Miannaya Aja Essien SANNigeria

Miannaya Aja Essien, SAN, Chartered Arbitrator, FCIArb., Notary Public, is an alumnus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the University of Lagos. She obtained her LL.B (Hons.) and LL.M. respectively in 1984 and 1991, was called to the Nigerian Bar in August 1985 and attained the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2007. She became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) in 2007 and a Chartered Arbitrator in 2015.

She is the Managing Partner of Principles Law Partnership (www.principleslaw.com ) a firm of legal practitioners, notaries public and arbitrators with offices in Port Harcourt and Lagos. She is a past chairperson of the Section on Legal Practice of the Nigerian Bar Association. She is a dispute resolution specialist and is experienced and actively involved (both as counsel and arbitrator) in the resolution of complex commercial disputes.

She is a member of the adjunct faculty of the Nigerian Law School, Abuja teaching civil litigation; an approved Tutor of the faculty of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators teaching all aspects of domestic and international commercial arbitration. She is a past chairperson of the Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigeria Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a member of the Executive Committee of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria Branch. She is also a Panel member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and is on the board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration.

She is a member of council of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association. She is a member of several associations including the Nigerian Bar Association, the International Law Association (Nigerian Branch), the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria, LCIA (African Users' Council) and ICCA. She is an Independent Non-Executive Director of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc.

Sneh AroraEngland

Sneh Aurora is an international human rights advocate, strategist and facilitator. She is the Executive Director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), London Office. CHRI is an independent non-governmental organisation working towards the practical realisation of human rights in the Commonwealth, including access to justice, right to information, media freedoms and the eradication of contemporary forms of slavery and human trafficking. Sneh brings over 20 years of experience in the human rights field, focusing on international human rights law, standard setting and policy development, evaluations and assessments, strategy development and programme management, civil society and institutional capacity building. As a former member of the international management team of Amnesty International, she led one of its global human rights programmes and has provided technical advice and support to numerous civil society organisations, governments, national human rights institutions, and inter-governmental bodies, including the Council of Europe, UNDP, UNESCO, OHCHR, and OSCE/ODHIR. Sneh embraces rights-based approaches, participatory methodologies, social communication, and integrating a learning culture in organisations and institutions, with a sensitivity to gender issues and inclusion of marginalized and vulnerable groups. Sneh holds a Juris Doctorate in Law from the University of Toronto, Canada and is currently based in London, UK.

Suhail NathaniIndia

Suhail Nathani is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Economic Laws Practice, a leading law firm in India established in 2001.

Suhail is widely recognized as a leading lawyer in India across several areas, including regulatory, trade and competition laws

Suhail has successfully represented India in WTO disputes before the Panel and Appellate Body in Geneva and has been counsel to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), and Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI). He was also part of the CCI’s Working Group on Competition Policy, Advocacy and Advisory Functions and has been part of the ‘Law Firm Working Group’ formed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to give a final shape to the merger regulations of the country.

Suhail earned his Master’s Degree at Cambridge University, England and has also received an LL.M. from Duke University, USA. He serves on the board of several listed companies in India and for one company in Saudi Arabia. He is currently the Chairman of ASSOCHAM’S National Council on WTO Trade & Investment and also chairs the EU Chamber of Commerce’s Legal Committee.

Suhail is also involved in education and social initiatives and sits on the Governing Body of Somaiya Vidhyavihar, He is also an Adjunct Professor at Jindal Law School, Adani Institute of Infra Law, Apex Advisory Board and Chairman of Aga Khan Agency of Habitat India.

Ruggles FergusonGrenada

Ruggles Ferguson is a graduate of the University of the West Indies (Faculty of Law) and the Hugh Wooding Law School (Trinidad). He has been in private practice for the past 25 years (from 1996), focusing on criminal, civil and constitutional law. He has been involved in dozens of judicial review and constitutional applications covering a wide spectrum. For the past 21 years he has been the Managing Partner of Ciboney Chambers, one of the larger law firms in Grenada.

Mr Ferguson is a former President of the Grenada Bar Association (2000-2008/2014-2016), former President of the OECS Bar Association (2012 – 2016), and current President of the Organization of Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Associations (OCCBA >2018 - present). He is now serving his second term as OCCBA President (2020 -2022).

He believes that umbrella bar associations like OCCBA and the CLA have a critical role to play in uniting lawyers throughout the region and beyond to make a positive difference on the global stage. OCCBA supports the work CLA.

Ferguson has served on several local and regional bodies including the Public Service Board of Appeal in Grenada for over 10 years; on the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) for 5 years, until 2013; and on the Council of Legal Education (the regional governing body for law schools) for several years. He also served on the Constitution Reform Advisory Committee which led the work for the November 2016 Grenada Referendum and on the CCJ Advisory Committee which led the work for the November 2018 referendum to determine whether Grenada should join the Appellate Jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Mr Ferguson has appeared at all levels of the court, including the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and the Original Jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice. He is admitted to the Bars of Grenada, St Vincent & the Grenadines, St Lucia, Dominica, Antigua & Barbuda, St Kitts & Nevis, British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.

Mr Ferguson is also President of the Grenada Chess Federation, a member of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

Yasmin Batliwala MBE, A4ID

Yasmin has held a number of significant leadership positions over the years within the Public and Third Sectors. Her portfolios have included HIV/Aids, Drug and Alcohol dependency, and Criminal Justice. She has undertaken work for the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime in this regard. Yasmin has considerable Board level experience including having been on the Board of a large NHS Trust, Governor of the University of Hertfordshire and has also served as a Magistrate in the Youth and Adult Courts. Yasmin was a recipient of the City of London Woman of Achievement Awards in respect to her work in the Public Sector. In 2022 Yasmin received an MBE for her work in Human Rights, Rule of Law and International Development and in the Queen’s New Years’ Honours List.

Th Hon Jessie MajomeZimbabwe

Fungayi Jessie Majome is a Zimbabwean constitutional lawyer and feminist who is passionate about constitutionalism and optimistic about Africa. She was born on 20 December 1971.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree, Post Graduate Diploma in Womenʼs Law, and a Masters in Womenʼs Law degree from the University of Zimbabwe, plus a Master of Laws degree from the University of South Africa. She is studying for a Doctor of Laws degree with the University of Pretoria. She has experience of elected political office of local government councillor and Chair of Hwange Local Board, Member of the National Assembly for Harare West 2008 to 2013, during which, as part of Zimbabweʼs short lived coalition government she was variously a Deputy Minister for Justice & Legal Affairs, then Women Affairs, Gender & Community Development, and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Notably she served not only as a a member of the 25 member Select Committee of Parliament that authored the long awaited 2013 constitution, but also as its Deputy Co-Chairperson, Spokesperson and Chair of its Information and Publicity Committee. She was the first woman lawyer to be directly elected to Zimbabweʼs Parliament, and won several awards in human rights and womenʼs rights through her political work. She retired from politics in 2018.

She runs a law practice she founded in 2004 styled Jessie Majome & Co. Legal Practitioners, and also serves as a commissioner on Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission. She is mother to two sons.

Mr. P P HegdeBangalore

P. P. Hegde, is a Designated Senior Advocate practicing at Karnataka High Court Bangalore. He has been a very successful and popular Senior Counsel. Hailed for his passion for justice, his legal skills and arguing stewardship in defending his clients in civil, criminal, service, commercial and constitutional matters are known to be “formidable”. His law firm M/s PP Hegde Associates, headquartered in Bangalore has its offices in Mangalore as well as New Delhi. He has also served as the youngest Chairman of Karnataka State Bar Council, where he currently serves for a record 3rd time in a row as elected Member.

He is Gold medalist in LL.B and also in LL M.

He’s also served as Editor-in-chief of Karnataka Civil and Criminal Reporter (KCCR) whose mission is to provide in-depth report and insight into the latest judgments issued by Honorable Karnataka High Court as well as Honorable Supreme Court of India.

Besides he takes keen interest in projects that can “add value to society and nation – at large”. As a person with concern for failing morality among country’s youth he happened to found YUVA SHAKTI.

In 2012, he was elected, unanimously, as National President of a respectable upcoming think tank – YOUTH FOR NATION, New Delhi.

Aruneshwar Gupta

Peace Mediator, promoter of Legal Revolution 5.0 and Spiritual Revolution 5.0 - conflict free individual, society and nation. Practicing law since 1976 in Supreme Court and has wide litigation experience overseas. Advocate on Record and Addl. Advocate General for the State of Rajasthan in Supreme Court for almost 14 years (1990-99 and 2004-2009). Hony. Secretary, SCBA 1995-96 and Vice President of SCAORA 1999-2001.

Chief architect of the Sports Acts enacted by the States of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh which finally led to IPL in cricket. Chief draftsman of ‘White Paper on publishing and printing of judgments using Neutral Citation’ and member of Supreme Court committee on Subject Categorization.

Written several articles and made numerous presentations and addresses all over India and around the globe. Chairperson – Global Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Law (GCCIL), World Organization of Law and Finance (WOLF), India Centre for Fast Arbitration (ICFA), SpotLaw Apps Pvt. Ltd. and DAIV Projects; President – Law Consults, Advocates and Consultants, Bharitye Japanese Heritage Foundation (BJHF) and Law Information Center (LawInC). Member Advocates for International Development (A4ID), Society of Lawyers from India (SOLI), Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) and many others.

Has published a translation of ‘Shrimat Bhagwad Gita – Lawyers Perspective’, ‘Understanding Supreme Court Better - 151 Facts you need to know’ and is Co-author of ‘Supreme Court on Arbitration Law’. Voracious reader, keen analyst, and deep thinker. Making sincere efforts to translate sanaatan scriptures into simple English, particularly for generation Z, driven solely by personal cosmic experiences. Providing services to entrepreneurs in Blockchain, Metaverse, Web 3 and NFT space.

Robert StrangEngland

Robert Strang is a barrister practising from 3 Hare Court in London. He has an international practice which covers both commercial and public law. He has close connections to the Caribbean, in particular to Trinidad & Tobago and The Bahamas; and is well-known for his appellate work, having appeared in many appeals to the Privy Council. He has been called to the bar in Grenada and Trinidad & Tobago. His English practice covers a broad range of commercial disputes, including shareholders’ disputes, financial services mis-selling claims, contractual claims and arbitrations (often involving cross-border elements and conflict of laws).

Maurisha-RobinsonJamaica

MAURISHA A. ROBINSON is a co-founder and co-managing partner of the law Firm. She has an accomplished career in the areas of Corporate Law, Intellectual Property, Offshore Law and Real Property Law and has distinguished herself in providing sterling service in a wide range of matters including: numerous multimillion dollar real estate transactions; legal advice to high net worth individuals and multimillion dollar investors as to asset management strategies and/or options; real estate developments and purchases; immigration and tax advice to clients (individuals and entities). She also advises and assists clients on varying areas of international companies’ incorporation, trusts, Wills and Estate planning.

Maurisha actively engages in litigation and negotiation settlements, including, personal injuries, breach of contract and debt collection matters. She is the Firm’s main point of contact for intellectual property matters as well as for economic citizenship applications and as such provided remarkable service to her clients in not just acquiring a second passport but also helping them in getting settled on the island. It is her belief that excellent client care is crucial regardless of one’s field of practice and this belief coupled with her dedication, efficiency and effective time management skills has enabled her to serve her clients effectively and above par. Maurisha was educated in the West Indies. She has a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of the West Indies, 2002 (Upper Second Class Honours). She is also a graduate of the University College of the Caribbean where she attained a Diploma in Human Resource Management (Honours), 2004. In 2007, Maurisha was awarded a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the West Indies (Upper Second Class Honours) and graduated from the Norman Manley Law School in 2009 with a Legal Education Certificate. Maurisha has been called to the Bars of Jamaica and St. Christopher & Nevis. She currently serves as a member of the board of directors for the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society and is also the Vice President of the Nevis International Service Providers Association.

Professor (Dr.) C. Raj KumarIndia

Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, a Rhodes Scholar, is the Founding Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) in India. He was appointed as the VC at the age of 34 in 2009 when the university was established.

Professor Kumar conceived the idea of establishing India's first 'Global University' and with the visionary leadership and philanthropic support of Mr. Naveen Jindal, established JGU in Sonipat, Haryana in 2009. JGU is one of only 20 universities in India and the only non-STEM university, which has been declared as an “Institution of Eminence” by the Government of India.

Professor Kumar is an accomplished legal scholar and works in the fields of human rights and development, comparative constitutional law, terrorism and national security, corruption and governance, law and disaster management, legal education and higher education. He has seven books and over hundred and fifty publications to his credit and has published widely in peer reviewed journals, law reviews and other internationally reputed publishing houses based in Australia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Singapore, UK and the USA.

Professor Kumar has academic qualifications from the University of Oxford, Harvard University, University of Hong Kong, University of Delhi and Loyola College. He served as a faculty member at the School of Law of City University of Hong Kong, where he taught for many years. Professor Kumar was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship at the University of Oxford, UK, where he obtained his Bachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.) degree; a Landon Gammon Fellowship at the Harvard Law School, USA, where he obtained his Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree and a James Souverine Gallo Memorial Scholarship at Harvard University. He received the Doctor of Legal Science (S.J.D.) from the University of Hong Kong. He also obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from the University of Delhi, India; and a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) degree from the Loyola College, University of Madras, India.

Professor Kumar's scholarly articles have been published in the American University International Law Review, Asia Pacific Law Review, Australian Journal of Asian Law, Columbia Journal of Asian Law, Corporate Governance International, Denver Journal of International Law & Policy, Georgetown Journal of International Law, Hong Kong Lawyer, Human Rights Quarterly, Indian Journal of Criminology, Indian Journal of International Law, Indian Journal of Public Administration, ILSA Journal of International & Comparative Law, Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies, Journal of the International Peace Research Institute, Journal of the National Human Rights Commission, Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review, Michigan State Journal of International Law, New England Journal of International and Comparative Law, Proceedings of the American Society of International Law, San Diego International Law Journal, Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law, Tulsa Journal of Comparative and International Law and UC Davis Law Review. He has authored, co-authored, edited and co-edited seven books: The Future of Indian Universities (2017) (Editor-Oxford University Press); The Education President: Institution Building for Nation Building (2016) (Co-Author-Universal Law Publishing & LexisNexis); The President of India and the Governance of Higher Education Institutions (2016) (Co-Author-Universal Law Publishing & LexisNexis); Corruption and Human Rights in India: Comparative Perspectives on Transparency and Good Governance (2011) (Author-Oxford University Press); Human Rights and Development: Law, Policy and Governance (2006) (Co-Editor-LexisNexis); Tsunami and Disaster Management: Law and Governance (2006) (Co-Editor-Sweet & Maxwell Thomson); Human Rights, Justice and Constitutional Empowerment (2007) (Co-Editor-Oxford University Press).

Professor Kumar has contributed articles in newspapers and magazines published from Hong Kong, India and the UK, which include, South China Morning Post, The Standard, Frontline, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, Financial Express, The Tribune, The Pioneer, Seminar, Global-is-Asian, The Economic Times, The Times of India, The Indian Express, Deccan Herald, Deccan Chronicle, Economic & Political Weekly and Open Democracy. He has been interviewed on issues relating to law and justice, human rights and governance, and education by the media in Hong Kong, Japan and India, including radio and television: India Today TV, CNN IBN, News Now, Lok Sabha TV, Rajya Sabha TV, Star News, ATV, All India Radio, RTHK and NHK.

Professor Kumar has held consultancy assignments in the field of human rights and governance. He has been a Consultant to the United Nations University (UNU), Tokyo; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, Geneva; and the International Council for Human Rights Policy (ICHRP), Geneva. He has advised the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) in Sri Lanka and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in India on issues relating to corruption and good governance. Professor Kumar is an Attorney at Law and is admitted to the Bar Council of Delhi, India and the Bar of the State of New York, USA.

Professor Kumar also serves as the Founding Dean of Jindal Global Law School (JGLS) and Director of the International Institute for Higher Education Research & Capacity Building (IIHEd).

Professor Justice Courtney Abel (Retired)Guyana

Courtney Ashton Abel, a Guyanese, British Citizen and Belonger of Guyana, is currently a Professor of Law at the University of Guyana; who from October 2012 until retirement in March 2020 was Supreme Court Justice of Belize, Civil Division, specialising in Commercial Law. During this time, apart from efficiently managing and resolving a large docket of Civil and Commercial claims, he conceived, drafted and oversaw the implementation into law of its Mediation System and then the innovative Court-Connected Arbitration system in Belize (including the training of mediators and arbitrators). Previously, as lead Counsel, he specialised in the practice of Civil Law with an emphasis on complex Commercial law particularly within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) region but also within the various courts of the wider Commonwealth Caribbean, including the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (the apex court of the region).

Justice Abel is a graduate of the University of Warwick, is member of the Hon. Society of Inner Temple and was called to the Bar of England and Wales in February 1980. He founded two law firms, Courtney Abel & Associates in Anguilla and then Caribbean Associated Attorneys in Anguilla and St. Kitts in addition to being an entertainment lawyer as well as appointed an Additional Magistrate, Commissioner of Oaths and Notary Public in Anguilla. Abel was twice elected and served as President of the Anguilla Bar Association, as well as served as Secretary, Vice President and as President of the OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) Bar Association (from which he received awards and is an Hon. Life member), and was the Treasurer and President of OCCBA (Organisation of Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Associations), as well as having been Vice President of the Anguilla Financial Services Association.

In addition to his activities within the legal profession Courtney Abel has been active in local community organisations, including, The Rotary Club of Anguilla (being twice President); and was a Chairman of the Board of a private school in Anguilla, and is a certified scuba diver, as well as a singer, and a enthusiastic chef.

Following retirement from the Bench, Justice Abel migrated to the country of his birth, Guyana, where apart from teaching at the University of Guyana he is also a Tutor at the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica and has been engaged as Chairman of the Board of a Business established since 1950, as well as being a legal consultant and advisor specialising in legal compliance and commercial dispute resolution as a Mediator an Arbitrator, and is a popular presenter at various conferences and other forums; and has advised the Government of Guyana on establishing Guyana as an international arbitration hub in relation to the extractive industries (including Oil & Gas). He is currently preparing a book for publication about the legal legacy of the distinguished Caribbean Jurist, Judge and Law Professor, JOF Haynes.

Reshma SharmaCaymans

Reshma Sharma KC is the Solicitor General and Chief Officer of the Cayman Islands Portfolio of Legal Affairs. She was appointed to the post in 2019 after an acting appointment for 2 years while holding the post of Deputy Solicitor General. She joined the Portfolio of Legal Affairs in 2005.

