PANEL RECORDINGS
PROGRAM
Medium: Virtual
Languages: English, French and Arabic
Time Zone: Casablanca
0900-0955: Welcome events
Welcome by Dr Hicham Zegrary, SG, CIMAC
Welcome by Prof Emilia Onyema, SOAS University of London
1000-1050: Keynote address by Her Excellency, Ambassador, Dr Namira Negm, General Counsel of the Africa Union.
Day 1 Panels:
Panel 1: 1100-1300
Chair: Mrs Aisha Abdallah
Economic, Socio-legal and Developmental Interests of African States
This panel will explore the economic, socio-legal and developmental interests of African States to provide an understanding of the needs/goals of African states in their engagement with the international community. The Panel will address questions such as: what are the developmental needs of Africa over the next five to ten years? How can the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement support African states in meeting these developmental needs?
Panellists
– Mr Gregor Pannike will discuss the need for economic/social and geopolitical harmonisation and integration of African states and the role of the AfCFTA.
– Dr Nagla Nasser will examine the AfCFTA and its possible promotion of impact investment.
– Prof David Luke will speak on the need the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement and the possibility of regulatory convergence under the AfCFTA given the diversity of Africa’s 54 countries.
– Prof Won Kidane will focus on the role of the AFCFTA in promoting investment in Africa with particular focus on the proposed Investment Protocol.
1300-1310: Ms Stephanie Mbonu: Campaign for Greener Arbitrations, Africa Sub-Committee
1300-1430: Lunch
Panel 2: 1500-1700
Chair: Mr Thierry Ngoga
International Investment Agreements and Development of African States
This panel will discuss how these identified interests are negotiated in international investment agreements (IIAs), concession contracts, regional economic communities in Africa, etc. This Panel will particularly focus on the content of IIAs signed by African states and explore how the content of such IIAs can be fairer and more equitable between its parties and beneficiaries. The Panel may answer questions such as: why do African states need foreign investment? What practical differences do some of these foreign investments make to African states? What differences will the investment protocol of the AfCFTA make to the current investment regime in Africa?
Panellists
– Mr Bobby Banson will focus on the Nigeria-Morocco BIT as a possible template for BITs for African states with a clear developmental agenda.
– Ms Gisele Stephens-Chu will explore the tools African states can adopt in balancing their interests in attracting foreign investments and preserving their regulatory space.
– Ms Tafadzwa Pasipanodya will discuss innovations in international investment treaties that African states have adopted and should be adopting in order to protect the environment while avoiding debilitating investor claims.
– Prof Walid Ben Hamida will focus on how other non-African experiences (NAFTA, European Union) can help African countries to reform their investment treaties.
1700-1715: Ms Amani Khalifa: Equal Representation in Arbitration, Africa Sub-Committee.
Panel 3: 0930-1130
Chair: Ms Wairimu Karanja
African States and International Investment Arbitration
This panel will explore some important decisions of investment arbitration tribunals involving African states and affecting the interests of African states and some important learnings for African states.
Panellists
– Mr Roderick Cordara, QC, SC will speak on the pattern of African investment cases that have a tax angle.
– Mr Mouhamed Kebe will examine the Current landscape of ISDS in Africa, the global shift in BITs/IIAs, the role of African regional blocks in developing solutions, and how the AfCTA can contribute to the reshaping of ISDS in the continent.
– Mr Rob Wilkins, Pinsent Masons LLP will examine how the trend towards increasing levels of compensation being awarded in ISDS and the wider availability of third-party funding may affect the interests of African states and what may be done to redress the balance.
– Prof Uche Ewelukwa will examine the past and present posture of Africa and international investment agreements to propose a reshaping of the future.
Panel 4: 1135-1335
Chair: Mr Michael Bartlet, SOAS University of London
How African States can Promote Domestic and Cross-Border Mediation
This panel will examine the crucial role that African states can play in promoting civil and commercial mediation, both domestically and in cross-border disputes. It will consider the actual or potential impact of a variety of State-sponsored interventions, such as the establishment of mediation institutions and court-annexed mediation programs, the enactment of mediation laws, and signing and ratifying the Singapore Convention on the Enforcement of Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation.
Panellists
– Ms Diamana Diawara will focus on the experience of the ICC to provide insight into institutional mediation and its benefits for the resolution of major commercial disputes; and explore the possibility of mandatory preliminary mediation in civil and commercial matters.
