Steffen Pedersen is an international arbitrator and mediator with a focus on maritime and commercial disputes. He has received 169 appointments globally (as of 24/11/2024) in LMAA, SCMA, SIAC, HKIAC, DIAC, AIAC, HKMAG as well as ad hoc arbitrations. He has sat as sole, party-appointed and Chair (presider) and drafted over 30 awards.

A native Dane Steffen is qualified as a lawyer in Hong Kong, England & Wales and Nauru. He holds degrees from City University, London; City University, Hong Kong; King’s College, London; the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London; and holds an LLM (summa cum laude) in US and environmental law from PACE University in New York.

As lawyer Steffen worked in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and most recently in Singapore, where he was a partner in a leading law firm, focusing on arbitration. He handled well over 100 international arbitrations during his career. Whilst still a lawyer he also built a practice as an arbitrator and general third party neutral becoming a full-time independent arbitrator and mediator upon joining ArbDB Chambers on 1 March 2022.

His experience as both lawyer and neutral extends to the full range of shipping and offshore matters, including disputes related to commodities, construction (all types of vessels/units, including superyachts), EPC contracts, drilling contracts, sale and purchase disputes, pooling agreements, charterparties, sale and leasebacks and cargo/bill of lading.

Steffen is known to combine Scandinavian efficiency and pragmatism with a deep knowledge of the common law and healthy awareness of, and respect for, diverse legal cultures. His expertise spans the globe, but he has particular experience in dealing with Asian parties in dispute resolution. He has advanced Mandarin which often proves useful in China related disputes.

Steffen is a member of the arbitration panels of many of the leading institutions in the world, including the SCMA, HKIAC, LCIA, MIAC and KCAB and is currently on the SIAC Reserve List. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, an Aspiring Full Member of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association and is a Member of the Baltic Exchange.

Workplace Mediation