A graduate of the University of the West Indies and the Hugh Wooding Law School where she attained her Bachelor of Laws degree and Legal Education Certificate respectively, Reshma commenced her legal career with the Solicitor General’s Office, Ministry of the Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago in 1997. In that capacity, she acted on behalf of the State in a diverse range of constitutional and public law matters before the High Court and Court of Appeal.

During her tenure in the Cayman Islands, Reshma has been involved in a number of notable and often novel public law/constitutional matters involving the Bill of Rights including the right to same-sex marriage, age and nationality discrimination, the transfer of prisoners under the UK Colonial Prisoners Removal Act 1884, extradition under the UK Extradition Act (Overseas Territories) Order 2016, various matters relating to eligibility to stand for election under the Elections Act and the compatibility of statutory immunity provisions with the right to life and other fundamental rights.

In addition to her litigation work, Reshma’s responsibilities over the years has extended to international matters relating to treaties and conventions such as extension and implementation of instruments and more recently, advising on issues arising under the Russia (Sanctions) (Overseas Territories) Order 2020. She also serves as counsel to the Cayman Islands Mutual Legal Assistance Authority under the Mutual Legal Assistance (United States of America) Act.

In other initiatives, Reshma has been involved in the delivery of human rights training for the civil service following the coming into effect of the Bill of Rights. She currently serves as a Law Reform Commissioner and a member of the Anti-Money Laundering Steering Group, National Intelligence Committee, Child Safeguarding Board and the Cayman Islands Government Project Future Steering Committee. She is also a member of the Copyright Tribunal, Design Rights Tribunal and Trademarks Appeal Tribunal.

In addition to her core legal work, as Chief Officer of the Portfolio of Legal Affairs, Reshma has administrative and financial oversight for the Portfolio’s seven departments – Solicitor General’s Office, Legislative Drafting Department, Law Reform Commission, Law Revision Commission, Anti-Money Laundering Unit, Financial Reporting Authority and the Truman Bodden Law School. From time to time, she acts as Attorney General of the Cayman Islands.

Bernard OundoUganda

Bernard Oundo is the President of the Uganda Law Society and the immediate Past President of the East African Law Society. He is a Senior Partner with Citadel Advocates, a law firm based in Uganda that specializes in Project Finance. He has advised on several infrastructure projects within the region. He has also supported multilateral international institutions including the World Bank and the African Development Bank in structuring infrastructure projects within the region.

He holds an LLM (Hons) with Distinction in Petroleum Law and Policy from the University of Dundee, an LLM from Makerere University, a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre and a First Class LLB (Hons) from Uganda Christian University, Mukono. He is also a Certified Public Private Partnership Specialist and recently completed a Post Graduate Diploma in International Construction Contracts from the Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas.

Kerry Clark SCAustralia

Kerry Clark SC has been a barrister with Murray Chambers (Adelaide, South Australia, Darwin, Northern Territory and Perth, Western Australia) since 2008 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2020. She brings a broad range of commercial expertise to the management and resolution of civil disputes. Her legal experience includes trusts, corporations & directors’ duties, partnerships, estates, construction, employment law, tax, real property and complex property proceedings in family law. Kerry is also an accredited mediator and experienced company director who is currently a member of the Legal Practitioner’s Disciplinary Tribunal and the board of Lawguard, which manages her local profession’s compulsory professional indemnity insurance. Her previous roles include Chair of JusticeNet (a pro bono legal service), member of Bar Council and the Board of Examiners (advising the Supreme Court on admissions to the profession). Prior to being called to the Bar, Kerry was a solicitor in the firm Johnson Winter and Slattery.

Mohammed NyaogaKenya

Mohammed Nyaoga is the Chairperson of the Central Bank of Kenya Board of Directors and the Chairperson to the International Monetary Fund (Washington) external Experts Panel. Mr. Nyaoga is a Senior Counsel and a Senior Partner at the law firm of Mohammed Muigai LLP. He holds LLB and LLM degrees from the University of Nairobi and Diploma in law from the Kenya School of Law. He is also currently a PhD student researching on "The Role of Regulation and Corporate Governance of Banks in Kenya".

He is a Certified Public Secretary (CPS); holds certificates in Corporate Governance from Commonwealth Association of Corporate Governance, Certificate from American Securities and Exchange Commission; a Certified Company Director and a Member of the Institute of Directors of Kenya. He specializes in Corporate Finance, Civil, Commercial, Litigation and Corporate Governance. In addition to the practice of Law, he has been Vice-Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, Chairman of its Business Laws Committee and Chairman of the Mining Licences Task Force. He has also been a Director of Capital Markets Authority, Chairman of International Commission of Jurists, Council member of Law Society of Kenya, Special Board Corporate Governance Advisor and Chairman of EcoBank Kenya. He has also been Chairman at the Commission of Inquiry into the suspension of the County Government of Makueni.

In addition, he is a certified training consultant in corporate governance with the Centre for Corporate Governance for over 15 years where he has trained over 10,000 directors in Kenya and in Africa at large. He has also been a consultant and Trainer for State University of New York on procurement (SUNNY Kenya) and a Lecturer (LLM Programme) University of Nairobi, School of Law (Business Law Department) on Public Procurement and accounting law. He is currently a regular Trainer/ Speaker at Central Banking Publications (UK) Governance Training Series at Windsor, Cambridge and Oxford and also one of authors and editors of Central Banking Publications.

Olumide Akpata

Olumide Akpata is a Nigerian legal practitioner. He is a founding Partner and the Head of the Corporate and Commercial Practice at Templars, one of Nigeria’s leading law firms and the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (“NBA”), Nigeria’s foremost and oldest professional membership organisation.

Olumide had his early education in Warri, Nigeria and thereafter attended King's College, Lagos from where he proceeded to study Law at the University of Benin, Nigeria from 1988 to 1992. Thereafter, he attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar on 15 December 1993.

Olumide is currently Senior Partner and Head of the Corporate & Commercial Practice Group of Templars, which comprises the following practice areas: Mergers & Acquisitions; Capital Markets; Corporate Law; Labour & Employment; Immigration; Telecommunications, Media, Entertainment and Technology; and Regulatory Compliance. However, in the over two decades of his time at Templars, Olumide has practised across the diverse areas in which the firm operates, and he has led or participated in some of the major groundbreaking transactions that have shaped commercial law practice in Nigeria and indeed the Nigerian economy.

The phenomenal growth that the Firm has experienced is due in part to the outstanding commitment, devotion, and leadership skills that Olumide and his Partners put into the practice, in addition to the innovative model that they adopted, and continue to readapt, in their approach to law practice.

A consummate professional, Olumide has over the years also developed and deployed business management skills in addition to his legal advisory expertise and has superintended the strategy, business development and growth divisions of the firm.

Olumide is highly regarded and recognised for his professional track record built over three decades advising local and international corporations on several market leading transactions in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa. His experience spans several core areas of commercial law and practice including mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, employment, immigration, regulatory compliance, and technology amongst others. He has been recognised by leading legal directories including the IFLR 1000 as a leading lawyer in Nigeria.

In addition to the aforementioned roles at Templars, Olumide recently completed his term as the 30th President of the NBA, a position he assumed on Friday 28th August 2020 and served meritoriously until 26th August 2022.

As the President of the NBA, he introduced record innovations which improved the quality of life of lawyers and contributed significantly to the national discourse on human rights, the delivery of justice and fundamentals of Nigerian law. The NBA under the leadership of Olumide Akpata undoubtedly regained its place at the vanguard of promoting democracy, fundamental human rights, and the rule of law in Nigeria. The office of NBA President also accorded Olumide the platform to actualise his personal dreams of engendering the professional development of Nigerian lawyers and raising the level especially of business law practice in Nigeria.

Prior to becoming President of the NBA, Olumide had also served as the Chairman of the NBA Section on Business Law, a platform that has continually made significant contributions to, and elevated, the practice of business law in Nigeria.

In addition to piloting the affairs of the NBA, Olumide has significantly contributed to the legal profession and the system of administration of justice in Nigeria though his membership of various statutory bodies such as the Council of Legal Education, the National Judicial Council, etc.

Olumide’s interest in the advancement of the legal profession has also led him to participate actively in the International Bar Association ("IBA") where, besides representing the NBA on the Council of the IBA from 2014 to 2016 and from 2020 to 2022, he has served in the following capacities:

Vice-Chairman of the IBA Africa Regional Forum;
Member of the IBA Presidential Task Force on the Future of the Legal Profession; and
Officer/Member of the IBA Anti-Corruption Committee.

He currently serves as a Member of the IBA Credentials Committee and as an Officer/Member of the IBA Bar Issues Commission.

Olumide also sits, in non-executive capacity, on the Boards of a number of private companies, some of which he also chairs. A highly regarded thought leader, Olumide is a member of several think-tanks, including the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) and the United Nations Nigerian Humanitarian Fund (UN-NHF), of which he is a pioneer member.

Olumide loves to be in the company of his friends and family and attending social events. He also loves travelling and reading the biographies of distinguished personalities. He is married, a devout Christian and a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

Michael RooplalTrinidad and Tobago

Mr. Michael Rooplal was admitted to practice law in Trinidad and Tobago in October 2009.

Since then he has provided legal representation in a wide range of matters in both the criminal and civil jurisdictions of the Courts in Trinidad and Tobago, most notably in criminal and public law. Mr. Rooplal has appeared before the Magistrates’ Courts, the High Court, and the Court of Appeal in Trinidad and Tobago, and he has assisted in the preparation for matters before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

In his thirteen (13) years of practice, Mr. Rooplal has appeared in several cases which have produced landmark decisions.

During the period 2010-2015, Mr. Rooplal served on the Board of Directors of the Environmental Management Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, as a Director, and then its Deputy Chairman.

Mr. Rooplal is currently the President of the Assembly of Southern Lawyers, Trinidad and Tobago, and is a former Senior Ordinary Member of the Council of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago.

Mr. Rooplal is also involved in several business ventures. He is an avid golfer, and currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of his local golf club.

Professor Saul Lehrfreund MBEEngland

Saul Lehrfreund is the co-founder and co-Executive Director of The Death Penalty Project, a legal action NGO based at the London law firm Simons Muirhead Burton.

Since 1992, Saul has represented people facing the death penalty in criminal and constitutional appeals before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and in applications to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights. He has assisted individuals in domestic courts throughout the Commonwealth, most recently in Guyana, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Bangladesh.

Saul is a visiting Professor of Law at the University of Reading, where he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in 2009. He has lectured and has published extensively on capital punishment and related human rights issues. He is a founder member of the Pro Bono Panel of the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office which provides legal assistance to British nationals facing the death penalty, and an inaugural member of the UK Foreign Secretary’s Death Penalty Panel and Expert Group on the Death Penalty.

In 2000, Saul was awarded an MBE for services to international human rights.

Liesel WeekesJamaica

Ms. Liesel Natasha Weekes is an Attorney- at-Law admitted to practice Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados since 1998. She is the Managing Partner of the largely civil based practice of Aegis Chambers Attorneys-at-Law. She has facilitated and presented at seminars on several legal topics including Insurance, Mortgages and Employment. She has presented to the General Insurance Association of Barbados, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados and most recently Human Resources Management Association of Barbados.

She is currently a member of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Legal Affairs Committee, sits on the Judicial Council of the Supreme Court of Barbados and was the Chairman of the Electric Light and Power Advisory Committee from 2018 to 2020. She is a Past President of the Barbados Bar Association having served three consecutive terms and continues to be a member thereof.

She is currently a member of the steering committee of the Canadian Government funded JURIST justice improvement project currently in its final stages in 13 CARICOM states. She is a member of the current Chairman of the Council of Legal Education.

Salieu TaalThe Gambia

Salieu Taal is Barrister at Law of the Inner Temple and enrolled as a Legal Practitioner in The Gambia.He is the initiator and one of co-founders of #GambiaHasDecided, a social movement which played a catalytic role in ousting a 22 year old dictatorship in the Gambia. He is a passionate fighter and promoter of Human Rights, Constitutionalism and Rule of Law in The Gambia.

Salieu is an influential advocate and member of the Civil Society in the Gambia promoting human rights, good governance and the rule of law. As President of The Gambia Association, Salieu has played a pivotal role in repositioning The Gambia Bar Association as a rule of institution actively supporting the restoration of democratic institutions in The Gambia.

Salieu Taal is a passionate advocate who has supported numerous public interest litigation cases in The Gambia in partnership with civil society organizations and activists in The Gambia setting important precedents for Gambia’s nascent democracy. Salieu was part of the legal team that filed the first Amicus Curiae Brief before the Supreme Court of Gambia in a landmark case of the State v Yankuba Touray, a case that addressed and defined the limits of constitutional immunity of the junta members who committed criminal offenses whilst in office.

As President of the Bar, Mr. Taal has been actively involved in transitional justice process of The Gambia. He has convened several consultative meetings of local and international experts on the options for justice in the Gambia which has helped build a consensus on the appropriate model for prosecuting international crimes committed during the regime of the former Government. Salieu Taal delivered the Annual UK Bar Council International Rule of Law keynote lecture in London on the Gambia’s Transitional Justice Experience.

He is a leading advocate and proponent for the establishment of a hybrid Court mechanism in The Gambia to try international crimes.Salieu is a member of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association Rule of Law and Human Rights Committee.

Amirali Nasir MH JPHong Kong

Mr. Amirali B. Nasir is presently Vice-President of the Law Society of Hong Kong and founder of Nasirs® Solicitors.

He presently chairs, among others, the International Legal Affairs Committee, InnoTech Committee, Constitutional Affairs and Human Rights Committee, Guide Working Party, and the Solicitors Indemnity Fund Limited which provides professional indemnity cover to all law firms.

He is a member of the High Court Rules Committee, Court of Final Appeal Rules Committee, a director of eBRAM (online MedArb), Council Member of: (i) IBA, (ii) Union Internationale des Advocats (UIA) (also Regional Secretary for Asia for UIA), and (iii) Commonwealth Lawyers Association.

Mr. Nasir grew up in Marylebone, London, qualified as a solicitor, in England and Wales, then in Hong Kong and was also admitted as a solicitor at the Dubai International Financial Centre. He is also a trustee of a local religious charitable trust serving the local community in all aspects of life. He was previously a member of the Equal Opportunities Commission and on the Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony.

Andrew Sharland KCEngland

Andrew Sharland KC practices from London, England. He specialises in public, constitutional and human rights law in both domestic and international courts.

Andrew regularly appears before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. He acted for Liberty (an NGO) in Washington First v United Kingdom (freedom of expression in a private shopping mall) and, on behalf of the UK Government, in McDonald v United Kingdom (community care provision and the right to private life). His UK Supreme Court practice includes information law and freedom of expression (Kennedy v The Charity Commission), village greens (TW Logistics v Essex County Council) and community care provision (Worcestershire County Council v The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care).

Andrew also practises information law, public procurement law and appears at public inquiries on behalf of government bodies and commercial organisations.

Andrew was educated at University of London and Leiden University (LLB, 1st class honours), William and Mary College, Virginia, USA (LLM) and Worcester College, University of Oxford (BCL). He was appointed a KC in 2018. He was appointed a recorder the same year and sits part-time in the Crown Court.

Andrew is the co-author of the leading text book, Judicial Review, Principles and Procedure (OUP, 2nd edn forthcoming 2023) which has been cited by Courts in England and Wales (including the Court of Appeal), Northern Ireland and various Caribbean courts. Andrew has also contributed chapters to Information rights, (ed Philip Coppel KC) and Education and the Courts (ed Richard McManus KC).

Abdul Rashid IsmailMalaysia

Abdul Rashid Ismail has been in legal practice for over 20 years at the Malaysian Bar and his areas of practice is corporate and commercial litigation. He is the Managing Partner of a law firm in Malaysia, Messrs. Rashid Zulkifli. Rashid dedicates part of his legal practice to pro bono human rights work. He has been involved and continues to be involved in landmark constitutional cases involving the mandatory death sentence, the rights to fair trial and the rights of the vulnerable including the mentally ill facing execution. The cases that Rashid has been involved in include challenging the constitutionality of various provisions of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code. In a recent case before the Malaysian Federal Court’s 9-member bench, a historical dissenting judgment was secured that pronounced the mandatory death sentence as unconstitutional.

Rashid is also an active participant in human rights advocacy programmes and activities that are geared towards the abolition of the death penalty. His work extends to public awareness programmes, engagements with parliamentarians and civil society. In 2019, Rashid submitted an extensive expert report to the Special Committee on Alternative Sentencing that was set up to look at proposed reforms on death penalty laws in Malaysia and alternative sentencing upon the abolition of the mandatory death penalty.

Rashid is a past President of the National Human Rights Society of Malaysia (HAKAM) and has previously served on the Human Rights Committee of the Malaysian Bar Council for many years.

Rashid received a Chevening Scholarship from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and successfully completed a MSt in International Human Rights Law from University of Oxford in 2011. Rashid was instrumental in the setting up of the Brunsfield Oxford Asean Human Rights Scholarship for residents of ASEAN to study MSt in International Human Rights Law. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Philosophy at University of Oxford and he is researching the abolition of the death penalty in Malaysia.

Andrew HeinrichAustralia

Head of Products - ALT & Operations
Herbert Smith Freehills

Andrew works closely with his HSF colleagues to set the strategic growth agenda for the Alternative Legal Services (ALT) practice throughout Australia, Asia and globally, drawing upon 18 years' of strategic business development (BD) and marketing experience, gained in business start-up, legal and professional services environments.

ALT is a multi-lingual, diverse and high-performing team across 10 global hubs, which draws together legal expertise, process efficiency and technology solutions to deliver innovative services in respect of large-scale, document-intensive legal work. The team has a common strategic objective to deliver a seamless, end-to-end solution to the firm's clients – on both "event-led" and business-as-usual matters.

Andrew takes a lead role on strategic pitches and panel responses, client identification and validation, new product development, market scanning and client listening activities, to ensure ALT are at the forefront of leading client’s legal innovation, digital and AI adoption.

In Australia, Andrew is also responsible for a multi-disciplinary team of BD Coordinators, Client Listening and Pitching specialists, who support the Australian BD team's client, practice and sector groups.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from Charles Sturt University.

Jayna KothariIndia

Jayna Kothari is a Senior Advocate practising in the Supreme Court of India. She is also co-founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Law and Policy Research, a not-for-profit organisation based in India. She graduated from University Law College with a B.A. LL.B degree and read the BCL at Oxford University. Jayna was awarded the Wrangler D.C. Pavate Fellowship at Cambridge University.