– Mr Kenfack Gaston will focus on the 2017 OHADA Uniform Act on Mediation and explore how it may be promoted as a useful instrument for the settlement of commercial or investment disputes in the OHADA area.
– Ms Mariana França Gouveia will focus on mediation in the Lusophone African states and the need for the State intervention to trigger the necessary change.
– Ms Fatma Ibrahim will summarize the key highlights of selected country reports on the public and private efforts towards encouraging the use of mediation, and present the survey results listing mediation centers in Africa.
– Hon Mr Nigel Kalonde Mutuna will focus on the efforts made by the judiciary in the introduction and development of Court-Annexed Mediation in Zambia. The efforts took the form of legislative reform, training of mediators and trainers and the sensitization of various stakeholders to the advantages of mediation.
1335-1450: Lunch
Panel 5: 1500-1700
Chair: Ms Marie-Andre Ngwe
African States and Dispute Avoidance
This panel will examine how African States can avoid international investment and commercial disputes and proffer practical and workable suggestions for African states to adopt. The panel will also explore measures already adopted by some African states towards dispute avoidance.
Panellists
– Ms Lise Boseman will focus on the lessons that African States can draw from the current work that is being done by UNCITRAL Working Group III on dispute avoidance, including the potential establishment of an Advisory Centre.
– Prof Emilia Onyema will examine how African states can better prepare for the negotiation of contracts and investment treaties and the role of model treaties in dispute avoidance.
– Mr Hussein Haeri will focus on the importance of an organised and coherent approach between different government breaches in their treatment of foreign investors and draw some practical tips from investment treaty arbitration case law.
– Dr Ahmadou Dieng will focus on the various innovations introduced under the OHADA Uniform Act on Arbitration 2017 and the Uniform Act on Mediation 2017 and their potential impact on an increased use of mediation in resolving investment disputes within OHADA; and suggest ways African states can use amicable settlement as a tool for the prevention and settlement of commercial and investment disputes.
– Dr Ismail Selim will explore the experience of the Egyptian government for the avoidance of disputes and the role of African arbitral centres in dispute avoidance.
1700-1730: Invitation to the 8th SOAS Arbitration in Africa conference which will be hosted by colleagues in Accra.
1730-1800: Closing events.
NOTICE: the organisers reserve the right to change the program or speakers or chairs.
Refund Policy: following our confirmation of your payment and registration, we shall only refund
your payment (minus bank charges) if we cancel this conference.
For all enquiries, you can send us an email at arbitrationconference@soas.ac.uk
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Ambassador. Dr. Namira Negm Legal Counsel, African Union
Ambassador Dr. Namira Nabil Negm is the Legal Counsel and Director of Department of Legal Affairs of the African Union. (2017- now)
Prior to the assumption of this position, she served as Ambassador of Egypt to Rwanda (2014-2017).
Amb. Negm is a seasoned diplomat that occupied several diplomatic positions during her career. She was the Head of the Anti Corruption Unit, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt (2013 – 2014), she was the Legal Advisor and Counter Terrorism Expert of the Egyptian Mission to the United Nations, New York (2006-2010). She has also served as the Legal and Political Officer in the Embassy of Egypt to the Netherlands (1999-2003). During her diplomatic career, she served in several positions in the Department of Legal Affairs and International Conventions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Amb. Negm is currently the lead of the AU team for establishing the Hybrid Court for South Sudan. She has previously occupied the Position of Vice-President of the Assembly of States Parties of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Vice-Chairperson of the Adhoc Committee on International Terrorism (Sixth Committee) and the Coordinator of the African Group in NY for legal matters.
CO-HOSTS
Emilia Onyema is Professor of International Commercial Law at SOAS University of London. She is qualified to practice law in Nigeria, as a Solicitor in England & Wales and Fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrator. She teaches international commercial arbitration and international investment law; convenes the SOAS Arbitration in Africa conference series; and leads the Arbitration in Africa biennial survey research project. She co-published the African Promise and founded the Arbitration Fund for African Students charity. In her arbitration practice, she has experience as presiding, co and sole arbitrator in international commercial arbitration.
Hicham Zegrary Secretary General of Casablanca International Mediation & Arbitration Centre (CIMAC) Hicham Zegrary is the recipient of the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (Paris, Robert Badinter class 2010) and Holds a Master of Public Affairs from Paris Dauphine University and prepares a PhD thesis on arbitration.
