydney, and Washington D.C., where she gained extensive experience in disputes and contentious regulatory matters in the energy and resources sector in Australia and internationally; joint venture disputes, including those arising in relation to incorporated and unincorporated joint ventures; institutional and ad hoc international arbitration (ICC, SIAC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, ACICA rules); and management of business risks related to emerging markets.

Rob Palmer

Partner, Ashurst, Singapore

Rob Palmer

Partner, Ashurst, Singapore

Rob Palmer is a Partner in Ashurst's dispute resolution team and Managing Partner of Ashurst's Singapore office. Rob has been based in Southeast Asia since 2003 and has lived and worked throughout the region. He has conducted arbitrations under the rules of all major regional and international arbitral institutions and also sits as arbitrator. Rob is listed in legal directories - including Chambers Asia-Pacific/Global, Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, Best Lawyers, Who's Who Legal, and Expert Guides - as one of Singapore's leading arbitration lawyers, with particular expertise in resolving complex energy and infrastructure disputes. Legal 500 Asia-Pacific (2019) notes that he "'leaves no stone unturned' and is a 'go-to partner for anything related to infrastructure and construction'", while client testimony in the GAR 100 (2019) calls him "the best international arbitration lawyer in Asia".

Byeongik (Ben) Kim

Senior Legal Counsel, Korea Electric Power Corporation, UAE

Byeongik (Ben) Kim

Senior Legal Counsel, Korea Electric Power Corporation, UAE

Byeongik (Ben) Kim is a Senior Legal Counsel at Korea Electric Power Corporation (“KEPCO”) based in UAE Nuclear Power Plant Project, the historic Korea’s first export of nuclear power plants as well as the first nuclear power plants in the Arab world in the UAE. Since joining KEPCO in April 2012, Byeongik has been stationed at the construction site and has shared all the critical moments with the project from the first concrete pouring (ground-breaking) to the commercial operations. In his role, Byeongik provides legal advice not only on the project’s EPC contracts with hundreds of different parties but also on regulatory compliance with local and international authorities. Also, he has been involved in various commercial negotiations and legal proceedings including LCIA arbitration and KCAB arbitration to resolve disputes and claims related to the project. He has acquired superb knowledge of the cross-border construction and energy industry and excellent skills in disputes management through many years of hands-on experience. He got admitted to the District of Columbia Bar in 2011 and began his legal career practicing international business transactions at a law firm in Illinois, US. He also had more than 10 years of professional experience in commercial transactions in the construction, semiconductor and petrochemical industries before his legal career.

The Honourable Justice John Eric Middleton

Judge In Charge of International Arbitration, Federal Court of Australia, Australia

The Honourable Justice John Eric Middleton

Judge In Charge of International Arbitration, Federal Court of Australia, Australia

John Eric Middleton was appointed to the Federal Court of Australia effective from 31 July 2006. He was appointed a Deputy President of the Australian Competition Tribunal effective from 16 February 2009 and President effective from 1 July 2016. He was appointed a presidential member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal effective from 24 November 2010. He was appointed Part-time Commissioner to the Australian Law Reform Commission effective 28 November 2012. He graduated from the University of Melbourne as Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and from the University of Oxford as Bachelor of Civil Law (First Class Honours). He was the Winter Williams Scholar (University of Oxford (1976)). He was admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1976. After serving as Associate to Sir Ninian Stephen, then Justice of the High Court of Australia, he was called to the Bar in 1979 where he practised predominantly in Constitutional and Administrative Law, Resources Law and Commercial Law. He was appointed one of Her Majesty's Counsel for the State of Victoria in 1991 and subsequently became Chairman of the Victorian Bar Council. His extra curial activities include being a former Council Member of The University of Melbourne, a member of The American Law Institute, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, Member of the Editorial Board of The Journal of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand, member of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration Advisory Board and Judicial Liaison Committee and President of the Oxford Society in Victoria. He was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2003 for services as a former Chairman of the Bar Council, to the community and to education.