Jayna’s research and practice interests include constitutional law, gender and sexuality law, disability rights and discrimination law. She had argued in the Supreme Court in the constitutional challenges to Section 377 of the India Penal Code which criminalised same-sex conduct and adultery which were both decriminalized. She also argued the Independent Thought case in which the Supreme Court recognized child marital rape as a criminal offence. Her book, “The Future of Disability Law in India” was published in 2012 by Oxford University Press.

Jacqueline MckenzieEngland

Jacqueline McKenzie is a partner at human rights law firm, Leigh Day, and the Head of its Immigration and Asylum Team. She is admitted to practice as a solicitor in England and Wales and is a member of the Grenada Bar. She holds several post graduate qualifications in human rights, international law and research, and is considered an expert on immigration and asylum law which she not only practices, but lectures and writes on, and is often asked to provide an expert view to the media and at conferences.

She leads a team which specialises in a wide range of immigration matters, including cases representing asylum seekers and refugees, people facing deportation at the end of criminal sentences, administrative removal, EU citizens seeking settlement post Brexit, undocumented migrants seeking regularised status, claimants seeking entry clearance or citizenship, and victims of modern slavery. Her team also acts in actions against the state, including for unlawful detention and false imprisonment, and in claims of discrimination and racism against a range of defendants. Her work covers acting in the first instance, but also in the senior courts and the European Court of Human Rights.

For the past four years she has emerged as the UK’s leading advocate for victims of the Windrush Scandal. In addition to representing hundreds of claimants, she was a member of the Independent Advisory Group set up by the government to oversee the Windrush Lessons Learned Review, sat on the Home Office’s Windrush Stakeholder’s Advisory Group, sat on the Administrative Justice Council’s review of the Windrush Compensation Scheme, and conducted research for the Paul Hamlyn Foundation into the capacity of community sector organisations to respond to the scandal, leading to the establishment of a fund for capacity building of £1 million. She gave oral and written evidence to the Parliamentary Home Affairs and Justice Committees on the Windrush Compensation Scheme, and the conditions of female foreign nationals in UK prisoners, and has an academic article published in the Discrimination Law Journal on the Windrush Lessons Learned Review.

Jacqueline’s current work includes representing NGOs at the ECtHR who have been granted permission to intervene in an Article 3 ECHR same sex case involving Switzerland, representing asylum seekers from Sri Lanka who are detained in the British Indian Overseas Territory of Diego Garcia, representing a potential victim of modern slavery who was one of 6 people due to be flown to Rwanda under the UK government’s Migration and Economic Development, Partnership with that country, and is taking action against the British government for the conditions in which asylum seekers in the UK were held in the Manston short term immigration holding facility. Her anti-discrimination work includes reparations, and children treated unfairly, due to their race, in the British school system.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Jacqueline spent 20 years in local and central government in several roles including equalities, community development and regeneration. She taught law and international relations at US university, Schiller International, and law and ethics at Queen Mary’s College, London University, sits on several boards pertaining to human rights, including Detention Action, and has won several awards for her legal and campaigning work, including the Legacy Awards Lifetime Achievement Award (2018), the European Diversity Awards Campaigner of the year (2019), The Black solicitors Network Small Law Firm of the year (2019) and the Black Excellence Humanitarian Award (2020). Jacqueline is also number 7 and number 10 on the Black Excellence Power List in 2021 and 2022 respectively and is a judge of the British Diversity Awards 2023. She is currently a member of a working committee set up by the Labour Party to produce a white paper on a Race Equality Act.

Anup SurendranathIndia

Professor Anup Surendranath teaches criminal law, evidence law, constitutional law, and legal methods at National Law University, Delhi. At NLU Delhi, he is also the executive director of Project 39A (a criminal justice programme at the University). Additionally, he holds the SK Malik Chair Professorship on Access to Justice at NLU Delhi and is also on the Advisory Council of the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, University of Oxford. Professor Surendranath was invited by the Chief Justice of India RM Lodha in April 2014 to serve as the Deputy Registrar (Research) in the Supreme Court of India and served in that position until July 2015. Project 39A is at the forefront of providing pro bono legal representation to prisoners sentenced to death in India and provides extensive criminal defense to death row prisoners both in terms of convictions and sentencing in criminal appeals. Project 39A’s sustained representation of prisoners sentenced to death in the Supreme Court has led to significant changes and improvements in the law and recently also led to the Supreme Court of India referring a set of critical questions concerning the administration of the death penalty to a 5-judge Constitution Bench. Project 39A's work over the last 8 years has achieved the acquittals of 11 death row prisoners before the Supreme Court of India along with nearly 40 commutations of death sentences.

At Project 39A, Professor Surendranath leads a team of nearly 60 full time programme and administrative staff across three offices in Delhi, Pune, and Nagpur. As a criminal justice programme, Project 39A works on issues of forensics, mental health & criminal justice, sentencing, torture prevention & accountability, and legal aid. Project 39A also provides extensive legal aid to undertrial prisoners in Pune and Nagpur Central Prisons in collaboration with the district and state legal services authorities.

Praxedes TororeyKenya

Commissioner Tororey serves on the Independent Policing Oversight(IPOA) Board, an independent state agency charged with civilian police oversight in Kenya. She holds a Masters Degree in Women’s Law from the University of Zimbabwe and currently pursuing a second Masters in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy at Moi University in Kenya.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Nairobi; a Diploma in Laws from the Kenya School of Law; Diploma in International Environmental Law-making and Diplomacy from the University of Joensuu; and a Diploma in Women’s Law from the University of Zimbabwe.

Commissioner Tororey is also a Certified Mediator (MTI) and has certificates in Management and Strategic Reform of Electoral Processes; Legal Audits; Legislation Drafting; Arbitration; Conflict Management and Dispute Resolution, besides Strategic Leadership Development Programme and Corporate Governance.

Ms. Tororey has over thirty years of Public Service having worked at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission as Director Legal and Public Affairs; Kenya Forest Service as the Corporation Secretary and Head of Legal. Praxedes also served in the Kenyan Judiciary as a Magistrate in various Law Courts in Kenya and was a trainer in Jurisprudence of Equality.

Ms. Tororey is a member of the International Commission of Jurists (Kenya Chapter); Law Society of Kenya, FIDA-Kenya; Kenya Women Judges Association; Professional Criminologists Association of Kenya and Past V. Treasurer East African Magistrates and Judges.

She is also an active member of community associations including the Consolata Friends Association; One More Day for Children where she serves as the Vice Chair; Member Nanyuki Children’s Home; life member of the Red Cross Society of Kenya; serves in School Board of Management; County Committee on Budget and Empowerment Forums amongst others.

Ms. Tororey has undertaken various leadership responsibilities including; Chairperson, Nanyuki Children’s Home; Founder member and Vice Chairperson One More Day for Children in Laikipia, Kenya; Member National Taskforce on Review of Legal, Policy and Institutional Framework for fighting Corruption in Kenya, 2015; Taskforce Member of the National Steering Committee on Devolved Government; Chairperson Court Users Committee; Member ICJ(Kenya Chapter) Jurist of the Year Award.

In August 2021, Commissioner Tororey was conferred a Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) from the Dominion Mission Theological University of Ghana following her sustained contribution to social justice and welfare activities supporting the Church, the elderly, children and marginalised members of society.

Commissioner Tororey is also a member of the Professional Criminologists Association of Kenya (PCAK) where she engages in mentorship of young criminologists. She has spoken in webinars on topical issues affecting the security sector and also officiated as Chief Guest at a PCAK graduation ceremony for aspiring criminologists.

In 2021, she moderated a panel session during the 10th Anniversary of the Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices that converged thoughts and discussions around Kenya’s justice and legal sector. Panelists included the Hon. Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, the Hon. Attorney General of Kenya amongst other notable figures.

Dr. Tororey currently heads the College of Assessors and is the Ambassador and Chief Assessor Nairobi Legal Awards.

Gitobu ImanyaraKenya

Adesina AdegbiteNigeria

Adesina Adegbite, FICMC is a founding Partner and the Managing Partner of Adereti Adegbite & Co (AAC), a law firm based in Lagos, Nigeria, with specialty in General Civil Litigation and Commercial/Corporate Law Practice. AAC represents notable Oil & Gas as well as some multinational mining companies. Adesina, famously known as AA within the NBA circle and was elected the General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association on July 16, 2022. He is highly resourceful and popularly known for his passion for service and excellence.

Prior to his election as the General Secretary of the NBA, he had previously served the Association in several capacities, including but not limited to the Chairman, NBA Ikeja Branch Law Week Committee (2008), Assistant Secretary, NBA Ikeja Branch (2008-2010), Financial Secretary, NBA Ikeja Branch (2010-2012), and later served as the Branch Secretary (2012 – 2014). He was also elected as the National Welfare Secretary of the NBA in 2016 and served between 2016 to 2018. He was a member Governing Council of SPIDEL 2018-2021. Adesina Adegbite who is a Fellow of Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators is no doubt a consummate Bar Man with impeccable record of service and uncommon passion for excellence.

Chief Justice Agyemang

The Honourable Mrs. Justice Agyemang is a Ghanaian-trained judge with over three decades of judicial experience in various levels of the Judiciary in four Commonwealth Jurisdictions. She joined the Ghanaian Bench in 1991 as a Magistrate until her appointment as a Circuit Court Judge in 1995, and a High Court Judge in 2002.

Her Ladyship was appointed an expert High Court Judge on assignment for the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC) for The Gambia from 2004 until 2008.

She was then appointed an expert High Court Judge to provide technical assistance to the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland) from 2008-2010.

She returned to the Gambia on yet another assignment for CFTC as Justice of Appeal in 2010 and was appointed Chief Justice of the Gambia in 2013.

In 2015 Her Ladyship was appointed Justice of Appeal in Ghana.

She is currently the Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Mrs Justice Sara CockerillEngland and Wales

Mrs Justice Cockerill was educated at her local state primary school and then Lady Eleanor Holles School (on the Assisted Places Scheme) before reading Jurisprudence at Oxford. She was called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 1990, and joined Essex Court Chambers (then 4 Essex Court) in 1991. She practised as a barrister from those chambers until 2017, specialising in commercial cases and in compelled evidence.

She was appointed a QC (now KC) in 2011. She was appointed as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2015, sitting in the Queen’s Bench Division (now King’s Bench Division), specifically in the Administrative Court and the Commercial Court. She became a High Court Judge in 2017, assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division (now King’s Bench Division). She was Judge in Charge of the Commercial Court from 1 August 2020 until 31 July 2022.

She is authorised to sit in cases in the Commercial Court, the Financial List, the Competition Appeal Tribunal and the Technology and Construction Court as well as in the Administrative Court and other King’s Bench work, including crime.

She is the author of ‘Compelled Evidence in Civil Proceedings’ (2012 OUP), Eleanor of Castile – The Shadow Queen (2014 Amberley) and Eleanor of Aquitaine – Queen of France and England, Mother of Empires (2019 Amberley).

James McGowanHong Kong

Shravanth Shanker is the managing partner of B.Shanker, Advocates LLP a firm specialising in multi-fora Commercial litigation and Arbitration. They are based in New Delhi, having presence in Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai.

He has 15 years of comprehensive experience in formulating legal strategy and dispute resolution while specialising in Arbitration, Insolvency and White collar crimes. He is a qualified Advocate-on-Record at the Supreme Court of India and a Member of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London.

Shravanth is a standing counsel for the High Court of Telangana before the Supreme Court of India and has also been on the panel of the National Highway Authority of India one of the largest litigators in the country.

Shravanth believes technology in the form of digitisation will dramatically enhance the speed and access to the justice delivery system. He took to digitizing his work space early in his career and it has helped him achieve remarkable results while handling high stakes litigation involving multiple fora.

James McGowanHong Kong

James is a former career Royal Navy Officer who was called to the English Bar (Middle Temple 1979) in between his seatime, subsequently prosecuting and defending and later "Judging" over 150 Courts Martial, many involving Collisions, Navigation and Ship Handling allegations.

After an appointment as the Senior Lawyer and Personnel Officer in the Fleet Headquarters, he "came ashore" in 1993, and has since been practising in Hong Kong, largely specialising in Admiralty and Crime (and sometimes both together!), Prosecuting and Defending from the Magistracies to the Court of Final Appeal. He is also briefed in Disciplinary Tribunals, Marine and Pilotage Inquiries, with a significant Criminal Appellate practice. More recently, he has represented Non Refoulement Claimants at both "first instance" and Torture Claim Appeal Board Levels.

James is a former member of the Hong Kong Bar Council, and a longstanding member of its International Practice, and Criminal Law, Committees, the International Bar Association (where he represents the Hong Kong Bar on the Bar Issues Commission), the Union Internationale des Avocats, the Commonwealth Lawyers' Association, the US National Association of Criminal Defence Lawyers, and the Nautical Institute.

He is also a HKIAC Accredited Mediator and a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators. He has twice been the Chairman of the New Medico-Legal Society.

Annmarie LumsdenAustralia

Annmarie has been the Director of NT Legal Aid in the Northern Territory, Australia since December 2022. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Law from the Australian National University and an Executive Masters in Public Administration from the Australian and New Zealand School of Government. She became a Law Society of NSW Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law in 1999. She is also a graduate of the NSW Public Sector Leadership Academy, with a record of delivering reform and change in the justice sector. Annmarie has over 30 years post admission experience, mainly as an employee of legal aid commissions in the ACT and NSW, but also in private practice and government. She has practiced in civil, family and criminal law, strategic policy and law reform, and as corporate counsel. Annmarie worked at Legal Aid NSW for over 20 years, holding leadership positions across the organisation including Solicitor Advocate in the Criminal Law Division, and Executive roles including Director Strategic Policy and Planning, Director Family Law, Director Grants and, for the 5 years before coming to the Territory, Director Criminal Law. In 2022 Annmarie was conferred the Terry Keaney Award by a committee comprised of representatives from the NSW judiciary, The NSW Bar Association, the Law Society of NSW, ALS(NSW/ACT) and Legal Aid NSW for her dedication to the profession, excellence as a criminal defence lawyer and commitment to social justice. Annmarie is a current member of the Council of the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration.

Melinda JankiGuyana

Melinda is a lawyer and a staunch advocate for the rule of law, repeatedly challenging the abuse/misuse of executive power and unlawful actions by public authorities. In a country where many are afraid to speak out for fear of victimisation, Melinda has been a fearless and outspoken critic of breaches of national law by Government and Guyana’s nascent oil/gas sector and has filed 6 cases to protect the rule of law.

In court Melinda and her tiny legal team (2 lawyers) face the Attorney-General, the petroleum Minister, the Environmental Protection Agency, Esso, Hess, CNOOC, their legal teams and the combined resources of the State and big oil. Melinda has already successfully reduced Esso’s environmental permits from more than 20 years to five years bringing them in line with national law. Melinda has also filed the world’s biggest climate change case to stop over 5 billion tons of CO2 pollution from entering the atmosphere and ocean. Her clients, a university professor and a Wapichan youth from the south of Guyana, argue that by allowing fossil fuel production, the State of Guyana is in breach of their fundamental human right to a healthy environment. This provision (Article 149J) of the Constitution was added to the Constitution as a result of Melinda’s successful lobbying during a constitution reform project.

Melinda’s other cases seek judicial review of the actions of the regulator and the minister under the Environmental Protection Act to curb abuse of public power and uphold the rule of law. These cases challenge the petroleum licence, environmental permit, and Esso’s flaring of billions of cubic feet of fossil gas. The most recent case seeks to enforce provisions on insurance and parent company indemnities for liability for all environmental harm, such as the potential financial and environmental disaster of a well blowout that could bankrupt Guyana and harm the Caribbean.

Melinda has also repeatedly exposed and challenged unlawful actions by the World Bank to support oil and gas in Guyana and to remove environmental law protections.

Melinda has repeatedly warned that the rule of law is the first casualty of oil development. This was starkly evident in 2020 when an unlawful government attempted to undermine the elections results. Melinda was a leading voice against this attack on democracy. She mobilised support nationally and internationally for the unlawful administration to respect the peoples’ wishes and peacefully demit office. The determination showed by the Guyanese people to protect democracy led to a peaceful transition to a new government.

Melinda’s commitment to the rule of law and her opposition to unlawful action by government, regulator and oil companies has resulted in attempts to vilify her. Melinda has responding by stating that such attempts are part of the price of freedom of expression and she relies on the good sense of the decent majority of people in Guyana to support and uphold the rule.

Melinda’s contribution to the rule of law has reached another level with her legal drafting being accepted by different Parliaments and turned into national laws which give citizens rights against the State and executive. Over 20 years ago Melinda drafted the Environmental Protection Act which citizens are now using to protect themselves and their environment from misuse of power. Melinda included in that law, obligations covering the climate, atmosphere and ocean, principles such as the precautionary principle, polluter pays and strict liability, and introduced the concept of natural capital. Melinda drafted the constitutional principle that the wellbeing of the nation depends on preserving clean air, fertile soils, pure water and the rich diversity of plants, animals and ecosystems and all branches of government are legally required to be guided by this principle. Melinda drafted the protected areas legislation which further operationalises the constitutional principle and could be used to preserve Guyana’s rich natural heritage for present and future generations.

Melinda also drafted Guyana’s Amerindian Act which guarantees the land rights and self-governance of indigenous and non-indigenous Amerindian communities in Guyana and which transferred power direct from the State to the traditional landowners, by-passing civil society interests. She assisted the WaiWai people to obtain absolute legal title to their territory and to realise their dream of protecting their lands and their culture by turning their territory into an indigenous owned protected area. in line

Melinda has also been a tireless defender of human rights. She opposes the death penalty in all circumstances, supports equality for the LGBTIQ community and advocates for an end to corporal punishment.

Melinda is a true child of the Commonwealth – born in Guyana, educated in Guyana and England, and growing up in Guyana, England, Zambia and Trinidad.

Melinda read law at London (LL.B, LL.M) and Oxford (BCL). She has been admitted to practice in England and Guyana. Melinda received excellent training as a lawyer starting her career with Lovells in the City of London before working as in-house counsel at BP in London.

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From England Melinda returned to the land of her birth and joined De Caires, Fitzpatrick and Karran, a leading commercial law firm in Georgetown, with a strong commitment to freedom of speech. Among the firm’s clients was Esso, a subsidiary of oil giant ExxonMobil, to whom Melinda provided some legal consultancy advice on non-petroleum matters.

