Disclosure obligations in the different legal cultures – is there a level ethical playing field; should there be uniform rules?

I am a Chartered arbitrator based in Singapore. I have worked in multiple jurisdictions, including New York, Hong Kong, and London and am qualified in New York, Hong Kong and England and Wales. I have served as arbitrator (presiding, sole, co- and emergency arbitrator) in ad hoc and institutional arbitrations involving corporates, states, and state-owned enterprises with several billions USD in dispute. Prior to becoming an independent arbitrator, I worked in private practice where I focused on complex international arbitration and litigation, acting as counsel for corporates, states and state-owned enterprises in a range of disputes in various sectors. I currently service as the Co-Chair of the IBA Arbitration Committee and am a past Vice President of the ICC Court of Arbitration. From 2010 to 2018, I served as the Secretary General of the HKIAC and then as a council member. I am a member of the Board of Directors of Maxwell Chambers. I regularly teach, speak and write on international arbitration. I am a trustee and honorary senior fellow of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL). I serve as an adjunct professor at the National University of Singapore and am a lecturer at Sciences Po.

Founding Partner & Head of International Arbitration, Construction and Energy, Zulficar & Partners, Egypt; Professor of International Arbitration, Private International Law and English Contract Law, Cairo University; ICCA Treasurer & Member of the Governing Board; Vice-Chair of the ICC Governing Body for Dispute Resolution Services; Vice President Global of the CIArb; President Elect of the CIArb (2025); Dean of the Africa Arbitration Academy; Chair of the International Expert Committee of the Permanent Forum for China Construction Law; Co- Chair, IBA Arab Regional Forum; Vice-Chair of the Advisory Committee of the CRCICA; Member of the Advisory Board of the MIAC; Member of the LACIAC Court of Arbitration; Member of the ITA Academic Council; Member of the Court, PCA, and Member of the Board of Trustees of the CIArb. He is a fellow of the National Centre for Technology and Dispute Resolution at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA; and associate fellow of the Centre for Private International Law and Centre for Commercial Law at Aberdeen University (UK). He served as ‘Arbitrator’, ‘Legal Expert’ and ‘Counsel’ in more than 250 cases, involving parties from the Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, the Middle East and the United States , and is recognized as a world-leading arbitrator and arbitration practitioner in international investment and international commercial arbitration, construction law & practice, Energy law and infrastructure disputes, African and Arab Laws, Islamic Shari’a, private international law and online dispute resolution. His expertise in cross border multi-jurisdictional and highly complex transactions and disputes is extensive and broad. He was shortlisted among the top five arbitrators for the GAR award for the best prepared and responsive arbitrator (2021), and is regularly ranked by Who’s Who Legal, Chambers, The Legal 500, Client Choice Awards as a world leading international arbitration thought leader and arbitrator. WWL: Arbitration & Global Elite Thought Leaders 2023 says “ ‘Mohamed is a highly regarded commercial arbitrator and a civil law specialist’ ‘He is an amazing practitioner and one of the hardest working people’ ‘His sharp mind never ceases to amaze’ ‘He is one of a kind!’”

Julie Raneda, FCIArb, is a Partner in Schellenberg Wittmer’s International Arbitration Practice and the Managing Director of the firm’s Singapore office. A highly regarded practitioner, Julie regularly represents clients in complex international commercial, investment and sports arbitration matters. She has acted as both counsel and arbitrator in arbitrations globally, governed by diverse legal systems. Julie is one of the few lawyers in the region qualified to provide civil law advice across a broad spectrum of jurisdictions, setting her apart as a versatile and sought-after advisor in cross-border disputes. She also serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Sanctions Group, bringing deep expertise in advising clients on international trade sanctions. Her core areas of specialization encompass construction and engineering, energy, pharmaceutical and life sciences, supply and manufacturing, distribution and international sales. Julie’s exceptional work has earned her recognition in leading independent legal directories, including Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific and Lexology. She is also a respected leader in the business community, serving as Chair of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Singapore (SwissCham).

Cecilia Carrara’s focus is in the field of national and international, commercial and investment arbitration, acting as counsel and as arbitrator. She further represents international and Italian companies in arbitration-related proceedings in front of the national courts, such as recognition and enforcement proceedings of arbitral awards. Cecilia has been admitted to practice before the Italian Supreme Court. Cecilia also has a significant expertise in disputes with a transnational dimension, in particular in the fields of post M&A, governance/strategic risks, directors liability, commercial contracts as well as EPC contracts, investments and concessions. Cecilia has a specific focus on German speaking countries and Eastern Europe, in particular she advises clients from the DACH area (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). Cecilia is a member of the Steering Committee of the Pledge and a member of the board of directors of AIA (Associazione Italiana per l’Arbitrato). She has been a member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration from July 2015 until January 2020, of the Board Council of ICC Italy from January 2018 until May 2019, co-chair of the arbitration working group of ASLA (the Association of Italian Law Firms) from January 2014 to November 2019 and Vice Chair of the Host Committee of the IBA Annual Conference held in Rome in October 2018. She has also been a member of the ICC Task Force on Emergency Arbitrator Proceedings, of the ICC Task Force on Arbitration of Climate Change Related Disputes and of the IBA Task Force in charge of reviewing the 2010 IBA Rules on the Taking of Evidence in International Arbitration. She is co-founder of ArbIt (the Italian Forum for Arbitration and ADR) and member of its Advisory Board.

Russell Thirgood is an independent arbitrator with over 25 years' experience in resolving complex and high-value commercial, construction, infrastructure, energy and natural resources disputes. He is a member of Arbitra and has offices in Brisbane, London, Abu Dhabi and Washington DC. Russell has been appointed arbitrator in cases involving parties, seats and laws from Australia, Asia, the US, UK, Middle East, Europe and Africa. He has sat on ad hoc and institutional tribunals, including those administering the rules of SIAC, HKIAC, ICDR-AAA, ICC, ACICA, UNCITRAL and Resolution Institute. Legal directories recognise Russell as a trusted arbitrator with a track record of making sound procedural and substantive decisions. He is respectful of the needs of parties and their counsel and conducts cases fairly and efficiently.