The Honourable Wayne Martin AC QC

Independent Arbitrator, Francis Burt Chambers, Perth, Australia

The Honourable Wayne Martin AC QC

Independent Arbitrator, Francis Burt Chambers, Perth, Australia

The Honourable Wayne Martin AC QC was Chief Justice of Western Australia between 2006 and his retirement from the bench in July 2018. Prior to his appointment he practised at the Western Australian Bar in the field of commercial litigation, mainly involving disputes in the mining, energy, resources, construction and financial sectors. His practice included international and domestic arbitration. As Chief Justice he created and managed the Arbitration List of the Supreme Court of Western Australia and he has published many decisions in that field (and others). Since leaving the Bench he is taking appointments as a mediator and arbitrator, and has joined chambers at Francis Burt Chambers, Perth, and at 39 Essex Chambers, with chambers in London, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. He is a judge (part-time) of the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts, and a member of the National Sports Tribunal.

Dr Vicky Priskich FCIArb

Arbitrator, Melbourne, Australia

Dr Vicky Priskich FCIArb

Arbitrator, Melbourne, Australia

Vicky practices as counsel and arbitrator. Vicky acts across a broad range of complex commercial disputes including energy, shareholder and distributorship agreements. She also has detailed knowledge and experience in trusts law concerning commercial and family trust disputes and in banking and finance disputes and is a co-author of the text, Lender Liability (Thomson Reuters). Vicky is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Vice President of the Australian Branch of CIArb and Chair of its Education Committee.

Smitha Menon

Partner, Wong Partnership, Singapore

Smitha Menon

Partner, Wong Partnership, Singapore

Smitha Menon is a Partner in the International Arbitration, India and Special Situations Advisory Practices at WongPartnership LLP. Smitha’s international and local appointments include being the Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce ("ICC") Singapore Arbitration Group and a Singapore Court member on the ICC International Court of Arbitration. She is a Fellow of the Insolvency Practitioners Association of Singapore and on the board of the Singapore network of the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation. Smitha has worked on a range of institutional arbitrations involving corporate and commercial disputes. She has also been appointed arbitrator on Indian law governed arbitrations conducted under the SIAC Rules and ICC Rules. Smitha graduated from King's College, London and is admitted to the Singapore Bar.

Cameron Hassall

Partner, Clifford Chance, Sydney, Australia

Cameron Hassall

Partner, Clifford Chance, Sydney, Australia

Cameron Hassall is a partner in Clifford Chance’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice in Hong Kong and Australia, and the head of international arbitration for Greater China. Cameron specialises in Asia-related arbitration, litigation and mediation, particularly in cross-border investment, joint venture and shareholder disputes in the energy and infrastructure, private equity, aviation and financial institution sectors. Cameron is recognised in the Legal 500 guide as a "leading individual" for international arbitration in China, and for litigation and dispute resolution in Australia. He has also been inducted into the Legal 500 "Hall of Fame". He is ranked in tier 1 for international arbitration in China in Chambers Asia-Pacific guides, resulting also in his ranking as a "leading individual" in the Chambers & Partners Global guide. Cameron is a past chairman of the Hong Kong ICC nominations sub-committee and the HKIAC proceedings committee, and has contributed to various publications. Cameron is lead advocate in most arbitrations in which he is counsel, and also sits as an arbitrator.