In 2015 ExxonMobil announced it had discovered oil offshore Guyana. The discovery of oil and the prospect of increased revenue for Guyana have dealt a severe blow to the rule of law in Guyana. Successive Governments in Guyana have been promoting oil and gas operations without due regard for national law, thereby endangering the people, economies and environments of Guyana and Guyana’s Caribbean neighbours, including the Commonwealth Caribbean. Offshore drilling pollutes the ocean with chemicals and harms/kills marine life. The government has authorised ExxonMobil’s subsidiary (Esso) to dump 4,000 barrels of sewage into the ocean every day amounting to over 1.2 billion (1,200,000,000) gallons of sewage over the life of the project, sewage which could end up in Commonwealth Caribbean waters. Esso has been flaring billions of cubic feet of gas to the detriment of the climate, using faulty equipment, dumping chemicals in the ocean and destroying fisheries and marine life. Both the government and Esso are boasting that Esso’s floating production storage and offloading vessels are operating above their safety limits.

Flaring case: challenges Esso’s flaring of billion of cubic feet of gas. The judge has not given a decision following the hearing on 12th May 2022, despite the statutory requirement to deliver decisions at the close of the hearing or within 120 days and despite repeated requests for a decision.

Environmental permit case: seeks to overturn the renewal of Esso’s environmental permit without an environmental impact assessment.

Petroleum licence case: challenges the grant of a petroleum production licence to entities who lack an environmental permit. The courts have twice breached the statutory time limits. At first instance the Chief Justice took 366 days to deliver judgement.

Melinda has also worked with indigenous and native peoples around the world to protect their rights to land and culture. In 20008 Melinda set up the Justice Institute Guyana (JI), a legal institute to uphold the rule of law and teach citizens how to use their legal rights to protect themselves from abuse of power. Through JI, Melinda has worked with the Toshao (chief) of every Amerindian community in Guyana and has taught over 2,000 Amerindian leaders and community members their legal rights to land and self-governance. Melinda’s work on self-determination transformed the West Papuan independence movement from illegal secession to a right to self-determination and freedom from alien subjugation under international law. West Papua remains one of the few colonial territories still in existence.

Melinda is also an international lawyer and has worked in more than 20 countries.

Quinton NewcombEngland

Quinton is a partner and Head of Commercial Crime at international law firm, Fieldfisher LLP, and part of the firm's Global Investigations team. He has 18 years' experience prosecuting and defending in economic crime proceedings, including in the context of prosecutions arising from corrupt public procurement exercises. He has defended both corporates and senior executives in investigations and prosecutions, including in some of the most high profile enforcement action in the UK in recent years, including the UK Serious Fraud Office's prosecution of French multinational transport company, ALSTOM. He has led teams conducting cross-border investigations, including into the suspected corruption of tenders for public contracts. His practice also encompasses ethics and compliance advisory work, with a focus on economic crime compliance. Quinton has given expert evidence in international arbitrations on the subject of UK economic crime, and sits on the Consulting Editorial Board for LexisPSL's Corporate Crime service. A keen cricketer, he captained the Bar of England and Wales Cricket Club for ten years, leading the team in five Lawyers' Cricket World Cups.

The Hon’ble Mrs Justice B V NagarathnaIndia

• Born on 30^th October, 1962 at Bengaluru.
• B.A.(Hons.) in History from Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University in 1984. Obtained LL.B. Degree in July 1987 from Campus Law Centre, Delhi University
• Started practice in Law in 1987 initially in KESVY & Co., Advocates and started independent practice in July 1994 till elevation as a Judge of the High Court of Karnataka in 2008. Practised in a wide variety of areas such as administrative law; constitutional law; commercial law; family law, etc. Represented Karnataka State Legal Services Authority and High Court Legal Services Committee. Also was appointed as Amicus Curiae in certain cases.
• First lady from the Bar to be appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Karnataka.
• Appointed on 18^th February, 2008 as Additional Judge of Karnataka High Court and Permanent Judge on 17^th February, 2010.
• Some of the positions held as a Judge of the High Court of Karnataka:
  1. President, Karnataka Judicial Academy;
  2. President, Bangalore Mediation Centre, Bengaluru;
• Contributor to the Book “Courts of India” released by the Supreme Court on the chapter on Courts of Karnataka: Chairperson of the Committee in charge of bringing out Kannada translation of the book “Courts of India” released in April 2021.
• Elevated as Judge of the Supreme Court of India on 31^st August 2021.
• Due to retire on 29^th October, 2027.

Dame Brenda KingN Ireland

Dame Brenda King was appointed as Attorney General for Northern Ireland in 2020.

Brenda was born in Belfast and educated at Queen’s University Belfast, the University of South Carolina and Cambridge University.

After a period in private practice, and later as a legal adviser with the Northern Ireland Office, she joined the Office of the Legislative Counsel, the office responsible for drafting bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly. She was appointed to lead the office as First Legislative Counsel in 2012. Between 1997 and 1998 she served as a legal adviser at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Brenda has completed international leadership programmes at the US Federal Executive Office and at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

From 2017 to 2019 she was President of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel, working with lawyers and law officers across 92 jurisdictions to improve the quality of, and access to, legislation.

Brenda has over 25 years’ experience of advising on and drafting primary legislation for Northern Ireland and other jurisdictions and providing advice to Ministers and political parties on complex constitutional and administrative law issues, particularly those relating to the Northern Ireland peace process and devolution settlement.

Jean DyerAnguilla

Jean is a graduate of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus and Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad & Tobago where she obtained a Bachelor of Laws Degree (with honours) and Legal Education Certificate respectively. Jean pursued further legal studies in commercial law at the University of Cambridge on a Prince of Wales (Cable & Wireless) Cambridge Chevening Scholarship. In 2001 she was awarded the Master of Law Degree. The subjects read there include Advanced Trusts, Commercial Insurance Law and International Commercial Tax.

Jean’s legal career started in 2003 as a Crown Counsel in the Attorney General’s Chambers in Montserrat where she prosecuted and litigated before the High Court and Court of Appeal. She also served as the Acting Registrar of Lands in Montserrat from 2003 to 2005. Jean moved to Anguilla in 2006 and joined the leading law firm Keithley Lake & Associates and was admitted to Partnership in 2013.

In January 2018, Jean left the former firm of Keithley Lake & Associates to establish her own practice, JM Dyer & Co. Jean practices before the High Court, Court of Appeal and The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and has been involved in several high value claims involving multi-jurisdictional litigation. She has extensive experience in obtaining interim relief (such as injunctions, disclosure orders, and the appointment of receivers) in support of substantive claims. Jean also has extensive experience in judicial review and administrative law claims. The distinction with which she has served her clients resulted in her being ranked by Chambers & Partners in its Global Guide from 2017 to present. According to Chambers & Partners in its 2022 Global Guide: “[Jean] is notably active appearing before the OECS courts in litigation cases, with further experience of arbitration and mediation. She demonstrates a full understanding of her craft, grasps the issues and asks the appropriate questions. She is very organized and focused and dependable and decisive as well.” In addition to contentious matters, Jean also has extensive experience representing clients in real estate transactions, offshore trusts and financial services, probate and administration of estates, family law and Government relations matters.

Jean has also been appointed to act as a Master and High Court Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

Jean has a keen interest in Continuing Legal Education and has served as the Coordinator of the OECS Bar Association’s Annual Regional Law Conference from 2013 to date. She currently serves as the President of the OECS Bar Association and served as its Treasurer from 2010 to 2020. Jean served as the President of the Anguilla Bar Association from 2015 to March 2019. She is a former President of the Anguilla Financial Services Association. She is also a Certified Arbitrator and a Notary Public.

EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES, Cave Hill, Barbados – 2000 Bachelor of Laws Degree with Honours

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE – 2001 Master of Laws Degree (Commercial Law)

HUGH WOODING LAW SCHOOL – 2003 Legal Education Certificate

BAR ADMISSIONS
Montserrat – 2003
Anguilla – 2006
Saint Christopher & Nevis – 2007
Grenada – 2008
Antigua & Barbuda- 2009
British Virgin Islands -2015

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
President, OECS Bar Association
Past President, Anguilla Bar Association
Executive Member (and Past President) of Anguilla Financial Services Association
Member, St. Kitts & Nevis Bar Association
Member, Montserrat Bar Association
Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Jean can be reached via email at jean@jmdyerlaw.com.

Hugh Mercer KCEngland

Hugh was educated at Cambridge University and the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium. He practises in London, Belfast and Brussels (where he is qualified as an Avocat). He is a Bencher of Middle Temple and a Deputy High Court Judge assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division and Administrative Court in London.

Hugh specialises in litigation involving issues of public/constitutional and regulatory law, often combined with international law or EU law, before courts and arbitral tribunals in the UK (including the Supreme Court and Privy Council), the CJEU and, working as a team with local advocates, in overseas, including Commonwealth, states.

He sits increasingly as an arbitrator and mediator. He is on the reserve list of UK arbitrators under the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement. He handles cases in both English and French and has a good working knowledge of German, Spanish & Italian.

Christopher McPherson KCCanada

Christopher McPherson, KC is a senior prosecutor responsible for challenging, high-profile homicide cases. He has prosecuted more than 40 homicide cases.

Christopher has been a Governor of the Law Society of British Columbia since 2016 and is President for 2023. He is the first prosecutor to be President of the Law Society of BC. He is the Chair of the Executive Committee, Co-Chair of the Indigenous Engagement in Regulatory Matters Task Force and of the Truth and Reconciliation Advisory Committee. He is a member of the Finance and Audit Committee, the Litigation Committee, the Indemnity Committee, and the Mental Health Task Force.

He is a member of the International Association of Prosecutors and the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law. He formerly served as a director of the BC Crown Counsel Association, and was President and on the Executive of the New Westminster Bar Association.

His teaching and lecturing experience includes coach of the Western Canadian Criminal Moot Competition and UBC Burns Moot Competition, instructor at Continuing Legal Education of BC’s Winning Advocacy, lecturer with the National Judicial Institute, ongoing training with the Ministry of Justice and various law enforcement agencies, and presenter at the International Association of Prosecutors Conference.

Christopher is the first President of the Law Society of British Columbia who openly identifies as a member of LGBTQ+ community. Outside of work, he enjoys spending as much time as he can with his spouse, Kaya, and their 12-year-old whoodle, Tosu. He can often be found riding one of his many bicycles around town and whenever possible in far flung corners of the world.

Brigid Napier NIreland

Brigid Napier graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 1985 and joined her father in the family practice of Napier & Sons, a firm established by her grandfather in 1930.

She is currently a Director in Napier Solicitors and advises on all aspects of Personal and Corporate Insolvency and is regularly appointed as a Trustee in Bankruptcy or Liquidator in complex insolvencies.

Brigid was elected to the Council of the Law Society of Northern Ireland in 2017 and has since served as a member of several regulatory committees, including the Professional Conduct Committee and as Chair of the Professional liability Committee.

She is particularly proactive in promoting women in the law and was proud to take part in the Law Society’s mentoring programme.

Brigid was appointed President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland in November 2021 and is now the Senior Vice President.

Senator Hazel Thompson- AhyeTrinidad and Tobago

Senator Hazel Thompson-Ahye, attorney-at-law, mediator, child rights advocate and former school teacher graduated from The University of the West Indies (UWI) Barbados, with LLB Honours in 1980 and from the Council of Legal Education Hugh Wooding Law School with the Legal Education Certificate (LEC) in 1982, when she was given the honour of delivering the valedictory address on behalf of the graduating class. She holds an LL.M Degree with Merit in Family Law from the University of London and a Master of Science Degree in Restorative Practices from the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP) in Pennsylvania. She also holds a Certificate of Completion with Distinction in Gender and Development Studies from UWI, Barbados, a Certificate in Development, Law and Social Justice from the Graduate School of Development Studies Institute of Social Studies in the Hague and certificates in civil and family mediation skills, including a Certificate in Advanced Mediation Skills from Pepperdine University School of Law, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Malibu, California. She was trained in facilitating restorative justice conferences by New Zealand Restorative Justice Network and the IIRP and is a licensed trainer in Introduction to Restorative Practices, Circles and Facilitating Restorative Conferences.

Senator Thompson-Ahye was a participant in the USIAD-International Visitor Programme, studying- Equal Opportunity and Legal Protection For Women: The U.S. Experience, and in 2001, was a special guest of the British Government at the first World Women Lawyers Conference in London, following which she was invited to tea at the House of Lords by Baroness Vivien Stern. She has had consultancies with UNICEF, Caribbean Examinations Council., the Inter- American Commission on Human Rights, USAID, the National Centre for State Courts, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and other agencies.

She was a member of Mausica Teachers College Alumni Folk Choir and a Board member of many organizations, including Cathedral Credit Union, UWI Credit Union, Trincity Residents’ Association, St. Dominic’s Children’s Home, Legal Aid and Advisory Authority, Police Complaints Authority and was Deputy Director of the Children’s Authority. She established the Legal Advice Clinic at her parish church and the Hugh Wooding Law School Legal Aid Clinic Mediation Centre.

Senator Thompson- Ahye once won the staff calypso competition at Hugh Wooding Law School, singing, Ah Reconstructing Masculinity, composed in honour of former Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UWI Cave Hill, Eudine Barriteau. In 1999, she received a standing ovation at Royal Holloway Hall of London University, singing Prisoners are People Too” at Penal Reform International World Conference. She brought the house down at the Lawyers under Lights concert, singing Now for Now Court, a clever ditty on policies of then newly- appointed Trinidad and Tobago Chief Justice Michael de La Bastide.

She was Director of the Hugh Wooding Law School Legal Aid Clinic for 14 years, Senior Tutor at the Eugene Dupuch Law School in The Bahamas for 10 years, Course Director in Probate Practice and Procedure in 2017- 2018 and in Family Law from 2018/2019 at Hugh Wooding Law School. In 2012, she received an award from the Council of Legal Education for outstanding service to the Council and an Award of Appreciation from the 2013 EDLS graduating class for years of dedication and devotion to students. In September 2018, she was awarded the Hummingbird Medal Gold for loyal and devoted service to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in the sphere of Public Service and Youth Development and in November 2018, she was appointed an Independent Senator. She is a Vice-President of the International Society of Family Law (ISFL) and in 2022, was awarded a gold medal for exceptional service to the ISFL.

She has presented papers and conducted training in family law and child rights, particularly, child justice, at local, regional and international conferences and seminars and has published widely in her areas of interest. She is the author of the popular Q&A Book: Women and Family Law and Related Issues, which answers 229 questions on marriage, divorce and separation, maintenance for spouses and children, matrimonial property, paternity, custody and access, adoption, domestic violence, cohabitation, mediation, succession and maternity protection. She practises law at Hazel Thompson- Ahye &Associates in Port of Spain, runs Epiphany Consultancy Services Limited and is the founder and chairperson of the NGO, Child Rights and Restorative Justice Organization, which organized the ISFL Caribbean Regional Conference in Tobago in December 2022. She is married, mother of two daughters and doting grandmother of twin boys.

Sharon TamHong Kong

Sharon Tam is a Senior Associate of Mayer Brown's real estate division. She has advised multinational and local private equity funds and developers in numerous significant property transactions by way of share deals in Hong Kong. Alongside, she has worked on sizeable conveyancing projects and real estate financing transactions. She is an arbitrator of Guangzhou Arbitration Commission and Dongguan Arbitration Commission.

Sharon is devoted to the rule of law education and developing the next generation. She assumes various leading positions within and outside the Law Society of Hong Kong, including Chairlady of Greater China Legal Affairs Young Solicitors' Sub-Committee, Chairlady of the Organising Committee of Teen Talk, the Law Society's annual flagship event focusing on youth, as well as Vice-Chairlady of Y Legalites, a young lawyers' platform. She also serves as a member of All-China Youth Federation, the Hong Kong Government's Election Committee and the Steering Committee on Rule of Law Education led by the Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong.

In 2022, she has passed the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Legal Professional Examination. During the year, she was awarded with LexisNexis® 40 UNDER 40, which is an exclusive industry recognition that selects 40 young professionals who are 40 years old or younger and show tremendous potential to grow and motivation to lead the development of the legal sector in Greater China as well as the Outstanding Person Award 2022 by “The Outstanding Persons” Magazine.

Nadia ChiesaCanada

Nadia Chiesa specializes in commercial litigation and multi-jurisdictional disputes in Canada and the Caribbean.

Nadia is Chair of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group at WeirFoulds LLP and sits on the firm’s Management Committee. She focuses on multi-jurisdictional litigation involving complex corporate and commercial disputes in various jurisdictions including the Eastern Caribbean, Central America and the US. She has appeared before the Caribbean Court of Justice, and frequently represents clients at all levels of Court in Ontario as well as the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal.

Nadia advises clients on commercial disputes involving shareholder rights and director’s duties, urgent injunctive relief, the registration and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards, and offshore trusts and estates matters. She assists clients with anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and regulatory compliance issues, including extra-territorial freeze orders pursuant to anti-money laundering legislation, MLAT enforcement, treaty rights and obligations in these areas, and general due diligence relating to offshore banking and trusts requirements.

With a keen interest in Constitutional litigation, Nadia has successfully acted in precedent-setting challenges to the anti-LGBT laws in St. Kitts and Nevis, and Antigua and Barbuda. She spearheads WeirFoulds’ pro bono human rights litigation initiative in the Caribbean which contemplates Constitutional challenges to current legislation offending fundamental rights in international law.

Nadia is called to the bar in Ontario, as well as St. Kitts and Nevis, BVI and Belize.

Pratibha Jain

Ms. Pratibha Jain is the Head of Strategy and Group General Counsel at Everstone Group. Prior to Everstone, Pratibha was a Partner at Nishith Desai Associates where she founded their New Delhi office and lead their Funds and Regulatory practice.

She’s an alumnus of Harvard Law School, Oxford University and Delhi University. She brings with her a breadth of international and Indian experience having worked with Sullivan & Cromwell in New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong, with Skadden Arps Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP in Hong Kong and Goldman Sachs in Mumbai.

She has worked on some of the most challenging projects in financial services and regulatory sector globally and in India, including representing Ministry of Finance in setting up of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund and designing USD 1.3 billion special ‘window for funding stalled affordable and middle income housing projects’ as an AIF fund, listing of companies on US exchanges, representing private equity investors in some of the biggest investments into India such as Mubadala’s investment in Reliance Jio and reliance Ventures, Softbank’s in its investment of USD 1.4 billion in PayTM, representing investors for facilitating listing of stock exchanges in India including BSE and IEX, representing investors in investigations by the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation and Reserve Bank of India.