In November 2010, he joined Casablanca Finance City Authority as head of Legal Affairs and since January 2012 he has been its Director of Operations & Institutional Affairs. He has been Secretary General of Casablanca International Mediation & Arbitration Centre since March 2016. Mr Zegrary began his professional career in February 2002 in Microsoft North Africa as Legal Counsel in Intellectual Property Department. In October 2004, he joined the General Inspection of Finance related to the Minister of Economy & Finances which is in charge of auditing projects funded by international financial organizations and auditing management of state-owned companies and departmental corporations.
Mr. Zegrary is the chairman of the organizing committee of the Casablanca Arbitration Days. He is member of the ENA Alumni Association, member of ICCA and member of Association Droit et Commerce.
PANEL 1
AISHA ABDALLAH
Aisha head of Disputes Resolution Team. Member of the MARC Court. Lead author of the Kenyan Chapter of the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th editions of the International Arbitration Review.
Member of the Africa Users Group for the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, International Association for Defence Counsel, African Arbitration Association and The Delos Dispute Resolution Board of Advisors.
Contributed in drafting Anti-Money Laundering, Remittances and Mobile Money Bills for Somaliland and author of the Kenya Chapter of the 2018 Chambers Anti-Corruption Global Practice Guide and the ALN Anti-Corruption Guide.
Gregor Pannike
Gregor Pannike, LL.M., MBA (Attorney-at-law | Rechtsanwalt) founder and managing director of Agema Analysts advises on Institutional & Corporate Risk and Political Risk & Intelligence Analysis. Gregor worked for the German Federal Foreign Office in the Embassy in Sana’a, Yemen and later on he worked as an attorney-at-law in private practice within the Middle East and Africa. Before founding Agema Analysts Gregor worked as a general counsel for a reputable family conglomerate in the UAE for 8 years. He has more than 15 + years of profound advisory experience in the field of legal structuring, investments and market entry, corporate and commercial transactions as well as political and economic analysis within the Middle East and Africa. Gregor is admitted to the German bar association and to the courts of Germany.
His key expertise and experience
- Political and economic risk advisory with focus on the Middle East and East Africa
- Due diligence, M&A and JV transaction advisory work
- Corporate and commercial matters
- Litigation strategy and negotiation advisory
- Corporate (re-) structuring, (family/corporate) governance
- Compliance, sanction and regulatory and risk advisory work
- Advising on investment and distribution structures;
- Structuring and advising on optimal market entry strategies and corporate structuring
His educational qualifications
Gregor holds an MBA from London Business School, Masters of Laws from Suffolk University Law School in Boston and JW Goethe University in Germany. He is admitted to the German bar association. He is a native German speaker and speaks French, English and Arabic.
Ratings & Awards
Gregor Pannike has been named as one of the top general counsels in the region in the Legal 500 GC Power List Middle East in 2019.
The GC Powerlist is a series of pulications, events and networking opportunities which highlight the most influential in-house lawyers and legal teams in business today.
WON KIDANE
Professor Kidane is a Fulbright Scholar and a Full Professor of Law at the Seattle University School of Law. He specializes in international arbitration. He is the author of The Culture of International Arbitration (Oxford, 2017), and more than 40 other publications. He has represented African parties in more than 40 international arbitration matters under UNCITRAL, ICC, LCIA, PCA, and GAFTA rules. He also serves as an arbitrator.
SJD (Georgetown), JD (University of Illinois) LL.M (University of Georgia), and LL.B (Addis Ababa University.) Admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia, Washington State, and Illinois.
DAVID LUKE
Nagla Nassar
PANEL 2
Thierry Gakuba Ngoga
Ngoga Thierry is a Partner at Legal Line Partners & specializes in arbitration,
commercial litigation, risk & compliances.
He served earlier as first Registrar for the setup of KIAC, CEO of Rwanda Bar
Association and in house counsel.
Thierry acted as counsel & have been appointed as Expert, co-arbitrator, sole arbitrator and chairman in CIMAC, KIAC, ICC and Ad hoc arbitration under Rwandan, English, Nigeria, Morocco, Zambia and Swiss Law with seat in Kigali, Casablanca, Nigeria, London and Paris.
He is currently court member of ICC International Court of Arbitration, A Board member of AFAA, member of SIAC (Singapore) users counsel and IBA-ARF’s advisory Board.
