Award writing tips for the young arbitrator in a changing world

Anina Liebkind

Anina Liebkind is a member of Baker McKenzie’s global international arbitration practice. She is based in Stockholm and a specialist in the energy, finance and telecommunications industries. Ms. Liebkind is experienced in disputes under ad hoc and institutional rules (including ICC, SCC, FIA, UNCITRAL and ICSID) governed by a multiplicity of procedural and substantive laws. Ms. Liebkind additionally regularly advises clients on the recognition, enforcement and setting aside of arbitral awards, and acts as counsel in such litigation proceedings before local courts. As a dual-qualified attorney in both Sweden and Finland, Ms. Liebkind frequently advises clients from the Nordics, and clients in relation to contracts or projects across the Nordic region. Ms. Liebkind is recognized by Who's Who Legal (WWL) Arbitration - Future Leaders as among the best arbitration practitioners of the under-45 generation world-wide, and as a National Leader in Sweden. She frequently lectures on arbitration topics, and has for several years been a visiting lecturer for the Master of Laws in International Commercial Arbitration (ICAL)- program at the University of Stockholm.

Swee Yen Koh

Ms Swee Yen Koh is a partner in the commercial and corporate disputes, and international arbitration practices at WongPartnership LLP. Ms Koh is the vice chair of the IBA Arbitration Committee. She is also the vice-chair of the IPBA Dispute Resolution and Arbitration Committee, and a member of the editorial board of the ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin and the ICCA-ASIL Task Force on Damages.

Ms Koh is recommended as a leading practitioner in various legal publications, including The Legal 500, Chambers Global and Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific. Most recently, she has been listed as one of the world’s leading arbitration practitioners in Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration 2020 and as a recognised expert in Commercial Arbitration in Experts Guides 2019: The World’s Finest Lawyers Chosen By Their Peers. Described as being "in a league of her own", "extremely talented" and "incredibly hard-working and persistent" with a "very deep understanding of the law" by Chambers Global, sources also praise her for a "keen sense of strategy" and "great ability to quickly grasp her clients' perspective and understand their commercial issues". The Legal 500 says that Swee Yen is the "go-to disputes lawyer in Singapore", with an "ability to zone right in on the issues with precision and confidence".

Sophie Nappert

Sophie Nappert is an arbitrator in independent practice, based in London. She is dual-qualified as an Avocat of the Bar of Quebec, Canada and as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. Before becoming a full-time arbitrator, she pursued a career as an advocate and was Head of International Arbitration at a global law firm.

Ms Nappert is trained and has practised in both civil law and common law jurisdictions. She holds degrees in both common law and civil law from McGill University and a Masters’ Degree in Law from King’s College London. She is the peer-nominated Moderator of OGEMID, the online discussion forum on current issues of international investment law, economic law and arbitration. She is commended as a “leading light” in the field by Who’s Who Legal.

Ms Nappert is the author of a Commentary on the 2010 UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. She is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars on issues of international arbitration, international investment law and dispute resolution. She is a guest lecturer at Columbia Law School, Harvard Law School and McGill University Faculty of Law. She created the Nappert Prize in International Arbitration, open to young scholars and practitioners worldwide, administered under the auspices of McGill University.

Tilman Niedermaier

Tilman Niedermaier is a partner in the dispute resolution department of CMS Hasche Sigle in Munich. His practice focuses on complex transborder disputes.

Tilman specialises in corporate and commercial as well as international investment disputes. He regularly advises and represents clients on matters related to acquisitions, joint ventures and large-scale projects, including the automotive, aerospace/defence, renewable energy and telecommunication sectors. He also sits as an arbitrator. Tilman's experience as counsel and arbitrator extends to arbitrations under various institutional and ad hoc rules, including expedited and emergency arbitration rules.

Tilman studied at the universities of Munich and Geneva. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago and a doctoral degree from the University of Göttingen. As well as speaking German, Tilman is fluent in English and French.

Tilman regularly publishes in the field of international arbitration and is a frequent speaker at international conferences. He is a lecturer at the University of Halle-Wittenberg. Tilman is a member of the advisory board of the Munich IP Dispute Resolution Forum, the ICC commission on arbitration and ADR, and the IBA subcommittee on international arbitration case law. Tilman is listed as an arbitrator at the German Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Hamid Abdulkareem

Hamid Abdulkareem is a Partner in the Litigation and Arbitration Practice of Aluko & Oyebode, Nigeria’s largest full-service law firm. He is an experienced litigator and arbitration practitioner and regularly advises on, and represents clients in, disputes on an extensive range of issues, including those pertaining to energy and natural resources, taxation, company and labour law. Hamid is part of a team that has, over the last decade, been active on the various disputes that have arisen from Nigeria’s deep offshore production sharing contracts.

Hamid is an alumnus of the University of Ilorin and the London School of Economics and Political Science, and he is currently co-chair of the IBA’s Arb40 Subcommittee, which focuses on thought leadership for young arbitrators.

Hamid was recently recognised by Legal500 as a “Next Generation Partner” for his dispute resolution expertise. In 2019, he was ranked as an “Arbitration Future Leader” by Who’s Who Legal.