She enjoys working and writing on public policy issues and is regularly quoted in news on various public policy issues.

She sits on various important committees including IVCA Executive Committee, FICCI Capital Markets Committee and CII Financial Markets Committee and co-heads the IVCA Regulatory Committee.

She is a Fellow of the Seventh Generation Class of Ananta Aspen’s Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellowship and member of Aspen Global Leadership Network. She received the “Woman Lawyer of the Year Award 2019” by Business World magazine. Recently, she has been recognized as a Top Individual Lawyer by Forbes Legal Power list 2020.

David McQuoid- MasonSouth Africa

• Professor David J McQuoid-Mason, B Comm (Natal) LLB (Natal) LLM (London) PhD (Natal), is a Professor of Law based at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban and President of the Commonwealth Legal Education Association.
• He has published more than 350 articles in law and medical journals, contributed more than 70 chapters to books, and co-authored 30 books and manuals in the medical and nursing field, including: The Guide to Forensic Medicine and Medical Law (1999), Introduction to Medico-Legal Practice (2001); Bioethics, Human Rights and Health Law: Principles and Practice (2011); an A-Z of Nursing Law 2 ed (2011); an A-Z of Medical Law (2011); and Crimes against Women and Children: A Medico-Legal Guide 2 ed (2012); Bioethics, Human Rights and Health Law: Principles and Practice 2 ed (2020).
• He also writes for the volumes of the Law of South Africa on Medical Professions and Practice, Public Health and Mental Health Law, and is a regular contributor to the South African Medical Journal and the South African Journal of Bioethics and Law.
• He has delivered over 300 papers at national and international law and medical conferences, and runs frequent workshops on human rights and democracy for school teachers, community leaders, youth leaders, women's groups, trade unions, university students and school children, as well as medical law and ethics workshops for the medical and nursing professions. He has visited over 132 countries.
• He is a former member of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) Ethics and Human Rights Committee.

Major Navdeep SinghIndia

Navdeep Singh is a practising lawyer at the Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, India. He is the founder President of the Armed Forces Tribunal Bar Association at Chandigarh. Navdeep has been a volunteer-reservist with the Territorial Army in the rank of Major in the past. He has been decorated with a record number of 11 commendations from the Army, Air Force and tri-service institutions for his work for the military community and veterans and other issues confronting the defence services. Besides constitutional and civil & military service matters, he has enthusiastically worked in the fields of rights of disabled soldiers, military widows & kin and for civil & military pensioners. He has worked for reforms in military justice and improvement of tribunals. He has also dealt with litigation on tribunalisation till the Supreme Court of India. Based on the sentiment expressed by the Prime Minister of India for curbing unnecessary litigation initiated by the Ministry of Defence against its employees and former employees, he was made a part (gratis) of a High-Level Committee of Experts constituted by the then Defence Minister for reducing such litigation by the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Services in legal, service and pension-related matters, and to strengthen the system of redressal of grievances. He has attended and spoken at multiple international and national level seminars, conferences and meets. He was a part of the historic Yale Draft (Principles) on Military Justice, an improvement of the existing United Nations document on the same subject, at a meet at the Yale Law School attended by global jurists and representatives of the United Nations. He regularly contributes opinion pieces and articles on law, military-related issues and public policy to newspapers and other media. He has authored five books, the latest being an international release- March to Justice: Global Military Law Landmarks. He is also a member of the International Society of Military Law and the Law of War, Brussels. He was recently instituted as an International Fellow of the National Institute of Military Justice, Washington DC. He is part of a five-member advisory committee on military justice recently constituted under the aegis of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Oyinkansola Badejo-OkusanyaNigeria

Oyinkan is a Partner at ALP NG & Co (Africa Law Practice) and co-head of its Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice. A barrister and ADR practitioner with specialisation and considerable experience in domestic and international commercial arbitration, she represents private, corporate and state clients on a broad range of commercial transactions before trial and appellate courts in Nigeria.

Oyinkan’s legal practice actively encourages alternative dispute resolution and she has acted as counsel in arbitral proceedings and successfully mediated several disputes. She is active in the Nigerian arbitration community, having served on the Executive Committee of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria Branch) and as member of the Reform of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act Committee and the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER) Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Working Group. She has also been on the board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration since 2015.

Oyinkan served as General Counsel to the Governor of Lagos State, Nigeria from 2011-2015 and Senior Aide in Justice Sector Reform in the Attorney-General’s office from 2007-2011 where she worked on, amongst others, justice and public-sector policy and reform, public-private partnerships, arbitration legislation and leading product liability and consumer protection actions.

Prior to that, she cut her advocacy teeth at Olaniwun Ajayi LP, another leading commercial law firm in Nigeria. She is an Accredited CeDR Mediator; a member of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA); Arbitral Women; Commonwealth Lawyers Association and the Nigerian and International Bar Associations, respectively; and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb).

A much sought-after resource on Litigation and ADR, Oyinkan’s areas of interest include Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment Law, Public Sector policy and regulatory compliance.

Rajeev AmarasuriyaSri Lanka

Rajeev Amarasuriya is the Immediate Past Secretary of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and has an extensive Appellate Court practice in the areas of Public Law and most branches of Civil Litigation.

He is a Board / Committee Member of several State and Private Sector Institutions including the Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board, the Standing Committee of Legal Studies of the University Grants Commission, the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, the Sri Lanka National Arbitration Centre and Sri Lanka Cricket. He is also an Executive Committee Member of the Law Association for Asia and the Pacific (LAWASIA).

He has been a Commission Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka, a Member of the Council of Legal Education of Sri Lanka and the President of the Alumni Association of the University of Colombo.

He holds a Degree in Law from the University of Colombo, is an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka having topped the Final Bar Examination, is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK), a Chartered Global Management Accountant, a Fellow Member of the Institute of Certified Management Accounts of Sri Lanka and is an Alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School (Executive Education). He is also reading for an M.Phil in Constitutional Law at the University of Colombo. In April 2022, he was conferred as an AFGG – Raisina Fellow.

He is also a recipient of the CIMA Star Gold Award for the Most outstanding CIMA Member below the age of 40 years and was named as a CIMA – LMD Trailblazer in 2021.

Mr Justice Graeme MewCanada

The Honourable Mr Justice GRAEME MEW was appointed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in December 2013. Prior to his appointment, he practised as an advocate, arbitrator and mediator in Toronto with Clyde & Co, and in London as a member of Chambers at Four New Square. He was a member of the Bars of England & Wales (Middle Temple, 1982), Ontario (1987) and British Columbia (2010). His practice concentrated on civil litigation, insurance law, commerical arbitration and mediation, and sports disputes. He is the author of The Law of Limitations, (LexisNexis). He has been a judicial and appeals officer for World Rugby since 2001 and was a member the ad hoc panels of the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 (New Delhi) and the Olympic Games in 2012 (London). He was President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association from 2005-7, a director of the Ontario Superior Court Judges’ Association from 2016-2022 and became a Regional Vice-President of the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association in 2022. He is a sessional instructor at the Faculty of Law at Queen’s University, Kingston. Justice Mew is a Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.

Michael RobinsonN Ireland

Michael Robinson is a Solicitor Advocate and Senior Partner in CMG Cunningham Dickey, Solicitors, Belfast.

Having been admitted to practice as a Solicitor in Northern Ireland in 1984, Michael is also qualified to practice as a Solicitor in England & Wales and the Republic of Ireland.

Michael was elected, by his professional colleagues, as a Council Member of the Law Society of Northern Ireland (LSNI) in 2005. He has, without break, been continuously re-elected, since then, to serve on LSNI Council, most recently in November 2022, for a further 3-year term. In 2011/2012 he was Junior Vice-President of the Law Society, President in 2012/2013 and Senior Vice-president in 2013/2014. In his Presidential roles and, as an LSNI Council member he has served on and chaired a wide range of LSNI Committees, covering broad areas of legal practice and regulatory activities of the Law Society. He has chaired, and continues to sit on LSNI Client Complaints Committee, the main public/client facing Law Society regulatory committee.

In 2014 Michael was a member of the Queen’s Counsel selection panel.

Michael has a strong interest in judicial appointments and, from 2009 to 2015 engaged and liaised closely with the independent Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission (NIJAC) both, on behalf of the LSNI, in the context of his Chairmanship of LSNI Human Rights and Equality Committee and later, as the LSNI designated member of the Judicial Appointments Liaison Committee. In 2015 he sat on the NIJAC Flexible Working Group to review and make recommendations on the opportunity for Judicial Office holders to work part-time and with increased flexibility in working hours. The Group succeeded in making recommendations designed to make judicial posts more attractive to a broader and more diverse range of the potential applicant pool and, to those already in office.

In 2017/2018, following consultation with LSNI and competitive application, he was nominated by LSNI and, subsequently formally appointed as a Legal Commissioner to NIJAC. In this role, in addition to his other responsibilities as an appointed Commissioner, he has chaired the NIJAC Policy Committee. In November 2022, following the expiry of his fixed term appointment, Michael was nominated by LSNI for a second term of appointment as a Legal Commissioner to NIJAC. He currently awaits the formalisation of that appointment.

During the period 2016/2021 Michael was Head of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Council of the Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), which was an interesting, and challenging position to hold, in representation of the United Kingdom Legal Professions, at a time of intense negotiations in relation to the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, otherwise known as “Brexit”. Michael continues to serve as a member of the Delegation

Luke MurphyAustralia

Luke Murphy has been a legal practitioner for more than 30 years and an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injuries since 1998. He is a partner of MurphySchmidt Solicitors and practices in the area of Plaintiff Accident Compensation.

Luke joined the Law Council of Australia as a director in 2020, the executive of the Law Council in 2021 and has now been elected President-Elect in November 2021. Luke is the Queensland Law Society’s member of the Law Council’s Personal Injuries and Compensation Group of the Legal Practice Section. He served as President of Queensland Law Society (QLS) in 2020 and has been an integral member of Queensland Law Society’s policy committees for over two decades.

He is the Deputy Chair of QLS’ Tort Law/Accident Compensation Committee, and has served on QLS Council, QLS Executive and QLS’ Finance and Risk Committee. He has also served on QLS’ Specialist Accreditation Committee, QLS’ CPD Committee, QLS’ Practice Management Committee and QLS’ Personal Injuries Conference Committees.

For many years, Luke has been actively involved in liaising on behalf of QLS with State Government departments and statutory bodies and represented QLS at numerous Parliament Committee hearings. In 2016 he was appointed by the Office of Industrial Relations as one of six members of the Section 193A Review Panel under the Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003.

Nesha AbirajTrinidad and Tobago

Nesha Abiraj is an International Human Rights Lawyer. She is a member of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association. She currently serves as an Ambassador to Island States and Coastal Regions on climate justice and human rights. She also works with Stop Ecocide International an organization seeking to make ecocide, which is broadly understood to mean, largescale and systematic destruction of nature, the 5th International Crime against Peace. She previously worked with Human Rights Watch, Save the Children and continues to serve as a Lead Advocate for UNICEF USA on international humanitarian response relating to key poverty focused issues impacting the lives of children living in humanitarian and developmental settings including conflict zones.

Nesha also serves as a member of the US National Coalition to end early, forced and child marriages and is a US Advisory Board Member to Sahiyo, an NGO dedicated to ending the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). She is also a Climate Reality Leader trained under the former Vice President of the United States, Mr. Al Gore.

Nesha became the first Trinidad & Tobago National to be awarded the Schuette Fellowship in Global Health and Human Rights. She has worked on international human rights policies related to the promotion and protection of the rights of women, children, migrants, the environment and global health and human rights. Notably she worked on infectious diseases law and policy in India, China and the United States. In the last 2 years she worked on 5 successful human rights campaigns which resulted in child marriage being banned in 5 US States including New York and Massachusetts.

She was also the first National of Trinidad and Tobago to be awarded the Citation of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for her tireless work to protect children from early, forced and child marriages. She has also done over a decade of humanitarian service in the aftermath of natural disasters and recently in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Commonwealth Caribbean & the US. She is also the recipient of the Pen America, Pen Toni & James C. Goodale, Free Expression Courage Award.

Ann Malata-OnonujuZambia

Ann Malata-Ononuju is currently serving as the Director and CEO of the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education (ZIALE), a statutory body established by an Act of the Zambian Parliament to provide national, regional and international post-graduate legal studies and training in Legislative Drafting. The flagship programme is the Legal Practitioners Qualifying Examination (LPQE) Course which is for university law graduates wishing to be admitted to the Zambian Bar. The Institute is further mandated to create and offer quality practical legal education to both legal and non-legal professionals in Zambia and across the region in the form of short CPD training programmes. She is the holder of a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Zambia and is a qualified lawyer and an advocate of the High Court for Zambia. She is a Chevening Alumni and holds a Master’s Degree in International Human Rights Law (LLM) obtained from the University of Essex, UK. Ann has a passion for both the Rule of Law and Education and holds Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) from the UK. With her certification in Mediation, she not only contributes positively towards the growth and practice of ADR in Zambia, but is passionate about ingraining Mediation in the training of lawyers at ZIALE. Mrs. Malata-Ononuju is currently the Chairperson of the Board for the Zambia Qualification Authority and is a member of the Law Association of Zambia’s Legal Practitioners’ Committee.

Professor (Dr.) S. SivakumarIndia

Prof. (Dr.) Sivakumar is a Senior Professor at the Indian Law Institute (ILI), New Delhi. His academic and research contributions in thelegal domain demonstrate his passion to the profession. He was the Full Time Member, 21st Law Commission of India (September 28, 2016 to August 31, 2018). As an able administrator, he has officiated as the Director of ILI for two terms from 2011 to 2013; and January 2009 to July 2009. He is the recipient of National Law Award 2008 for his contributions of legal education reform activities from the then Prime Minister, Shri Manmohan Singh. His specializations include Constitutional and Administrative Law, Media Law, Criminal Justice, Human Rights, IPR, ADR, and Clinical Legal Education.He is an active and meticulous member of the IQAC, Indian Law Institute, New Delhi. He is currently serving as the Vice-President, Commonwealth Legal Education (CLEA), President, Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA-Asia), and Chairman, Menon Institute of Legal Advocacy and Training (MILAT).

Prof. Sivakumar has completed his Ph.D. in Free Press, Journalism and Law and revived Doctor Honoris Causa in Law and Mass Communication in 2016. He has authored several books and research papers published by international publishers. He has authored the books, Broadcasting Reproduction right in India: Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Issues, (Indian Law Institute, 2013), Press Law and Journalists: Watch Dog to Guide Dog (Universal Law Publishers / LexisNexis, 2015), and Article 21: The Code of Life, Liberty and Dignity in Indian Constitution (Thomson Reuters 2020). As socially conscious individual, he has published in 2022 Law Commission of India on Criminal Justice System -first published copy presented officially to the Hon’ble Mr. JagdeepDhankar, Vice President of India. Apart from his excellence in academic ventures, he has always volunteered social reformation activities and has pioneered several research oriented multi-disciplinary programmes for judges, lawyers, journalists, law teachers, media persons, cyber cell officers, farmers, police etc.

As an able administrator, he has officiated as the Director of ILI for two terms (August 2011 to July 2013; and January 2009 to July 2009).He has also acted as the Coordinator, Director and Secretary of number of workshops, seminars, trainings, discussions, Lectures etc. He is currently the Honorary Administrator for Prof N R Madhava Menon Global Jural Conclave, Law Students Conference and Judges Colloquium from 2014 onwards, held annually at Lloyd Law College, Greater Noida.

As the Project Director, he is undertaking an ongoing research project on ‘Police System India Series’, to be published in book by Thomson Reuters with state-wise volumes for all the States and Union Territories as well as the central police organizations.

Benedict DauduNigeria

Benedict Daudu Esq (Senior Associate at JB Daudu & Co ‘NIGERIA’) is a practicing attorney in Nigeria, and an alumnus of the George Washington University Law School. From his professional, personal, and academic experiences, he possesses an in-depth understanding and practical experience with key policy issues, like Election Laws, Human Rights, Rule of Law, Cybercrime and with the political system and socio-cultural realities of Western African nations, like Nigeria. Benedict specializes in Commercial, Cybercrime, Civil fraud and Constitutional cases in Nigeria. Benedict acts for high Net- worth and high-profile individuals as well as Corporations.

Elizabeth Speller It’s A PenaltyEngland

Elizabeth is Advocacy Director for It’s a Penalty, a UK-based NGO with a global impact that harnesses the power of sport to end abuse, exploitation and human trafficking worldwide. Passionate about protecting human and civil rights, prevention of violence, and gender justice issues, Elizabeth first joined It’s a Penalty in 2016, following her graduation from the University of Manchester with a degree in Politics & Modern History. In her current role as Advocacy Director, Elizabeth leads It’s a Penalty’s CommonProtect programme, focused on improving child protection from sexual exploitation and abuse in the Commonwealth, and oversees the implementation of It’s a Penalty’s awareness-raising campaigns during major sporting events, including the current campaign ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Most recently in 2022, Elizabeth led the production of the CommonProtect report: a review of the legal systems protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse across 21 countries of the Commonwealth.

The Honourable Justice Rhonda Bain (Ret.) O.B.The Bahamas

Justice Rhonda Bain (Ret.) is a 1974 graduate of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados and the Norman Manley Law School, Mona, Jamaica in 1976.

In 1984 Justice Bain obtained a LL.M., in Legislative Drafting from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados. Justice Bain served as a legislative drafter in the Office of the Attorney General from 1976 until May 1983 when she went into private practice.

Justice Bain worked in the private sector at Christie Ingraham & Co., and in her own practice until 1996. Justice Bain returned to the public sector in 1996 as Deputy Director of Legal Affairs and Director of Legal Affairs, a post she held until March 2005.

From 2005 to 2008 Justice Bain served as Vice President at Baha Mar Resorts Limited, a development company.

In August 2009 Justice Bain was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court. Justice Bain retired as a Justice of the Supreme Court in 2018.

As a Justice of the Supreme Court Justice Bain served as a Chairman of the Disciplinary Tribunal established under the Legal Professions Act. Justice Bain currently serves as Chairperson of the Ethics Committee of The Bahamas Bar Association, dealing with complaints against attorneys.

From September 2019 to October 2021 Justice Bain served as a consultant with the Ministry of Finance assisting with the drafting of legislation for the reform of financial management in the public sector in The Bahamas.

From 2006 to the present Justice Bain has served as an Associate Course Director and Tutor at the Eugene Dupuch Law School, The Bahamas, where she lectures the course Legal Drafting and Interpretation.