Professor Dr. Nayla Comair-Obeid

Founding Partner, Obeid & Partners, Beirut, Lebanon

Professor Dr. Nayla Comair-Obeid

Founding Partner, Obeid & Partners, Beirut, Lebanon

Professor Dr. Nayla Comair-Obeid is the Founding Partner of Obeid Law Firm and heads the firm's dispute resolution practice. She is a Professor of private law and international commercial arbitration at the Lebanese University – Faculty of Law and is lecturer at the CIArb Oxford Diploma Course of International Arbitration and visiting Professor at University Panthéon-Assas Paris II. Her areas of expertise range from international business law and Middle Eastern legislation to franchising, shareholder issues, commercial representation, licensing, administrative law, banking, insurance, telecommunication, construction, complex civil litigation and corporate and financial disputes. Over the span of her 40-year’s career in litigation and international arbitration, Professor Comair-Obeid has represented major domestic and foreign corporate clients including states and governmental entities and has been, and continues to be, involved in the most significant disputes in the region and internationally. Professor Comair-Obeid has trained lawyers and judges across the Middle East about arbitration. She also publishes prolifically and is regularly invited to lecture at world renowned academic institutions where her articles and scholarly publications are often cited as reference works. She has also been actively involved in over 150 international arbitrations as a party appointed arbitrator, chairperson, sole arbitrator, counsel and expert in Arabic, French and English-language. These arbitrations were conducted both ad hoc and under a variety of International Arbitration Rules (ICSID, ICC, LCIA, DIAC, CRCICA, BCDR, DIFC-LCIA, UNCITRAL, etc.) and the applicable laws of various countries (Lebanon, UAE, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia, Jordan, Egypt, India, France, Bahrain, United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland, Libya, Nigeria, Republic of Guinea, etc.). Among the parties engaged in these arbitrations have been states and state entities, international investors, telecommunications corporations, construction companies, distributors of various kinds of goods and equipment, banks and financial institutions, real estate developers as well as remarkable management corporations. In addition, she is often called upon as a legal expert on numerous aspects of Middle Eastern laws in foreign courts and arbitral proceedings. Professor Comair-Obeid has also been engaged in mega construction projects in the MENA as an arbitrator or as counsel and have developed an expertise and knowledge of complex construction disputes in the region. Through her comparative legal expertise and technical skills, she performed with professional excellence and gained the reputation of a specialist in this industry. Professor Comair-Obeid has authored The Law of Business Contracts in the Middle East (Kluwer Law) and numerous other publications in Arabic, French and English covering a range of legal fields including international contract law, international arbitration. She is frequently invited to speak as a leading expert in her field and has held and continues to hold prominent positions in many of the major international arbitration institutions. Professor Comair-Obeid has been systematically identified as one of the world’s leading practitioners in the field of international arbitration and dispute resolution by internationally renowned legal publications, in which she is referred to as "grand dame of Middle East arbitration", "legendary lawyer" who is "really prepared, knows the issues and gets it right". She has been nominated Arbitrator Intelligence’s Presiding Arbitrator of the Year for 2020. Professor Comair-Obeid is companion of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and has served as President of this institution in 2017. She was also the former Chair of the Institute’s Board of Trustees, Trustee for the Middle East and Sub-Continent and Chair of the CIArb Lebanon Branch. Throughout her career, Professor Comair-Obeid has held and continues to hold pre-eminent positions in many of the major international arbitration institutions. She has been appointed in 2019 as member of the ICC Executive Board and in 2018 as Member of the China’s International Commercial Expert Committee of the Supreme People’s Court. Professor Comair-Obeid is a Trustee of the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA). She sits on the ICSID panel of arbitrators and is a member of the ICSID panel of conciliators designated by the president of the World Bank. She is a member of the council of the Institute of World Business Law of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris; Trustee of the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration Board of Trustees; member of the LCIA Court in London, former Commissioner of the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) in Geneva; and former Vice-Chair of the arbitration committee in the International Bar Association. Professor Comair-Obeid obtained a D.E.A. in Business Law (1980), a Master’s degree in Lebanese and French Law from St. Joseph University (Lebanon) and Lyon II-Jean Moulin University (France), and a PhD in Business Law from the University Paris II, Panthéon-Assas (1994). Professor Comair-Obeid is trilingual in Arabic, French and English. She is admitted at the Beirut and Paris Bar. She is also an Associate Member at 3VB Barristers Chambers in London.

Tom French

Partner, Minter Ellison, Perth, Australia

Tom French

Partner, Minter Ellison, Perth, Australia

Tom specialises in commercial dispute resolution (including litigation, arbitration, and adjudication) in projects & construction, energy & resources, and professional practices. Tom regularly advises contractors, principals, and engineers on major infrastructure disputes in respect to the construction of infrastructure on significant mining and resources projects in the Asia Pacific region, and in respect to the construction of significant commercial projects in Western Australia. Tom also acts for resources companies and services contractors in respect of commercial disputes, including oil and gas, iron ore, wind and solar, lithium, and uranium. Tom has appeared in all superior courts in Western Australia and New South Wales, and the Federal Court and Full Federal Court of Australia, on appeals, trials, and interlocutory matters. He has also appeared in the High Court of Australia.

Swee Yen Koh

Partner, Wong Partnership, Singapore

Swee Yen Koh

Partner, Wong Partnership, Singapore

Ms Koh Swee Yen is a Partner in the Commercial & Corporate Disputes and International Arbitration Practices of WongPartnership LLP. She has an active practice as counsel, with a particular focus on complex, high-value and cross- border disputes across a wide spectrum of matters from commercial, energy, international sales, trade, transport, technology to investment. She regularly appears before the High Court and Court of Appeal and in international arbitrations under the major institutional rules, including ICSID, ICC, ICDR, LCIA, SIAC and UNCITRAL. Swee Yen is highly recommended for her expertise in resolving complex international disputes, and is named in various legal publications including The Legal 500, Chambers Global and Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration 2021. Described as being "in a league of her own", with a “very deep understanding of the law” and “razor-sharp” in her advocacy, she is regarded as the "go-to disputes lawyer in Singapore”.

