ArbDB Chambers Member, Marieke Witkamp, will moderate a distinguished Panel at this Conference on “Resolving Ethical Conundrums in Energy, Marine and Insurance Arbitration Matters”.

Marieke is an International Arbitrator and can be approached for appointments as a third party neutral through the Clerk to ArbDB Chambers, Martin Poulter, at martin.poulter@arbdb.com.

Multi-disciplinary Chambers of third party neutrals ArbDB Chambers, with Members already in the UK, the US, the UAE, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia, has been joined by two distinguished and experienced arbitrators and mediators, Julia Sullivan and Stephen Hibbert.

Julia Sullivan is an experienced and established international arbitrator, based in the US with a growing practice. Described as “Thoroughly professional, triple A academic, extensive big law experience and most important, a people person”, Julia is admitted as an attorney in the US and a solicitor on England & Wales and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). She is also a Member of the Executive Board of the CIArb’s North American Branch. Julia’s arbitration practice is particularly focused on energy, infrastructure and finance and she has received over 140 arbitral appointments.

Professor Stephen Hibbert is an Australian-qualified lawyer, who is now mostly based in the UAE. Stephen is an experienced arbitrator and mediator.  Stephen is an International Commercial Arbitrator and Mediator, admitted as a Solicitor Advocate in New South Wales, Australia, and has been a resident in the Middle East for over 17 years. 

He is also dual-qualified as an Engineer. In the Middle East, he has been appointed as an arbitrator in over 40 domestic and international arbitrations, including, in a number of those cases, being appointed as Presiding Arbitrator, with one being an extremely high value ICC case regar ding a strategic government project in the GCC Region. Stephen also has a strong interest in the development of mediation in that region.

Julia and Stephen may be approached for appointments through the Clerk to ArbDB Chambers, Martin Poulter, on +44 (0)203 514 9020 and martin.poulter@arbdb.com

The intention of the Arbitration Act 2025 (2025 Act), which comes into force on 1 August 2025, is to further the principle of the 1996 Arbitration Act (1996 Act) to obtain the fair resolution of disputes by an impartial tribunal without unnecessary delay or expense.

It aims to fulfil the policy objective of ensuring that the 1996 Act is fit for purpose and that it continues to promote the UK as a leading destination for arbitration, and to do so by way of refining, rather than overhauling the 1996 Act.

The 2025 Act will apply to arbitration proceedings, and related court proceedings, brought after 1 August 2025, and arbitration agreements whenever made.

The substantive reforms include:

• clarification of the law applicable to arbitration agreements

• codification of an arbitrator’s duty of disclosure

• strengthening of arbitrator immunity around resignation and applications for removal

• introduction of a power for arbitrators to dispose summarily of issues which have no real prospect of success

• clarification of court powers in support of arbitral proceedings and in support of emergency arbitrators

• a revised framework for challenges under section 67 of the 1996 Act where the challenge alleges that the arbitral tribunal lacked jurisdiction

Peter McQueen 21 July 2025

For possible appointments of Peter as Arbitrator or Mediator, please contact the Clerk to ArbDB Chambers, Martin Poulter, at martin.poulter@arbdb.com or tel: +44 (0)203 514 9020

ArbDB Chambers Member, Steffen Pedersen, has joined the UNUM Transport Arbitration and Mediation Panel of Arbitrators https://unum.world/arbitration/

Steffen has been welcomed onto this Panel of Arbitrators, with UNUM saying that he “brings deep expertise in maritime law and a global perspective shaped by a career across Asia, Europe and the US”.

Steffen’s availability for arbitration and mediation appointments may be ascertained by contacting the Clerk to ArbDB Chambers, Martin Poulter, at martin.poulter@arbdb.com or on tel: +44 (0)203 514 9020.

ArbDB Chambers Member, Marieke Witkamp, has continued to be included in the Panels of Arbitrators of leading institutions around the world, to add to her growing and successful arbitration practice.

Having already been included on the Panels of Arbitrators of the Netherlands Arbitration Institute and the American Arbitration Association (AAA), Mareike has recently joined the Energy Panel of the AAA.

Marieke’s availability for arbitration appointments may be ascertained by contacting the Clerk to ArbDB Chambers, Martin Poulter, on martin.poulter@arbdb.com and tel: +44 (0)203 514 9020.

https://www.arbdb.com/marieke-witkamp 

https://reg.eventnook.com/event/scmaconf2025

Leading Maritime Arbitrator and Mediator and ArbDB Chambers Member, Peter McQueen, spoke at this event in Singapore on 25 March 2025. The theme of the Conference was “Charting the Future of Maritime Arbitration in a Fast-Changing & Complex World- Geopolitics, Innovation & Sustainability”.

Peter’s topic was devoted to Artificial Intelligence and the session was entitled “Innovations in Maritime Arbitration- Towards a digitalises and (cyber) secure future”. The other contributors included Allen & Gledhill Partner and Vice Chair of the SCMA, Corina Song.

ArbDB Chambers Member, John Abbott has been reconfirmed as an Arbitrator with the Private Arbitration Court.

This is a collaboration between Hunt ADR and the Barrister Group, to provide arbitration as the preferred method for resolving commercial disputes.

ArbDB Chambers Members already work with the Barrister Group Mediation

https://thebarristergroup.co.uk/mediation

Paul Rose, Chartered Surveyor, Chartered Arbitrator, Accredited Mediator and Member of ArbDB Chambers is speaking at this Conference - the subject is “Constructive Collaboration”.

This will be during Session 3 and Paul will talk on “Cost Effective Dispute Resolution in Construction Projects”. This Session being moderated by Sr Isacc Sunder Rajan”.

Further details are here https://cdn.ymaws.com/cbuilde.com/resource/resmgr/malaysia/2025/brochured10_compressed.pdf

RIDW 2025 - 2nd Annual Gulf Mediation Roundtable – as part of the Disputes Board section

https://ridw.org/event/2nd-annual-gulf-mediation-roundtable-and-legal-networking-luncheon

RIDW 2025 - “Prevention is better than cure”

https://ridw.org/event/prevention-is-better-than-cure-dispute-avoidance-and-adr-best-practice-in-ppp-construction-and-real-estate-development-projects-with-the-support-of-ai.

Robert Sliwinski, Chair of the CIArb UAE Branch and ArbDB Chambers Member, has highlighted the significance of an upcoming seminar hosted by the CIArb UAE Branch and Young Members Group. The event, titled "Arbitrating in the MENA: Lessons from Practice," will take place on 30th January 2025 at the Capital Club DIFC, Dubai.

The breakfast seminar will explore pressing topics in MENA arbitration, including freezone arbitration, public policy, construction disputes, and the role of expert witnesses. Distinguished speakers include Nayla Comair-Obeid, Soraya Corm-Bakhos, and other leading professionals in the field. 

The event is supported by sponsors such as Obeid & Partners, Ibrahim ADR, and HKA.

For registration, contact Mw Jinky Col Long at jc_ciarb@yahoo.com