In November 2109 Justice Bain was awarded the National Honour of Officer of Order of The Bahamas.

Linda KasondeZambia

Linda Kasonde is a legal practitioner and civil rights activist based in Lusaka, Zambia. Ms. Kasonde was admitted to the Zambian Bar in 2001. Linda is the current Vice-President for Africa of the Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association. In April 2016 she was elected the first ever female President of the Law Association of Zambia, a position that she held until April 2018. Linda obtained an LLB Law Degree from the University of Leicester in England in 2000 and an LLM Law Degree from the University of Cape Town.

Ms. Kasonde is a 2017 recipient of the IE University’s Extraordinary People Inspiring the IE Community (EPIC) Award in the ‘Women Inspiring Women’ category. In December 2016, the prestigious The Africa Report named her as one of the people to watch out for in 2017 in Southern Africa. Also, in December 2016, she was awarded the Zambia Society for Public Administration’s Justice Irene Chirwa Mambilima Distinguished Award in recognition of her contribution to the advancement of public service excellence in Zambia. She is now the Executive director of a Zambian NGO called Chapter One Foundation limited and the founder of the law firm LCK Chambers.

Hubert Lai KC

Hubert obtained his law degree from Queen’s University. He articled in Vancouver with the intellectual property law firm of Barrigar & Oyen (now known as Oyen Wiggs Green & Mutala LLP), and practised law with the national firm of Fraser & Beatty (now known as Dentons Canada LLP).

Hubert was appointed as University Counsel at the University of British Columbia in 2001. At the time, he was the youngest person to have ever served in such a capacity at a major Canadian university. As well, from 2006 to 2007, he simultaneously served as the University’s Associate Vice President, Government Relations. Since 2007, he has served as a member of the University Executive. In 2012, he was appointed as Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. In 2022, he was named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada by Canadian Lawyer Magazine.

Hubert has been involved in a number of organizations, both related and unrelated to the University. He currently serves as a director and as a member of the Management Committee of the Hong Kong Foundation for UBC Ltd., as a director of Asia Pacific Regional Office Ltd and as a founding director of the National GC Network. He co-chaired the national conference of the Canadian Association of University Solicitors in 2017 and co-chaired the inaugural conference of the National GC Network in 2022.

Previously, Hubert has served as a member of the British Columbia Advisory Council, convened to advise the federal Secretary of State for Western Economic Diversification, as a director and a member of the LIST Foundation, as a founding officer of Webnames.ca Inc., as a founding director and officer of Paragon Testing Enterprises Inc., as an officer of the Cedar Lodge Society, as the President of the Vancouver Branch of the Queen’s University Alumni Association, as a founding director of entrepeneurship@UBC Management Inc. and entrepreneurship@UBC Ventures (VCC) Inc., and as a director and officer of UBC Research Enterprises Inc.

Lady Justice ABHA PATEL, S.C. FCIArbZambia

• Abha Patel, nee Nayar, migrated to Zambia from New Delhi, India, in May 1973 where she lives to date. She pursued her studies in Zambia and graduated from Law School of the University of Zambia in 1987, with a distinction in the LLB program, and proceeded to study for the Zambian Bar which she successfully concluded in 1988.
• She then proceeded to read for the Master of Law (LLM) degree at the University of Cambridge on a scholarship awarded by the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust. She completed her Masters in 1989.
• Upon her return, she was admitted to the Zambian Bar and practiced law for a period of almost 30 years until she was appointed to the position of High Court Judge, the first appointment of a non-Zambian woman of Indian origin, to this position since Zambia gained the independence in 1964.
• Justice Patel, is Judge In Charge of the Commercial Division, at Kitwe High Court appointed to the Zambian Bench, in March 2019. She is also admitted to the Roll of Solicitors of the Supreme Court of England & Wales.
• She was conferred with the rank and status of State Counsel (the equivalent of Queens Counsel) in 2016, making her, at the time, only the third female advocate, and the first woman of Indian Origin to achieve this recognition. She was a prominent member of the Zambian Bar, and was one of the first members of the Bar to be trained in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
• She is a qualified Mediator, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK, and an approved Tutor for the Institute, and is registered on the Approved Faculty List of the Institute.
• She serves as an Accredited Mediator, of the Global Mediation Panel for the Mediation Unit of the Office of the Ombudsman for United Nations Funds & Programmes, making her the fist appointee for Zambia.
• In December 2018, as part of a fund-raising venture for charity, she climbed and summited Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain in the World, achieving a summit height of 5,895 metres (19,341 feet) ASL.
• Abha is fluent in English, hindi and gujarati and maintains strong cultural ties with family and friends in India

Sir Robert Francis KCEngland

Sir Robert Francis KC was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 1973. He has practised at Serjeants’ Inn Chambers in London since the start of his career, specialising in medical law, including medical and mental health treatment and capacity issues, clinical negligence and professional discipline. Sir Robert took silk in 1992 and has sat as a Deputy High Court Judge. He has appeared in a number of healthcare-related inquiries and chaired the Independent Inquiry into the care provided by the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, and subsequently the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry, and the Freedom to Speak Up review. Sir Robert was knighted in 2014 for services to healthcare and patients and from 2018 to 2022 he served as Chair of Healthwatch England. Sir Robert is the Treasurer (President) of The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple in 2023. The Inner Temple is one of the is one of the four Inns of Court in England and Wales – each not-for-profit, unincorporated professional membership associations for Bar students, barristers and judges which have existed since the 14th Century. The Inner Temple’s core purpose is to provide high-quality legal education and training for the barrister profession.

The Rt Hon Lady PatonScotland

Lady Paton was appointed as Chair of the Scottish Law Commission with effect from 1 January 2019.

Lady Paton serves as Chair on a part-time basis, for 60% of her time; and otherwise serves as a Senator of the College of Justice for the remaining 40%. Lady Paton is an appeal court judge in Scotland. Having graduated MA LLB in 1974, she became an advocate at the Scottish Bar in 1977, a QC in 1990, a judge in 2000, and an appeal court judge in 2007. She is experienced in both civil and criminal law, and prosecuted crime in the High Court as an advocate-depute (1992-1995). Lady Paton served on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (1995-1999) and the Parole Board (2003-2007). Her publications include Gloag & Henderson, Law of Scotland (8^th, 9^th and 10^th editions) and McEwan & Paton, Damages for Personal Injuries in Scotland (1^st and 2^nd editions).

Lady Paton is the lead Commissioner on the homicide project and the damages project.

Joanna Shireen SarkarIndia

Joanna Shireen Sarkar, is an Advocate of the High Court at Calcutta and has been practicing as a human rights lawyer specializing on anti human trafficking issues in West Bengal with focus on victim compensation, fair and proper investigation of trafficking cases, State accountability and perpetrator liability in such cases. In her professional capacity, Joanna has served as a legal consultant for various human rights organizations in the State such as International Justice Mission, Justice Ventures International, Tafteesh projects. Joanna also serves as a Board Member for various educational organizations as well.

One of her first legal publications was titled UMEED, which was a statistical analysis of 50 sex trafficking convictions across the State of West Bengal which highlighted patterns, demographics, good practices and suggestions in such cases. Along with authoring other law related publications, Joanna also writes on mental health and socio-political issues on platforms such Medium and Youth Ki Awaz.

She was also the 2022 recipient of the prestigious PEGASUS Scholarship awarded by the Inner Temple, London (United Kingdom) and successfully completed her placements across a number of law firms in the UK whilst honing her skillset in law and advocacy from matters in various Courts of England, including the Supreme Court.

Muddasir HossainBangladesh

Mohammed Muddasir Hossain is a Partner at Hossain & Khan Associates (H&K). He was called to Bar of England and Wales from the Hon’ble Society of Lincoln’s Inn in 2006 after graduating with LLB Hon's from University of London. He also obtained LLM from University of Toronto, Canada and a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal and Professional Skills from the City University, London. He is an experienced advocate, appearing regularly before the Supreme Court of Bangladesh (SCB). He is a member of Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association (BSCBA) and Barristers Association of Bangladesh (BAB).

Mohammed has over 15 years of experience in broad range of constitutional, corporate, and commercial practice in Bangladesh. He primarily focuses his practice on constitutional and commercial litigation, arbitration, sports-law, aviation, data protection regime and energy and telecommunication. As a constitutional litigator, he is a strong advocate and promoter of rule of law. He has always taken keen interest in the activities of CLA as it provides a global platform for members of legal fraternity worldwide to promote the concept of rule of law. Due to his keen interest in the activities of CLA, Mohammed participated:

• as a guest in the “CLA and Malaysian Bar Symposium on Constitutional Law” and the “International Malaysia Law Conference”, both held in 2018;
• as a speaker in the recorded conversations arranged by CLA, in collaboration with the Bar Council of England and Wales, on “What Impact is Covid-19 Having for the Administration of Justice in the Asia Pacific Region?”.
• in a CLA Webinar on "How the legal fraternity is grappling with the issues concerning Rule of Law during the pandemic?". He also arranged participation of Mr. Amin Uddin, President of BSCBA, who is currently the Attorney General of Bangladesh and ex-Officio Chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council.
• in the Commonwealth Law Conference 2021 as a speaker on “Public Interest Litigation”.

Other notable professional/organizational experiences of Mohammed include:

• Appointed as an Election Commissioner for the Board of Directors Election (2021) of Bangladesh Cricket Board, the regulatory body of cricket in Bangladesh.
• He is the Founder and Chairman of Bangladesh Lawyers Cricket Club and a member of the International Committee of Lawyers Cricket World Cup (LCWC). He has successfully arranged participation of Bangladeshi lawyers in LCWC held in (a) Australia in 2014-2015, (b) Sri Lanka in 2017, and (c) New Zealand in 2019.
• Appointed as a member of the Project Implementation Committee responsible for the construction of the Sheikh Hasina International Cricket Stadium.
• He represented various clients including the only Nuclear Power Plant Company in Bangladesh, national airline, national sports organization, private economic zone, power generating company, international law firms, an American multinational financial services corporation pioneering in payment innovation and technology, and various private/public listed companies.

Council Membership would provide Mohammed an opportunity to serve the Commonwealth by contributing to projects relating to rule of law, a field in which he specializes. If opportunity arise, he would also like to be actively involved in regional issues and promote events, meetings etc. of CLA within Bangladesh. As a regular practitioner of SCB and a former law lecturer in various institutions, Mohammed will endeavor to facilitate vibrant exchanges with various organizations in cooperation with CLA to drive improvements in legal educations. Being the son of a Former Chief Justice of Bangladesh, he is a second-generation lawyer and, if elected, he can use his professional experience and contacts to strengthen links between CLA and members of legal profession/organizations in Bangladesh.

Nick Vineall KC

Nick Vineall KC practises from 4 Pump Court in commercial, construction and financial services law, in litigation and in international arbitration. He has appeared at all levels of court in England, and in arbitration tribunals all over the world.

He is Chair of the Bar of England and Wales for 2023. He was previously Joint Head of Chambers at 4 Pump Court and sat as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Kings Bench Division including in the Commercial Court and Technology and Construction Court. He also sits as an arbitrator.

He chaired the Bar Council Education & Training Committee until 2021 and chaired its Regulatory Review Working Group in 2022.

Nick is a Bencher of Middle Temple. In 1994 he was Chair of the Young Bar.

Chikondi ChijoziMalawi

Chikondi Chijozi holds a Master of Laws in International Human Rights Law which she obtained in 2017 at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom. She also holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the Chancellor College, University of Malawi and has been practising law in Malawi for the past 8 years. She joined SALC in March 2020 and is responsible for the criminal justice program. She is based in the SALC Malawi Office. She is also a Commissioner of the Malawi Human Rights Commission. Before joining SALC she worked as the Deputy Executive Director and Litigation Manager for Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance (CHREAA). Chikondi has spearheaded many ground breaking judgements on criminal justice and equality in Malawi.

Charles Bagot KCEngland

Charles is a barrister and joint head of chambers at Gatehouse Chambers (formerly known as Hardwicke) in London. He was appointed as Queen’s Counsel in 2018 and his practice is in complex, sensitive and high value personal injury and clinical negligence litigation. He is the elected Chair of the Personal Injuries Bar Association for 2022-4. He also sits part-time as a Deputy High Court Judge and Recorder. He was formerly a panel chair of the Bar Disciplinary Tribunal. He is an accredited advocacy and ethics teacher for new practitioners through Inner Temple, of which he is a Governing Bencher.

Charles is highly rated for his forensic skills, strong negotiating and persuasive advocacy. His practice is in claims arising from catastrophic brain and psychiatric injuries, spinal fractures, amputations and fatalities. He is known for his expertise in cases involving allegations of exaggeration and dishonesty. He has been at the cutting edge of legal developments in the field of psychiatric injury/secondary victim litigation and fatal accident claims.

Charles is regularly instructed in international injury litigation often involving cross-border issues. He has advised major international insurers and Claimants/Plaintiffs in various high value injury and clinical negligence cases being litigated in, for instance, the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Gibraltar.

His UK litigated cases also often have an international dimension with recent instructions having crossborder issues involving a range of jurisdictions including the USA, the Caribbean, Brazil, India, Poland, France, Bulgaria and Belgium. He also has experience acting as an expert witness on UK law for foreign courts and as an accredited mediator.

Charles is on the Editorial Boards of both Kemp & Kemp: the Quantum of Damages and the Personal Injuries and Quantum Reports.

To find out more about Charles’ expertise and his recent cases,
visit his profile: Charles Bagot KC.

Judge Bubile G ShongaZambia

Lady Justice Bubile Shonga is a Judge of the High Court for Zambia, appointed in May, 2016. In December, 2018 she was appointed to serve as Zambia’s 1st Resident Judge and Judge in Charge of the Commercial Division sitting in the Kitwe District of the Copperbelt Province.

Judge Shonga practiced law for 20 years before joining the bench. Her legal career at the bar saw her serve as Assistant Director-Legal Services Department at Bank of Zambia, Zambia’s Central Bank; a founding partner of the renowned law firm Messrs. Sikaulu LM Legal Practitioners; the Regional General Counsel, Lafarge South- East Africa; Company Secretary, Lafarge Cement Zambia Plc; a Senior Associate at the distinguished law firms Messrs. Simeza Sangwa & Associates; Messrs. Chifumu Banda & Co. and Messrs. Corpus Legal Practitioners; and as a Tax Consultant of the well established audit firm Deloitte & Touché, as it then was.

Whilst at the bar, she was a member of the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ.) and the International Bar Association (IBA). As an active member of LAZ, she served on the LAZ Council as well as the Honorary Secretary of the Legal Practitioners Committee (Midlands.) In 2013, together with the then Vice-President of LAZ, Ms. Linda Kasonde, she pioneered and initiated the LAZ mentorship Program. She has been mentoring lawyers since then. Additionally, she has spoken at numerous law conferences regionally and internationally.

In December, 2018, Judge Shonga was elected as an Executive Member of the Zambia Association of Women Judges (ZAWJ), the Zambian Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges. In April, 2019, she was appointed Chairperson of the Education Committee of ZAWJ and is part of the ZAWJ Executive that has formalized a mentorship program within the Zambian judiciary. She is currently part of the team which is spearheading the drive against sextortion in the legal profession.

In November, 2021, Judge Shonga was appointed a Lead Trainer of Trainer’s for judicial officers in Zambia. In 2022 she was appointed to serve on the Chief Justice of Zambia’s Advisory Committee on Public Relations and Communication.

Aside the above, Judge Shonga is currently a mentor with When Females Lead (WFL). WFL is a network that aims to build ambitious, confident women who are incredibly passionate about achieving excellent careers and becoming leaders in society. Judge Shonga is particularly enthusiastic about using literature to sensitize communities about women’s rights and children’s rights as a tool for enhancing access to justice. Currently, she is empowering children, their caregivers and communities with child friendly body safety literature.

In March, 2022, she inspired a child body safety crusade after publishing and releasing two children’s books: Khwima’s ABC’s on Body Safety and Khwima’s Body Safety Crusade, that are aimed at empowering children with crucial life skills that may save them from sexual gender based violence (SGBV).

Lady Justice Shonga holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree from The University of Zambia and a Masters of Law Degree (International Commercial Transactions) from the University of Nottingham. She is a Commonwealth Scholar and the recipient of the WOZA Africa 2022 Women in law Director’s Choice Award.

Shyam-DivanIndia

Shyam Divan, senior advocate, practices before the Supreme Court of India. His areas of practice cover constitutional law and most branches of civil litigation including banking, securities law, arbitration, administrative law and environmental law.

He has appeared in several constitutional cases decided by the Supreme Court of India including Jindal Stainless Ltd. v. State of Haryana, (2017) 12 SCC 1; Abhiram Singh v. C. D. Commachen, (2017) 2 SCC 629; Justice K. S. Puttaswamy-I v. Union of India, (declaring privacy as a fundamental right) (2017) 10 SCC 1; Kalpana Mehta v. Union of India, 2018 (7) SCC 1; Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018) 10 SCC 1 (decriminalising homosexuality); Justice K. S. Puttaswamy-II v. Union of India, (a challenge to a biometric programme, ‘Aadhaar’) (2019) 1 SCC 1; Indore Development Authority v. Manohar Lal 2019 (14) SCALE 470 (recusal by a Supreme Court judge); Kantaru Rajeevaru v. Indian Young Lawyers Association (religious freedom) and Vivek Narayan Sharma v. Union (2023) (demonetization of currency).

Mr. Divan assists the Supreme Court as amicus curiae in the Bellary case involving illegal iron ore mining in the forests of Karnataka. He also appears for the states of Haryana and Karnataka in inter-state river water disputes.

He received the 2021 International Privacy Champion Award from the Electronic Privacy Information Centre for his role in a set of privacy protection cases.

He is the co-author of Environmental Law and Policy in India: Cases and Materials (3rd Ed, Oxford, 2022) and has authored chapters on Public Interest Litigation in the Oxford Handbook of the Indian Constitution (2016); Contours of EIA In India in Water and the Laws in India (2009, Sage); Fragments from a Manuscript in The Constitution at 67 (2017, Supreme Court of India); Civil Liberties and Biometrics in Dissent on Aadhaar (2019, Orient Blackswan) and The Constitution, Liberty and Privacy 11(1) JILS (Monsoon) 2020.

Mr. Divan is President-Elect of LAWASIA. He is Vice President, The Bar Association of India.

He is a trustee at the Independent Public Spirited Media Foundation, Bengaluru and member of the governing board of Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi.