Bernard Hanotiau

Partner, Hanotiau & Van Den Berg, Brussels, Belgium

Bernard Hanotiau

Partner, Hanotiau & Van Den Berg, Brussels, Belgium

Bernard Hanotiau is a member of the Brussels and Paris Bars, since 1976 and 1989 respectively. In 2001, he established a boutique law firm in Brussels concentrating on international arbitration and litigation. The firm has offices in Brussels and Singapore. Since 1978, Bernard Hanotiau has been actively involved in international commercial arbitration as party-appointed arbitrator, chairman, sole arbitrator, counsel and expert in various parts of the world. Among the parties engaged in these arbitrations have been states (including on the basis of bilateral investment treaties) and state entities, high technology and telecommunications corporations, construction and real estate companies, airport designers and developers, owners and lessees of shopping malls, shopping parks, department stores and hypermarkets, oil, gas and mining companies, pipeline manufacturers (and related industries), dredging companies, operators of – and manufacturers of parts for – nuclear and thermal power plants, water and electricity suppliers, pharmaceutical and chemical companies, providers of medical services, automobile manufacturers and manufacturers of parts for the automobile industry, distributors and manufacturers of various kinds of goods and equipments, fashion merchants and retailers, suppliers of precious metals, owners and retailers of luxury brands, food suppliers, breweries, manufacturers of military supplies and satellites, airlines and railways, GDS’ operators, banks and investment companies, hotel management corporations and casinos, insurance and reinsurance companies. Mr Hanotiau is a member of the panel of arbitrators of, or receives appointments as arbitrator by, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC, Paris), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), ICSID, the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, the Russian Arbitration Association, SIAC (Singapore), TRAC (Teheran), HKIAC (Hong Kong), DIAC (Dubai), CIETAC (Beijing), BAC (Beijing), HIAC (Hainan), the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association, KLRCA (Kuala Lumpur), KCAB (Seoul), the BVI International Arbitration Center, the Permanent Court of International Arbitration (PCA, The Hague; also on the PCA specialized panel of arbitrators for disputes relating to outer space activities), WIPO (Geneva), Cepani (Belgium), the Nederlands Arbitrage Instituut (NAI), the Swiss Chambers of Commerce, the Pacific International Arbitration Centre (PIAC), VCCA (Vilnius), the Lima Centro de Arbitraje,the Danish Institute of Arbitration, the Cairo Center of Arbitration, the French Arbitration Association and the French-German Chamber of Commerce (Paris), IATA (Geneva), the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS, Lausanne). Mr Hanotiau has a PhD from Louvain University and an LLM from Columbia University (1973). 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 a member of the Court of Arbitration of the Singapore International Arbitration Center (SIAC), of the International Advisory Board of the Seoul IDRC, as well as a member of the International Court of Arbitration of the Istanbul Arbitration Center and of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre International Advisory Board (HKIAC). Mr. Hanotiau is the author of Complex Arbitrations: Multi-party, Multi-contract & Multi-issue, Kluwer, The Hague, 2006, second edition 2020 and of more than 120 articles, most of them relating to international commercial law and arbitration, and he frequently lectures on this topic. In March 2011, Mr. 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.

Edwina Kwan

Partner, King & Wood Mallesons, Sydney, Australia

Edwina Kwan

Partner, King & Wood Mallesons, Sydney, Australia

Edwina is a Partner in King & Wood Mallesons’ Sydney dispute resolution practice, specialising in China related cross-border disputes. She represents clients in all forms of dispute resolution in particular international arbitration and commercial litigation. Edwina has appeared as counsel in arbitrations under the rules of the major arbitral institutions including investment treaty disputes under the ICSID rules. Edwina has extensive expertise covering commercial strategy & negotiations and risk mitigation and advises clients on their international trade law obligations, climate change risk, modern slavery and anti-bribery corruption issues. Currently based in Sydney, Edwina has also practiced in Beijing and Hong Kong. Edwina is a Hong Kong and Australian qualified lawyer and speaks English and Mandarin

Kristian Maley

Counsel, Clifford Chance, Perth, Australia

Kristian Maley

Counsel, Clifford Chance, Perth, Australia

Kristian is Counsel in Clifford Chance's dispute resolution team and is based in Perth, Australia. Kristian works with owners, contractors, and stakeholders to avoid and resolve major project construction disputes. His practice focuses on international arbitration and extends to all major forms of dispute resolution, spanning the mining, oil and gas, building, and infrastructure sectors. Kristian's experience includes appearing as counsel in high-stakes international arbitration hearings, and assisting project teams on contract and claims management and dispute avoidance.

