Arbitration in Practice: a close look at the IBA Rules on the Taking of Evidence in International Arbitration

Gitanjali Bajaj

Gitanjali is a partner at DLA Piper and co-heads DLA Piper’s International Arbitration Practice for Asia-Pacific. She specialises in international commercial arbitration with a sector focus on infrastructure and construction, oil and gas, transport, power and clean energy. Gitanjali has represented clients in arbitration under various rules including ICC, SIAC, DIAC, DIFC-LCIA in disputes across Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Gitanjali also practices in public international law and was one of the lead DLA Piper Partners representing the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in the UNCLOS Compulsory Conciliation proceeding

SeungMin Lee

Ms. SeungMin Lee is a partner at Peter and Kim.

Ms. Lee is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Ms. Lee is the Regional Ambassador for Korea to the HK 45 of the HKIAC. Ms. Lee is also a member of the Korean Advisory Board of the International Bar Association (IBA) and the director of international affairs of the Seoul Bar Association. A graduate of Seoul National University and an attorney admitted to practice in Korea and England & Wales, Ms. Lee also completed an LLM at the National University of Singapore in 2016.

In the past, Ms. Lee was seconded by Shin & Kim to serve as a registered foreign lawyer at Oon & Bazul LLP in Singapore in 2016 and as counsel to the LCIA in 2010.

Sanjeev Kapoor

Sanjeev Kapoor is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution team of Khaitan & Co. Sanjeev, through a rich and diverse practice of over 23 years, has gained invaluable experience in diverse areas of law including constitutional law, laws relating to environment, mining, energy and infrastructure, foreign exchange laws, and general trade and commercial laws. Sanjeev is also a registered Advocate on Record with the Supreme Court of India for over 15 years now.

Alternative dispute resolution is Sanjeev’s forte. He has represented clients before various arbitral tribunals (both institutional and ad hoc) including tribunals constituted under the aegis of ICC, LCIA, SIAC, LMAA as well as under bilateral investment treaties. He has in-depth knowledge and understanding of international arbitrations, covering a vast array of issues. Sanjeev is Vice President, ICC India Arbitration Group. He has also been a Speaker and a Panelist at various conferences and seminars organized by ICC, IBA, GAR, LCIA etc. He has consistently garnered accolades from clients and the legal fraternity for his expertise and has consistently been recognized by Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, Bench Mark Litigation, IBLJ, ACQ 5 and others as one of the leading dispute resolution lawyers in India

Hu Ke

Mr. Hu Ke is a partner in Jingtian & Gongcheng’s dispute resolution group, specializing in litigation and arbitration (in commercial and IP-related matters), cyber-security and data protection.

In dispute resolution, Mr. Hu has represented domestic and international clients in 100+ court proceedings in China and arbitration proceedings under CIETAC, BAC, HKIAC, ICC, SIAC, SCC and UNCITRAL rules. His experience covers disputes in relation to general commercial contracts, corporate and JV matters, PE/VC investment, energy, carbon finance, entertainment and culture, technology licensing, IP protection, and recognition and enforcement of oversea arbitral awards and court judgments. He is recognized by Who’s Who Legal as a “Future Leader” in arbitration since 2018, by AsiaLaw as a leading lawyer since 2018, and by Chambers Asia Pacific as an “up-and-coming” practitioner in arbitration since 2019.

Mr. Hu is a member of the Steering Committee of IBA Arb-40 and ambassador of IBA APAG. In 2015-2018 he served as a member of the inaugural YSIAC Committee.

Desmond Ang

Desmond Ang focuses on international commercial litigation and arbitration, with an emphasis on high-stakes disputes involving business relationships and investments with companies in China, Japan and South Korea.

Desmond has represented clients in proceedings conducted under ICC, HKIAC, SIAC, CIETAC, JCAA, ICDR and UNCITRAL arbitration rules. He has experience in disputes involving mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, general corporate issues and private equity, which have been heard in Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo, California and Switzerland. Desmond also serves as arbitrator, having been appointed by both the ICC and the HKIAC. Desmond is fluent in English, Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese.

Tony Nguyen

Tony is among a few top-tiered project & energy lawyers in Vietnam who are highly rated by Chambers, Legal500, Asialaw Profiles and other international publications.

Tony has spent nineteen years practicing in the projects and energy industry. Prior to co-founding EPLegal in 2010, Tony worked in managerial and legal positions in leading oil & gas operators and contractors in Vietnam such as PTSC, Cuu Long JOC, and PVTrans. He has legal and contracting experience through various projects related to drilling campaigns; oil and gas production operations; sales and purchasing and technical services contracts; chartering of vessels/FPSO/FSO; production services; and EPC/EPIC contracts, offtake agreements and lifting contracts. He acts as leading counsel and works on both contentious and non-contentious matters in onshore energy and infrastructure construction contracts and related disputes settlement, including hydropower plants, thermal power plants, refineries and solar energy installation projects, etc.

Tony is also a Benchmark-Litigation’s dispute resolution star and a to-go-counsel for international arbitration involving Vietnamese parties. He frequently represents large corporate clients for disputes settled under the rules of Vietnam International Arbitration Center (VIAC), SIAC and ICC, etc. He is the first Vietnamese fellow member of CIArb, chairman of CIArb Vietnam (temporary) steering committee, a VIAC arbitrator and a member of the VIAC’s Expert Advisory Council. Tony actively participate in training, research and drafting activities of VIAC rules, VMC rules and the code of ethics of VMC mediators. In January 2020, he was appointed as Deputy Director of Vietnam Mediation Center (VMC).

Sheila Ahuja

Sheila Ahuja is a Partner in Allen & Overy's Global Arbitration group based in Singapore. She advises on a wide range of arbitration matters and arbitration related court proceedings, involving jurisdictions such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia, Japan and in particular India. Sheila has particular experience of energy and infrastructure disputes, disputes arising from joint ventures and distributorship arrangements, and disputes relating to complex financial products. She represents clients in both commercial arbitrations and investor-State arbitrations. Amongst other positions, Sheila is Co-Chair of the Asia Pacific Arbitration Group Sub-Committee of the IBA, Co-Chair of the Steering Committee of the Young MCIA and a member of the Proceedings Committee of the HKIAC. She speaks English, Hindi, Sindhi, Cantonese and Mandarin.