Matt MoorheadAustralia

Matthew is an Australian lawyer. His current role is Legal Adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat, where he specialises in law and development. Commonwealth projects he has overseen include the Commonwealth Study on International Commercial Arbitration. His background is in multilateral development banks, including the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He has a law degree from the Australian National University, and a masters degree from New York University.

Sarah BelalPakistan

Sarah Belal is the Founder and Executive Director of Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), a legal action non-profit organization established in Lahore in December 2009. JPP represents the most vulnerable Pakistani prisoners facing the harshest punishments at home and abroad.

For over a decade, JPP has been a leading voice and thought-leader in Pakistan on behalf of individuals on death row, victims of police torture, and those who have been scooped up in the U.S. "War on Terror" and held beyond the rule of law. JPP conducts strategic litigation, and public and policy advocacy to challenge unjust laws and to create progressive legal precedents. JPP’s litigation aims to improve the rights of the mentally ill, restrict the application of the death penalty, and enforce the fundamental rights of prisoners.

In 2014, JPP secured the release of 42 Pakistani detainees from Bagram in Afghanistan through the Bagram petition in the Lahore High Court and the Bagram Campaign. Since the lifting of the moratorium in December 2014, JPP has secured stays of executions of several death row prisoners as well as successfully highlighted the issue of Pakistan’s use of the death penalty on the national and international stage. In 2021, JPP secured a landmark judgment from Pakistan’s Supreme Court that prohibits the execution of severely mentally ill prisoners.

JPP’s relentless advocacy on behalf of Pakistanis imprisoned abroad resulted in the repatriation of 44 Pakistani prisoners from Sri Lanka in November 2020 - the first repatriation in seven years under the bilateral prisoner transfer agreement signed by the two countries. In May 2022, JPP worked with the National Commission for Human Rights to secure the release of another 37 prisoners who had been repatriated from Sri Lanka under the agreement.

By providing technical assistance, capacity building government stakeholders on constitutional safeguards and international treaty obligations, and waging public awareness campaigns, JPP’s efforts culminated in the passage of a law criminalizing torture and custodial rape in line with Pakistan’s obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture in 2022.

In November 2022, JPP was bestowed the ‘Award for Defence’ by the organizers of the 8th World Congress Against the Death Penalty in recognition of it’s unwavering commitment in the fight for the abolition of the death penalty.

Sarah is also the recipient of the inaugural Franco-German Human Rights Prize in 2016, granted to only 16 human rights activists throughout the world. In Dec. 2016, she was also awarded the National Human Rights Prize by the Federal Ministry of Human Rights and presented by the President of Pakistan.

In 2013, Sarah won the prestigious Echoing Green Global Fellowship – making JPP the first Pakistani organization to be recognized in the fellowship’s history.

Sarah studied History at Smith College, Northampton. She completed her law degree from Oxford University in 2006. She qualified as a barrister after completing the Bar Vocational Course in 2007. She obtained her license to practice in Pakistan in 2008 and gained rights of audience in the High Court in 2008. Since 2009, she has been leading the team at Justice Project Pakistan.

Vijay HansariaIndia

Mr. Vijay Hansaria is a Senior Advocate in the Supreme Court of India and is a litigation advocate in the Supreme Court since 1980. He has argued a large number of cases in the Supreme Court specially on constitutional law, contractual dispute and service jurisprudence.

He has been appointed as Amicus Curiae by the Supreme Court in a large number of matters, which include speedy disposal of criminal cases against Members of Parliament and State Legislative Assembly; and timely appointment of judges in the subordinate judiciary.

Mr. Hansaria was a Member of National Legal Service Authority (NALSA), the apex statutory body for the legal aid, headed by the Chief Justice of India (2013-2015 and 2019-2021). He was part of the NALSA Committee for preparing the Training Manual for Legal Aid Lawyers.

He was the Vice President of the Supreme Court Bar Association for the year 2004-2005.

Mr. Hansaria is a known Constitutional author and has published a number of books, namely,
1. Writ Jurisdiction (3 Editions);
2. Chronicles of Indian Constitution (1st Edition);
3. Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (5 Editions); and
4. Juvenile Justice Act: Working Manual for Stakeholders (3 Editions). 

Large number of Articles written by him have been published in leading journals, including,
a. ‘Appointment of Supreme Court and High Court Judges : Need for a fresh look’ published in India’s leading law journal (2022) 8 SCC J-52’;
b. ‘Why appointing Supreme Court, High Court judges through closed door collegium’ published in India Today in February 2022; and
c. ‘Government bound to appoint judges on reiteration by Supreme Court collegium’ published in Live Law in February 2022.

He has been invited to deliver various lectures throughout India. Some of the recently delivered lectures are
1. ‘Sixth Schedule : Visionary Perspective of Meghalaya’ delivered at 1st N.M. Lahiri Memorial Law Lecture, Shillong, India on 12th November 2022;
2. ‘Election Ergonomics and Judicial Intervention’ delivered at Indian Law Institute - Assam Chapter at Gauhati High Court, India on 2nd September 2022;
3. ‘Judicial Independence: Perspective, Accountability and Challenges’ delivered at  Soudamini Patnaik Law Lecture, Orissa High Court, Cuttack, India on 21st March 2022; and
4. ‘Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India, autonomy and progress in perspective of Assam’ delivered at Diphu, Tribal Area in Assam, India on 14th November 2021.

Dr Srirak Plipat PhDAsia Pacific Director of the World Justice Project

Dr Srirak Plipat is the Asia Pacific Regional Director of the World Justice Project where he develops strategies to advance rules of law in the Asia Pacific by building strategic partnerships and facilitating platforms for advocacy and exchanges. Dr Plipat has more than 20 years’ experience in international law and policy on governance, justice and human rights. Recently, Dr Plipat was Executive Director of Freemuse where he led research and advocacy in over 20 countries for reform of policy and laws used to restrict fundamental rights in ways that are inconsistent with international human rights standards.

Dr Plipat was Transparency International’s Director for Asia Pacific where he managed TI’s strategy, research, and advocacy focusing on strengthening anti-corruption legal frameworks, rule of law, and accountable governance. He led the development of a research tool to measure the performances and independence of anti-corruption agencies and found TI programs in Afghanistan, Bhutan, East Timor, and Myanmar. At Amnesty International, Dr Plipat was Director of AI’s movement building, mobilization strategy, people engagement, and human rights education. He managed AI operations and regional projects in over 15 countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Dr Plipat was a member of the Working Group for the Establishment of the ASEAN Human Rights Mechanisms. He served as a member of Thailand National Human Rights Commission’s Committee on Human Rights Protection. As Director of AI Thailand, he co-led the national campaign for the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Dr Plipat was a consultant for the World Bank Institute in Washington DC, advising on participatory governance and strategic partnership with civil society. He holds a PhD in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh, PA.

Justice Nallini PathmanathanMalaysia

Justice Nallini Pathmanathan was born on 23 August 1959 in Penang, Malaysia. She attended school in Ipoh, Perak and later on in the United Kingdom at the Cheltenham Ladies’ College. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree (with Honours) from the University of London in 1982 where her field of study was Physiology. She then completed the Diploma in Law, a conversion course in law, at the University of Westminster in 1983, prior to being called to the English Bar in 1984.

Upon graduation she joined Messrs Skrine in Kuala Lumpur where she completed her pupillage and was called to the Malaysian Bar in 1986. She commenced her legal career in Skrine and remained there for twenty-one years prior to being elevated to the Bench in March 2007.

During the course of her career at the Bar, Justice Nallini practised in various fields, commencing with family and industrial relations law.

The latter field accorded her some experience in administrative law. She later co-authored a book entitled “The Law of Dismissal” which was published in 2003.

After about four years of such practice, she undertook banking, insolvency and other commercial briefs. During the Asian financial crisis commencing in 1998, her commercial work experience was strengthened by work undertaken for regulatory bodies and the statutorily constituted national recovery body. She later added medical negligence briefs to her portfolio.

She was appointed a partner of Skrine in 1995 and the Chairperson of the executive committee managing the firm in 2003.

In 2006 she became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators as well as a certified mediator.

Justice Nallini was invited to join the Bench in 2007 and was first appointed as Judicial Commissioner. She initially served at the Shah Alam High Court in the state of Selangor, where she heard criminal matters. On 15 October 2009 she was elevated to the position of a Judge of the High Court of Malaya. She then sat at the High Court of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur as a commercial judge in the New Commercial Courts. She was also the Admiralty Judge.

Justice Nallini was elevated to the Court of Appeal on 12 September 2014 where she sat as chair of a panel dealing with commercial, civil and admiralty appeals. She was elevated as a Federal Court Judge on 26 November 2018.

In recognition of her services, Justice Nallini was conferred the award of Panglima Setia Mahkota (P.S.M.) which carries the honorific title “Datuk” by the King of Malaysia in 2014.

Justice Nallini is a member of the Judicial Academy which, inter alia, plans, organises and evaluates the training of Malaysian Judges.

She retains a keen interest in the Bar and participates at their conferences regularly. As admiralty judge, she initiated and edited the Admiralty Court User Guide which was launched by the Bar and the Judiciary for the benefit of members of the Bar. She also gives talks periodically at arbitration conferences organised by the Asian International Arbitration Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

She is a member of the Editorial Board of the Malaysian equivalent of the White Book entitled “Malaysian Civil Procedure” (2018 Edition) and the general editor of the first edition of Bullen & Leake & Jacob’s Malaysian Precedents of Pleadings.

She is a corporate member of the Cheltenham Ladies’ College, United Kingdom.

Dr Adeoye AdefuluNigeria

Dr Adeoye Adefulu is the Managing Partner of Odujinrin & Adefulu with over 20 years’ professional experience in petroleum law & policy, electricity law & policy, corporate & project finance. He obtained his law degree and was subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar. He also holds a Masters' and Doctorate degree from the Centre for Energy Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMEP) Scotland.

Adeoye’s interests Include oil and Gas regulatory reform, gas utilization, energy reform, energy transition and environmental law, He regularly speaks at local and international fora on Nigerian energy matters.

Dr Adefulu was involved with the Petroleum industry Bill (“PIB”) from its initial drafts in 2009 till its passage in 2021. He Is the Managing Editor of www.petroleumindustrybill.com, the leading information portal with up-to-date information on the Petroleum Industry Bill (now the Petroleum Industry Act 2021).

He was a member of the Nigerian National Assembly Technical Committee on Petroleum industry Reforms from 2015 to 2019.

Adefulu advises several Indigenous and International Oil Companies on the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.

Adeoye is the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association - Section on Business Law (NBA -SBL) and sits on the board of Lekoil Cayman.

Jasvinder NakhwalEngland

Jasvinder has over 20 years’ experience acting for high profile individuals and companies facing complex cross-border criminal and regulatory investigations.

She is particularly skilled in dealing with cases involving individual/corporate rights and has a long track record of defending successfully in extradition, INTERPOL and asset seizure matters.

Described as “A superb lawyer and meticulous in her preparation…an understated star” (Legal 500 2021), she is the 2020 winner of Legal 500’s Individual of the Year for Crime, Fraud and Licensing.

Jasvinder started her career at Peters & Peters in 1998 and has been dealing with the full breadth of business crime and related regulatory and public law matters, including Independent and Public Inquiries and Inquests.

Jasvinder acts for individual and corporate clients based in the UK and abroad, in significant financial crime investigations. Aside from acting in domestic UK investigations brought by criminal enforcement agencies such as the Serious Fraud Office, the Financial Conduct Authority and the National Crime Agency, her cases are often multi-jurisdictional in nature, involving numerous criminal and regulatory authorities. Consequently, she is particularly adept at coordinating criminal litigation advice on a global scale, especially in cases which are highly complex, high-profile and often politically-charged, and advising in parallel with foreign lawyers. She has extensive experience in dealing with cases that emanate from the UAE/Middle East, Far East, CIS countries, Eastern Europe, and South East Asia.

Jasvinder has a firmly-established expertise in criminal cartels, extradition/INTERPOL, mutual legal assistance, cash seizure/money laundering offences, corporate internal investigations, data protection and corruption matters.

In the area of criminal antitrust/cartels, Jasvinder has acted for clients facing investigation by the European Commission, US Department of Justice, Canadian Competition Commission and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, and UK regulators, the Competition and Markets Authority, OFGEM and OFCOM.

Over more than 15 years, Jasvinder has built a well-known reputation for acting in high profile politically-motivated extradition requests from the Russian Federation and other territories, with consistent success. At the same time, she has developed many years of experience in dealing successfully with INTERPOL matters and has been invited to give evidence to the Council of Europe and UK Parliamentary Committees on the subject.

Chambers UK highlights her ‘extensive experience in cartel defence work’ and her ‘thriving extradition practice’.

Jasvinder has a flourishing practice in cash seizure and money laundering investigations under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. She also acts for approved persons in regulatory and criminal investigations by the Financial Conduct Authority, including UK nationals being investigated by the United States’ CFTC and Department of Justice. She acts in investigations by regulators in the context of the discovery of a $4bn debt and the collapse of the share price of a UK public listed company. Jasvinder also acts in the police investigation into possible corporate manslaughter offences arising from the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy.

As a renowned expert, Jasvinder is invited regularly to speak, write, and participate in working groups on her areas of expertise. Jasvinder was invited by the US government as a participant in the US Exchange Visitor Program on the US criminal justice system. She is contributing author to the book, The Law of Criminal Cartels (O’Kane, OUP). She also sits on the Advisory Board of the American Bar Association’s Trade, Sports, and Professional Associations Committee, and is a Trustee on the Board of Fair Trials International.

In Chambers and Partners 2021, Jasvinder is described as “hugely experienced.” “She is impressive and has impeccable judgement.” “She has an excellent rapport with clients – they really trust and look to her.” (Crime : Extradition).

In Legal 500 2021, Jasvinder is described as an individual who “strives to make sure her clients are protected and a rising star.” (Fraud: white collar crime); “ a superb lawyer and meticulous in her preparation. She’s an understated star.” (Crime: general); “outstandingly able and wonderfully imaginative.” (Regulatory investigations and corporate crime); “an exceptional lawyer- she listens to clients, understands their needs and is extremely responsive.” (Public international law).

Jasvinder is co-author of our recently launched Extradition UK blog site. The Extradition UK blog is a free to use service providing comprehensive and timely news updates in respect of extradition, INTERPOL and Mutual Legal Assistance. It provides coverage of key recent developments, procedures and cases relating to these areas of law, along with a range of static resources for those who wish to better understand the law and procedures. Subscribers will remain up to date with any new information or posts.

The Rt Hon Sir Declan Morgan PC KCThe Former Chief Justice of N Ireland Retd.

Sir Declan Morgan was appointed to the supplementary panel of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom on 1 September 2021. He was educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge and was called to the Bar in Northern Ireland in 1976. He was appointed to the High Court in 2004 and became Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland in 2009, a post he held until his retirement in 2021. He was appointed a member of the Privy Council in 2009.

Fiona McLeod AO, KCAustralia

Fiona McLeod KC is senior counsel practising at the Victorian Bar in public and commercial law. She is co-chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Council of the International Bar Association and an officer of the IBA Bar Issues Committee.

She is a Past President of the Law Council of Australia and the Australian Bar Association, was Chair of the Victorian Bar, Transparency International Australia and President of Australian Women Lawyers.

Ms McLeod has been recognised with numerous awards for excellence and leadership, for her work in supporting diversity and equality, the advancement of women and her work in pro bono and human rights matters including human trafficking.

Ms McLeod was inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll for Women in 2014 and is a recipient of numerous professional awards including the prestigious inaugural Commonwealth Government Anti-Slavery Australia Freedom Award for her work representing victims of human trafficking, raising awareness and contributing to law reform and policy on this issue. She was awarded an Order of Australia for her contribution to the legal profession in Australia and internationally.

Geoffrey YeungHong Kong

Geoffrey Yeung was called to the Hong Kong Bar in 2018 and is a member of Denis Chang’s Chambers. His practice focused on constitutional and administrative law, equality law, as well as other cases with public law dimensions. He is deeply interested in the role of strategic litigation in advancing LGBTIQ+ rights, and has acted as counsel in related cases in Hong Kong, including one concerning same-sex couples’ right to obtain public housing. Prior to joining the Bar, he was a legal and policy advocate at various LGBTIQ+ organisations in Hong Kong. He is a committee member of the Young Commonwealth Lawyers Association (YCLA) and also sits on the Bar Council in Hong Kong.

Lord CarlowayScotland

The Right Hon. Lord Carloway, Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General

Lord Carloway was appointed as Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General of Scotland in December 2015. He has been a Senator of the College of Justice since February 2000. He was appointed to the Second Division of the Inner House in August 2008, before becoming Lord Justice Clerk in August 2012. His report into criminal law and practice was published in November 2011.

He is a graduate of Edinburgh University (LLB Hons) and was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1977. He served as an advocate depute from 1986 to 1989 and was appointed as a Queen’s Counsel in 1990. From 1994 until his appointment as a judge he was Treasurer of the Faculty of Advocates.

Lord Carloway is an Honorary Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn in London and King’s Inn in Dublin. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

He is an assistant editor of “Green’s Litigation Styles” and contributed the chapters on “Court of Session Practice” to the Stair Memorial Encyclopaedia and “Expenses” in Court of Session Practice.

He was the joint editor of “Parliament House Portraits: the Art Collection of the Faculty of Advocates” and is a former president of the Scottish Arts Club.

The Right Hon Lady Dorrian (Leeona J Dorrian)Scotland

Lady Dorrian was installed as Lord Justice Clerk and President of the Second Division of the Court of Session in April 2016. As Lord Justice Clerk she is Chair of the Scottish Sentencing Council. She was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Courts in 2005, having served as a Temporary Judge since 2002. She was appointed to the Inner House in November 2012.

Lady Dorrian is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen (LLB). She was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1981 and was Standing Junior Counsel to the Health and Safety Executive and Commission between 1987 and 1994.

Lady Dorrian served as Advocate Depute between 1988 and 1991, and as Standing Junior to the Department of Energy between 1991 and 1994.  Lady Dorrian was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1994. Between 1997 and 2001 she was a member of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

M. Georgia Gibson Henlin, KCJamaica

M. Georgia Gibson Henlin is a Queen’s Counsel at the Jamaican bar. She is also called to the bar in Ontario, Canada and New York, in the United States of America. In addition to being an accomplished commercial litigator, she is a Certified Information Privacy Professional, a Cybersecurity and Technology Law practitioner.