Caroline Swartz-Zern

Senior Associate, Allens, Melbourne, Australia & Council, ACICA, Australia

Caroline Swartz-Zern

Senior Associate, Allens, Melbourne, Australia & Council, ACICA, Australia

Caroline is Counsel at ACICA and a Senior Associate at Allens, based in Melbourne. Her practice focusses on cross-border disputes, complex regulatory investigations and risk & compliance issues. Caroline has particular expertise in international arbitration and has worked on commercial, investment and construction disputes while based in Paris, Hong Kong, and now Australia. She is dually qualified in New York and Victoria, and holds a Masters in International and European Dispute Resolution from the Universite of Paris X - Nanterre. She is a founding member of ACICA45.

Daniel Allman

Senior Associate, Norton Rose Fulbright, Sydney, Australia

Daniel Allman

Senior Associate, Norton Rose Fulbright, Sydney, Australia

Daniel Allman is a Senior Associate at Norton Rose Fulbright in Sydney who specialises in cross-border dispute resolution. He has represented clients in international commercial and investment treaty arbitration, and has experience in construction, energy, finance, infrastructure, and transportation, among other industries. Prior to joining the firm, Daniel was an associate in the international arbitration practice of a leading firm in New York, where he focused on commercial arbitration arising out of projects in Latin America and treaty arbitration against the Russian Federation. Daniel is dual-qualified as a solicitor in Australia and an attorney in New York. He is the regional chair for Oceania on the board of Young ITA, the young arbitration practitioner branch of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration.

Eden Jardine

Associate, LALIVE LLP, London, United Kingdom

Eden Jardine

Associate, LALIVE LLP, London, United Kingdom

Eden Jardine is an Associate at LALIVE (London) LLP. She is a dual-qualified lawyer (Australia and England & Wales) and focuses her practice on international commercial and investment arbitration. Eden completed her undergraduate Bachelor of Business and Law degrees with Honours at La Trobe University, Melbourne. She obtained a Master of Laws in International Dispute Resolution from the Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany, where she graduated top of her class with a specialisation in international arbitration.

James Morrison

Partner, Peter & Kim, Sydney, Australia

James Morrison

Partner, Peter & Kim, Sydney, Australia

James (Jim) Morrison is a specialist in international arbitration, acting as arbitrator and counsel, as well as having extensive experience working in multiple arbitral institutions. An Australian-qualified lawyer, Jim has worked at leading international law firms in Australia and Korea, representing leading companies in a wide variety of complex high-stakes commercial and investor-state disputes, including in the fields of construction, infrastructure, energy and resources, M&A, intellectual property, shipbuilding and joint ventures. Jim is formerly Counsel at the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris and Counsel (Acting Secretary General) at the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration in Sydney where he managed teams of lawyers responsible for the conduct of hundreds of international arbitrations taking place all over the world (but particularly in Asia). He holds a Master's Degree in International Commercial Arbitration Law from the University of Stockholm. Jim has been regularly recognised in the WWL: Arbitration and Thought Leaders - Arbitration. He has participated in working groups to revise various institutional and ad hoc arbitration rules, including as co-chair of the committee revising the ACICA Rules 2021. He regularly speaks and lectures at arbitration conferences and universities. Jim is a former Co-Chair of Young ICCA, a co-author of the first English language text book on Korean arbitration law and regularly publishes in international dispute resolution.

Umika Sharma

National University of Singapore, Singapore

Umika Sharma

National University of Singapore, Singapore

Umika Sharma is a qualified Indian lawyer specialising in international dispute resolution. Currently, she is completing her PhD at the Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore as an NUS Graduate Scholar. Her PhD thesis is a data driven exploration of the reasons behind a lack of diversity in international arbitration.