Thierry is visiting lecturer at ILPD-Rwanda and trainer for IBA-BIC Globalization training
series to lawyers in Africa, Latino America, Asia and Pacific.
He speak Kinyarwanda, English, French and Swahili
BOBBY BANSON ESQ
Bobby Banson is qualified to practice law in Ghana. He has experience in providing legal advice and services to companies in various sectors of the Ghanaian economy and foreign based companies seeking to do business in Ghana.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Instituted of Arbitrators (UK) and has participated and spoken at various arbitration and investment conferences organized by the CIArb, SOAS and AILA. He has acted as Counsel in several domestic arbitration matters as well as international arbitration cases.
Bobby teaches Civil Procedure at the Ghana School of Law and has published several articles.
Gisèle Stephens-Chu
Gisèle is a dual-qualified English and French lawyer with over sixteen years’ experience
in international arbitration. She worked at a global law firm in London and Paris before
establishing her independent practice.
She has acted for corporations and States in over 40 commercial and investment
disputes, in many jurisdictions in Africa and around the world. Recent matters include
the successful defence of the Republic of Kenya in an ICSID arbitration and the
reinstatement by the French Supreme Court of a billion-dollar ICSID award against
Venezuela.
Gisèle is recognised by Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration and is a Board member of
ArbitralWomen.
Clara Brillembourg specializes in counseling sovereign States in international disputes with other States, foreign investors and U.S. plaintiffs. Ms. Brillembourg is widely recognized for her expertise in international investment arbitration, most recently resulting in her selection as “2021 MVP of the Year” for International Arbitration by Law360. She has also successfully represented States before the ICJ in disputes involving territorial rights, human rights and environmental harm. In addition, she has substantial experience counseling States in maritime boundary disputes before the ICJ, UNCLOS Annex VII arbitral tribunals and the ITLOS. Her representation of foreign States also includes domestic litigation before U.S. courts involving foreign sovereign immunity. Before joining Foley Hoag, Clara worked in the World Bank’s African Human Development Department. Her clients in the region include Kenya, Angola, Djibouti, Ghana and Tanzania.
Walid BEN HAMIDA
Dr. Walid BEN HAMIDA is a Professor of Law at the University of Paris-Saclay (Evry-Val d’Essonne), France. He was a member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Arbitration Court for 6 years. He served as arbitrator, president of arbitral tribunal, expert and counsel in many cases under ICSID, ICC, OHADA and ad hoc rules. He is also a member of the ICSID Panel of conciliators and arbitrators and nominated arbitrator in the major arbitral institutions lists in the world ( CCJA, CIETAC, CMAP, KIAC, VIAC, …). Dr. BEN HAMIDA authored more than 90 publications in the Arabic, French and English languages. He was visiting professor in more than 90 countries.
PANEL 3
WAIRIMU KARANJA
Ms. Wairimu Karanja is the founder of W&Co, a legal advisory firm based in Nairobi. Wairimu is an international lawyer qualified in Kenya, with 14 years’ legal experience. She has advised private sector and development organisations on various projects in Africa relating to: renewable energy and climate change policy; power project development and financing; private equity; mergers & acquisitions; international arbitration; immigration and employment; intellectual property; and technology. She is recognized in Who’s Who Legal (WWL) 2021 rankings as a Future Leader in Arbitration. and has previously worked with leading Kenyan and international law firms and institutions. She has a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Nairobi, A Post-Graduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law and a Master of Laws (LLM) Degree in Energy Law and Policy (Distinction) from the University of Dundee’s Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP). She is a co-organiser of the East Africa International Arbitration Conference (EAIAC) and the Africa Arbitration Awards, a member of the Equal Representation in Arbitration (ERA) Pledge-Africa Sub-Committee, a member of the LACIAC Africa Energy Arbitrators’ Forum (AEA)’s Steering Committee and a member of the LACIAC Court.
Roderick Cordara QC
Roderick Cordara QC, SC is a barrister based in London and Sydney. His principal practice is in international commercial and investor state arbitration. He acts both as counsel and arbitrator.
He is also a tax lawyer, specialising in business taxes and customs duty. He has particular experience in arbitration in and about Africa and African issues. He has written about the relationship between arbitration and tax law.
Mouhamed KEBE
Mouhamed KEBE is the Managing Partner of GENI & KEBE, a Pan-African law firm, member of DLA Piper Africa, based in Senegal, and Ivory Coast, with affiliate offices across many jurisdictions in the OHADA region.
He is a chartered arbitrator before the OHADA Court, a member of the Arbitration Court of the ICC, a member of the Committee of the Lagos Court of Arbitration.
He practices commercial, and investment arbitration, as Counsel, and arbitrator.
He holds an LLM in Business law from the University of Dakar Cheikh Anta Diop, Senegal, an LLM in International law from the University of Essex, a Certificate in International Arbitration from the University of London, and a certificate in Investment Arbitration from the Georgetown University.
Rob Wilkins
Rob Wilkins is a partner in the risk advisory group at international law firm, Pinsent Masons LLP. Based in London, he specialises in the management and resolution of complex, high value disputes arising out of major international infrastructure and energy projects throughout the world. He has represented states, SOEs, owners and contractors on a range of commercial and investor state arbitrations, with a particular focus on Africa.
Uche Ewelukwa Ofodile
PANEL 4
MICHAEL BARTLET
Michael Bartlet has worked as a lawyer, mediator and public interest lobbyist. He is currently a senior lecturer at SOAS and convenor of undergraduate and postgraduate ADR modules. He has taught in schools, colleges and universities and for the British Council in Ecuador. After taking a degree in English Literature he qualified as a Barrister and worked as supervisory solicitor for Gateshead Law Centre and Parliamentary Officer for British Quakers where he campaigned for a statutory right of discharge for under 18 year olds in the Armed Forces. Michael has trained as a civil, family and community mediator and has been working at SOAS since 2016.
Mariana França Gouveia
Fatma Ibrahim
Ms. Ibrahim is a consulting director with extensive experience in designing and implementing legal and
regulatory reform projects and currently provides technical advice to multilateral organizations on justice
reform, digital transformation, business environment, Women Business and the Law, and commercial
mediation. She sits as mediator and delivers various mediation training modalities, with publications in
the topic. Her work draws on her experience as a Senior Private Sector Specialist with the World Bank
Group and a lawyer in two leading law firms in Egypt.
Nigel Kalonde Mutuna
Bachelor of Law, Advocate of The High Court for Zambia, MCIArb, Accredited Tutor, Mediator, Trainer of Mediators.
Judge of the Supreme Court of Zambia since 2016. Previously was High Court Judge, Commercial Division from 2009.
Prior to joining the Bench, was an active legal practitioner as corporate counsel and Managing partner of NKM & Associates. Chairs the Advisory Committee on Court-Annexed Mediation and Delay Reduction which superintends over Mediation in Zambia.
Was Honorary Secretary of the Law Association of Zambia, during which time chaired the committee which prepared the layman’s draft of amendments to the Arbitration Act which culminated into the Arbitration Act No. 19 of 2000 and the rules made pursuant thereto. Also played an active role in introduction and development of Court-Annexed Mediation in Zambia.
DIAMANA DIAWARA
Gaston KENFACK DOUAJNI
Gaston KENFACK DOUAJNI is a Magistrate, currently the Director of Legislation at the Ministry of
Justice in Cameroon; he has obtained a Doctorate of International Economic Law at the University of
Paris I (Pantheon Sorbonne) in 2005, a Certificate on trade, negotiations and settlement of trade
disputes at the Kennedy School of Government –Harvard University (USA) in 2004 and an Habilitation
to Direct Researches at the University of Pau in France. He is the Editor of the “Revue Camerounaise
de l’Arbitrage”, the President of the Association for the Promotion of Arbitration in Africa (APAA),
registered on the list of arbitrators and conciliators at ICSID, at the OHADA Commun Court of Justice
and Arbitration and Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).
In addition, Gaston KENFACK DOUAJNI is a member of the Board of Directors of the Cairo Regional
Center for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA) and of the International Federation of
Arbitration Centers and Associations (IFCAI).
President of the 49th Session of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
(UNCITRAL), he teaches business law at universities (in Africa and Europe) and is the Past Chair of
the Management Board of the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF).
Gaston KENFACK DOUAJNI sits as Mediator more often in Ad-hoc Mediation.He also sits as President
of Arbitral Tribunal, Arbitrator, co-arbitrator in ICC, ICSID, CCJA and ad hoc arbitrations.
PANEL 5
MARIE-ANDRE NGWE
Avocat au Barreau du Cameroun depuis de longues années, Marie-Andrée Ngwe s’est spécialisée en 2015 dans les modes alternatifs de règlement des différends (MARD). Membre du panel des conciliateurs CIRDI, elle est médiatrice diplômée et arbitre référencée auprès de plusieurs centres d’arbitrage. Marie-Andrée Ngwe est présidente du Comité Permanent du Centre de Médiation et d’Arbitrage du GICAM (CMAG) et membre du Comité d’arbitrage de la Lagos Court of Arbitration. Elle a co-organisé en 2020 avec l’Université de Londres, et pour le compte du CMAG, la 6ème conférence SOAS. Co-auteure de l’article « La propension des Etats africains à résoudre leurs litiges d’investissement à l’amiable » paru dans l’ICSID Review en 2019, elle intervient régulièrement dans des conférences et séminaires sur l’arbitrage et la médiation.
Lise Bosman
Lise Bosman is based at the Peace Palace in The Hague, as Executive Director of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) and Senior Legal Counsel at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). She is appointed as Adjunct Professor at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and has published and spoken widely in the field of international arbitration. Lise is the General Editor of the ICCA International Handbook on Commercial Arbitration (a seven-volume loose-leaf collection of arbitration-related legislation and commentary on over 85 jurisdictions; Kluwer Law International, published since 1984) and the General Editor and contributing author of Arbitration in Africa: a Practitioner’s Guide (Kluwer Law International, Second Edition September 2021). Her areas of specialization are: international commercial arbitration law and practice; the practice and development of international arbitration in Africa; international investment law; investor-State arbitration; and State-State arbitration.
EMILIA ONYEMA
Emilia Onyema is Professor of International Commercial Law at SOAS University of London. She is qualified to practice law in Nigeria, as a Solicitor in England & Wales and Fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrator. She teaches international commercial arbitration and international investment law; convenes the SOAS Arbitration in Africa conference series; and leads the Arbitration in Africa biennial survey research project. She co-published the African Promise and founded the Arbitration Fund for African Students charity. In her arbitration practice, she has experience as presiding, co and sole arbitrator in international commercial arbitration.
Hussein Haeri
Hussein is a partner in the international arbitration and public international law teams. Hussein jointly leads the firm’s international arbitration team and leads the firm’s public international law team. He is a solicitor-advocate of the senior courts of England and Wales, and has experience of working on international legal and dispute resolution matters in London, Paris, New York and South Africa for over 15 years. He is also a Solicitor-Advocate of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (BVI).
Hussein’s public international law practice includes advising governments and international organisations on international investment law, constitutional and human rights matters, sovereign immunity, energy and natural resources, international humanitarian law, sanctions, the law of the sea and treaty and legislation drafting.
AMADOU DIENG
Dr. Amadou Dieng is a legal advisor, a mediator, an arbitrator, and a trainer. His thesis focused on
foreign private investment in four West African countries. After specializing in alternative dispute
resolution (ADR), he participated in the establishment and the management of the Centre for
Arbitration, Mediation, and Conciliation of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of
Dakar, Senegal. He was an attorney at law (Paris Bar), and devoted his professional practice to
business law, managing judicial and arbitration disputes in international commercial transactions and
investment law. He was a lecturer at the Institute of Latin American Studies (IHEAL) of the University
Sorbonne Nouvelle of Paris. He also authored different articles on international legal matters,
particularly related to the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA). He
holds a Master of Laws (LL. M) in American Law, at Syracuse University College of Law, New York.
Ismail Selim
Director of The Cairo Regional Center for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA) – (2017 to date).
Dr. Selim is a board member of the AfAA, Vice Chairman of the Egypt Branch of the CIArb and an Expert Member of the International Commercial Expert Committee of the Supreme People’s Court of China
In 2009, Dr. Selim earned his PhD from Université de Bourgogne.
He began his legal career as a prosecutor and judge (1998-2009) before joining private practice as partner in reputable law firms (2009 -2016).
Dr Selim teaches Private International Law at IDAI (Paris I University), since 2011.
He is consistently appointed as arbitrator, has acted as counsel in various ad hoc and institutional cases under various rules, and has served as expert on Egyptian and Libyan laws in international proceedings.
In his capacity as Director of the CRCICA, Dr Selim has administered more than 300 Arbitration cases under the CRCICA rules.