She is the Managing Partner in the law firm of Henlin Gibson Henlin, Kingston Jamaica. She is graduate of the University of the West Indies, Mona and Cave Hill campuses, Norman Manley Law School and The University of Toronto in Canada where she completed her Masters in 2002 in innovation law and policy. Since that time, she has worked in the areas of information and communications technologies, commercial litigation, intellectual property and issues relating to cyber and data security. She is also a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. She has led the Jamaican effort to challenge the Constitutionality of the Proceeds of Crime and Terrorism Prevention Regulations in their current form to lawyers.

Georgia is a member of the Jamaican Bar Association, the International Bar Association, the American Bar Association, The New York Bar Association, The International Trademarks Association and The International Technology Law Association. She has been ranked in Chambers Global since 2018.

Managing Partner, Henlin Gibson Henlin
Chief Privacy Officer, Privacy & Legal Management Consultants
Director, Women in Law
Conference & Programme Chair, Women in Law Conferences

Lady Justice Joyce Aluoch Retd.Kenya

Lady Justice Joyce ALUOCH, EBS, CBS, is a former Judge and First Vice-President of the International Criminal Court at The Hague, The Netherlands (9yrs). She was the second woman Court of Appeal, High Court Judge and Magistrate in Kenya. Her judicial career spanned from June 1974 to March 2018 (44years).

She holds a master’s degree in International Affairs (GMAP), from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University in Boston, which awarded her the Distinguished alumna award, and again in 2018, the University granted her its top Award (honoris causa) only granted to those who carry the University’s ideals throughout their career. This made her the first black person to receive such an honour from Tufts University. She holds an LLB degree from the University of Nairobi and Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies from the Kenya School of Law. She is an Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Law, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. She is currently a Member of the Judicial Reform Committee tasked to reform the Judiciary of South Sudan under the Revitalized Peace Agreement for the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.

Upon retirement from the bench in 2018, Justice Aluoch successfully moved her legal profession to Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms, particularly mediation. She is a Certified International Mediator (IMI), Accredited Mediator (CEDR)-London, a Certified Advanced Mediator, and a Chartered Mediator. She has a Certificate in International Commercial Arbitration from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London, and is an Accredited trainer with a Certificate of Accreditation in mediation training (London). She conducts mediations under the Court Annexed Mediation Program in Kenya, FIDA-Kenya, international and domestic mediations, and virtual mediations.

She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators London and the Kenya branch where she serves on the mediation panel, International Council for Commercial Arbitration, Board member, Africa Arbitration Association (AfAA) and Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration where she serves on the mediation panel. She is also a member of Jamaica International Arbitration Centre Ltd. In 2020, she was appointed a member of the International Advisory Board of the office of Ombudsman for the United Nations Funds and Programs, Global Mediation and is charged with the responsibility of training mediators etc. She is Chair of the Advisory Board of the Africa-Asia Mediation Association (AAMA), Member, Advisory Board, East African Journal on IHL, and Vice President of the Board of Directors, Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI). She is a member of the Rotary Club of Nairobi and Director of the Governance and Ethics Committee.

She is a recipient of several international and national awards including Presidential Awards of Elder of the Burning Spear (EBS), First Class Order of the Burning Spear (CBS) and Trail Blazer Award (CBS).

Malcolm MercerCanada

Malcolm Mercer is the Chair of the Ontario Law Society Tribunal which adjudicates lawyer and paralegal conduct, capacity and licensing disputes. He speaks and writes regularly on legal ethics. He is an adjunct professor of Osgoode Hall Law School, teaching legal ethics, and a member of the Canadian Association for Legal Ethics. Malcolm currently acts as the administrator of the Thunder Bay Police Services Board. Malcolm was previously an elected bencher and Treasurer (President) of the Law Society of Ontario, which regulates lawyers and paralegals in Ontario. Malcolm has been a member of the Ontario Judicial Council, Chair of the Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee of the Canadian Bar Association, Ethics and Regulatory Team Lead for the CBA Futures Project, General Counsel to and litigation partner of McCarthy Tétrault LLP and member of the Immigration Appeal Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board.

Stefan KnightsSeychelles

Stefan Knights is a national of Guyana. He currently serves as the Principal State Counsel at the Attorney General’s Chambers in Seychelles.

Mr. Knights has provided legislative services to Governments and international organizations. He has drafted various legislative instruments including the Constitution of the Republic of Seychelles (Tenth Amendment) Act, 2022. Further, he has managed law revision and law reform projects.

Also, Mr. Knights has represented clients in high profile litigation at the domestic level and he has appeared before the international tribunals such as the United Nations Human Rights Committee and the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Further, Mr. Knights is a recipient of several scholarships including a Commonwealth Scholarship to read for an MSc in Sustainable Development in 2015 at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

Currently, he is a PhD Candidate focusing on Law Reform at the University of London.

Wanjirũ NgigeKenya

Wanjirũ is a Partner at the firm of Mohammed Muigai LLP with 12 years of experience as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. She specializes in Litigation and Arbitration and leads the Legal Advisory and Consultancy Department at the firm of Mohammed Muigai LLP. She receives instructions in disputes concerning Energy, Intellectual Property, Employment and Pensions. She also has experience in shareholder disputes.

She has extensive knowledge of the regulatory environment in which businesses operate and has advised various clients including the Office of the President, World Bank, Competition Authority of Kenya, Institute of Certified Public Secretaries, Kenya, and Transparency International Kenya. She has also taught Principles of Civil Procedure at Strathmore University.

Wanjirũ holds an LLB (with Human Resource Management) from Keele University (2005), Masters in International Relations from Keele University (2006), Diploma in Law from Kenya School of Law (2009). She also holds a Bachelor of Civil Law from the University of Oxford (2013).

Immaculate KassaitKenya

Ms. Immaculate Kassait, MBS is the first Kenya Data Commissioner with 12 years working experience in the Public Sector managing complex project in governance, training, compliance and strategy. She is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya of 14 years standing. She is a Building Resource in Democracy Governance and Elections (BRIDGE) facilitator.

Immaculate holds a Masters in Business Administration from USIU Africa, a post Graduate Diploma in Law from Kenya School of Law, and an Undergraduate Degree in Law from Makerere University.

In November 2020, she was appointed as the first Data Commissioner in the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), and has been instrumental in setting up institutional structures and the legal framework for the Institution. She was the Chair of the taskforce that developed the three sets of regulations that led to the operationalization of the Data Protection Act Kenya 2019. Under her leadership, ODPC developed its inaugural strategic plan 2022-2025. She has further been instrumental in positioning Kenya in the Data Protection Map through membership to various international organization on data protection.

Previously she worked at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission in different portfolios and was key in setting up institutional and management structure for the Electoral management body as the first woman responsible for Voter Registration and Electoral Operation, her contribution to the institution was the development a data-base of registered voters using modern technology of 19.6 M voters and the implementation of six complex elections procedures in one day.

She has experience in civil society having worked the Institute for Education in Democracy (IED) and Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA Kenya) in different capacities.

She was awarded the Moran of the Burning Spear (MBS), Presidential Award, 2017 for her outstanding work in public service and continuous to take part in several philanthropy activities as part of her community work.

Ron HeinrichAustralia

Ron Heinrich has over 40 years’ experience in Corporate and Commercial Law. He is highly regarded for his expertise in assisting clients on issues requiring his broad experience in corporations law, trade practices law, administrative law (including disciplinary Tribunals, Royal Commissions and ICAC Inquiries), revenue law (he is recognised as a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) by the Tax Institute) and insurance law. Ron advises on all aspects of mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and probity, ASX Listing Rules, insurance and corporate risk.

Ron has contributed extensively to the legal profession, both in Australia and internationally. He is a former President of the Law Society of New South Wales, the Law Council of Australia and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association.

He is a former Chairman of the Law Society’s Professional Conduct Committee and has been involved in the investigation and prosecution of solicitors guilty of professional misconduct, fraud and corruption.

John McKendrick KCScotland

John was called to the Bar of England and Wales as a Major Scholar by the Inner Temple in 1999. In 2008 he was admitted as an advocate to the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland. He is also called to the Bars of the BVI and Anguilla. As junior counsel he enjoyed a wide ranging practice from London and was appointed to the E+W Attorney General’s panel of counsel and was appointed as standing junior counsel to the Advocate General of Scotland. He took silk in 2016 and since then has led large legal teams in wide ranging disputes, mostly focused on public and commercial law. Between 2016 and 2018 he was the Attorney General of Anguilla where he championed family law reform and dealt with the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. He has led before the UK Supreme Court, HM Privy Council, the Inner and Outer Houses of the Court of Session, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and in all Divisions of the English High Court and Court of Appeal. He has acted as counsel in many ICC, LCIA and ad hoc arbitrations. He sits a Deputy High Court Judge in London and as a Recorder in England and Wales. He is a Panel Deemster in the Isle of Man. He also sits as a Sanctions Appeals Officer for the Caribbean Development Bank and arbitrates, adjudicates and mediates around the world. He is a member of the CLA’s ExCo and is a Vice Chair of the English Bar Council’s International Committee.

Ngosa SimachelaZambia

Ngosa is a graduate of the University of Zambia and has worked in private practice for sixteen years. She is Partner in the firm of Nchito & Nchito based in Lusaka. Ngosa is a seasoned litigator with expertise in employment law, pensions and benefits. As an employment law expert, Ngosa has argued many cases before the superior Courts of Zambia and earned recognition for this expertise by being appointed on the Judiciary of Zambia Committee on the Harmonization of Labour Laws in Zambia.

Ngosa is an Alumnus of the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance’s Emerging African Leaders Program, housed at the University of Cape Town. She is also a trained investment advisor and is currently serving as Vice- President of the Law Association of Zambia.

Maria MbenekaKenya

Maria Mbeneka is a name Partner of the firm Kimani Kabucho Mbeneka & Company (KKM) Advocates and has been in private practice for the past eighteen years.

She is a council member of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) representing East Africa and Seychelles. Maria is also the Chairperson of the County First Ladies Association (Kenya) and the First Lady of Laikipia County. A former council member of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Maria served as the Treasurer & General Member Representative for the period of 2018-2020. Maria is also the immediate former Vice President of the East Africa Law Society having served from 2016-2018.

Maria has previously served as a member of the Industrial Property Tribunal from 2010-2013. While serving at the LSK she convened the ICT/IP Committee which took on Public Interest Litigation such as the NIIMS Petition, the Housing Levy Petition of 2018, consultative and public participation forums on Data Protection among other initiatives.

Maria holds a Bachelor of Social Legislation Degree BSL and a Bachelor of Laws Degree from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Maharashtra-India; She holds a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law. A trained Mediator, she also holds a certificate from the Mediators Training Institute MTI and is currently undertaking her Arbitration training with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. She is also a holder of FIDIC training certificate as well as the East Africa Institute.

Maria Mbeneka is also a life member of the Kenya Red Cross Society where she serves as a member of the Election Grievances Committee.

Caroline Hay KCJamaica

Caroline Patricia Hay K.C. FCIArb, Notary Public was called to the Jamaican Bar in 1994, the Guyana Bar in 1995 and the Jamaican Inner Bar in 2018. A fellow with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and certified mediator, Caroline’s practice is an interesting blend of civil and criminal law. Caroline is instructed in judicial review, corporate and private commercial claims, employment, real estate disputes and other matters. She is at times, a prosecutor by fiat of the DPP and offers law enforcement, government bodies and private citizens support in prosecutions, complex fraud investigations and asset restraint and recovery. She has practiced and taught extensively in the dual fields of Anti Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) and International Assistance in Criminal Matters and was rostered by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as an Expert on Transnational Organized Crime and International Cooperation. Caroline holds a Bachelor of Laws with honours from the University of the West Indies and a Certificate of Legal Education from the Norman Manley Law School. She is married to Kenneth and together they parent 5 children. She sits on several disciplinary panels, Review and Corporate Boards. Caroline is also a praise and worship leader in her home church Covenant City Church in Kingston.

Karan SinghIndia

Karan Singh co-founded Trilegal, one of India’s leading law firms.  He was also part of the firm’s management for many years before stepping down in 2020, after spending over 25 years in legal practice.  He continues to serve on the Board of the firm.

In 2022, he co-founded TrustBridge, a non-profit that works in the area of improving the Rule of Law in order to further economic growth and create efficient markets.  Karan also serves as an advisor and trustee on other non-profits including SaveLife Foundation. 

Michael PolakEngland

Michael Polak was Chair of the Young Bar of England and Wales in 2022, a barrister at Church Court Chambers, and Director of Justice Abroad, which provides assistance to those in trouble around the world. Michael was the winner of the 2021 IBA Outstanding Young Lawyer Award for his work on high-profile criminal and international human rights cases including the representation of the young British woman in the Ayia Napa rape case, his work for the World Uyghur Congress against the Uyghurs persecution by the Chinese regime, and his pro bono work pushing for the release of Bangladeshi Barrister Ahmad Bin Quasem who has been subjected to enforced disappearance since 2016. Michael continues to carry out a range of both paid pro-bono work in a number of areas including assisting the victims of sexual offences where there is an international element, working to achieve justice for the victim of an international kidnapping, standing up for democracy activists, and working for lawyers unjustly detained around the world. Michael has a special interest in free speech and press freedom and works with the Somalian Journalists Syndicate to protect journalists in that country, including the brave SJS Secretary General Abdalle Mumin, currently being persecuted by the authorities, and is representing protestors against the Beijing Olympics 2022 who are on trial in Greece after protesting at Mount Olympus and the Acropolis.

Lynette Seebaran-SuiteTrinidad and Tobago

Lynette Seebaran Suite is an attorney at law and family practitioner with more than 40 years experience in litigation. She is an activist and researcher in the women’s movement and has championed many a campaign, including for the introduction of domestic violence and sexual offences legislation in Trinidad and Tobago. She led the ASPIRE project for abortion law reform over 14 years from 1999 to 2013. Lynette was the recipient in 2012 of a National Award for Women in Development, Gold, in the field of Law. She is past Chairman of the Port Authority and past Board Member of the Trinidad Publishing Company and the National Commission on the Status of Women. Lynette currently heads the law firm of Lynette Seebaran & Co.. She is the current head of the Trinidad and Tobago Family Law Association as well as a member of the Councils of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago and the Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago. Lynette was also the Chairman of the Equal Opportunity Commission from 2014 to 2020. For her services in the field of advocacy and public education in gender and human rights for vulnerable groups Lynette was awarded an Honourary Doctor of Laws by the University of the West Indies in November 2021.

David DennistonPapua New Guinea

David is admitted as a Solicitor in Australia and Papua New Guinea. He is the PNG Council member for the CLA and he has been practicing in PNG for the past 8 years.

He is a lawyer with LLLS Lawyers and prior to this worked for international development donors, large conglomerates, State Owned Enterprises and large private firms and government.

His practice includes general commercial, land, property, government, disputes, energy & resources, development, environment, climate change, water, employment, governance, international development and he is a passionate advocate for the rule of law in the South Pacific.” See: https://www.llls.com.pg/special-counsel-david-denniston and https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-denniston-1a728813/ and https://www.commonwealthlawyers.com/david-denniston/

Nandini KhaitanIndia

Practices:
Dispute Resolution

Recognition

• Economic Times 40 under 40 business leader, for 2020-2021
• Recommended Lawyer for Dispute Resolution, Litigation – Legal 500 for 2021 and 2022.

Education:

• LL.M., Columbia University, New York (2011)
• LL.B., Calcutta University (2004)
• B.I.T., Manipal University (2002)

Professional Affiliations:

• Bar Council of West Bengal (2017 dated back to 2004)
• Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa (2004 - 2017)
• New York Bar (2014) (NP)
• Incorporated Law Society (Calcutta) - Member of the Governing Council
• Columbia Law School Association (Alumni) - Member of the Board of Advisors and currently serving as the first Indian Vice President
• Indian Law Institute, West Bengal chapter - Member of the Executive Council
• ICC’s India Arbitration Group (IAG) – Core Committee
• Indian Arbitration Forum -Convener for East India
• Asia Pacific Sub- Committee of Greener Arbitrations
• Supreme Court Bar Association
• Indian Council of Arbitration

Social / Justice :

• External member of the Internal Complaints Committee of various organizations
• Board of Advisor of IDIA
• Legal committee of Calcutta Cricket & Football Club, Kolkata

Emerald House
1 B Old Post Office Street
Kolkata - 700 001
India

T: +91 33 2248 7000
M: +91 9830922373
E: nandini.khaitan@khaitanco.com

Nandini Khaitan is a Dispute Resolution partner based in the Kolkata office and has been recognized as The Economic Times 40 under 40 Business Leaders of India. Nandini has vast experience in commercial, regulatory, environmental, family litigation and arbitration. She appears at every level of the Indian judicial system, including the Supreme Court of India, High Courts, National Company Law Tribunal, National Green Tribunal and District Courts of various states. Having worked extensively with two chartered High Courts of India (Bombay and Calcutta), she is thorough in the nuances of litigation across courts. Nandini also represents clients in domestic arbitrations and cross border disputes/arbitrations where she advises clients on global issues both against private and state parties.

Nandini also works with various social justice issues like legal education for the underprivileged and is the external member of the Internal Complaints Committee set up under The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 of organizations. She guest lectures at various law schools from time to time.

Representative Matters:

In her area of practice, Nandini has advised and represented some of the following clients:

Supreme Court

• Medima LLC – in their defense before The Supreme Court of India in Section 11 of The Arbitration & Conciliation, Act, 1996 which was tagged with a Special Leave Petition against Order of The Calcutta High Court refusing an anti arbitration injunction (in our clients favour). Led the litigation and was responsible for all aspects of the matter including strategy, drafting appearing in Court and briefing senior for arguments. The matter had an interesting point of law on parallel arbitration clauses. Medima was successful both in the Section 11 and the SLP. The litigation resulted in a landmark decision on the law of Section 11;
• One branch of Singhania family (JK group) before The Bombay High Court in challenge to the Award and thereafter execution proceedings for enforcement and execution of the Award before both the Bombay High Court and Supreme Court. The only matter by then for which Supreme Court was first opened on a Sunday to hear arguments. Led the litigation and strategy and was responsible for all aspects of litigation including resenting arguments before the court. The litigation was successful at all stages from the arbitration to the challenge right up to the Supreme Court. Further, this litigation resulted in a rare Order of high costs being imposed on the defendants by the Bombay High Court;
• Seagate Technology International in a Section 11 of The Arbitration Act, 1996 proceeding for appointment of an arbitrator in an international commercial arbitration before the Supreme Court of India. Led the litigation in the Supreme Court and was responsible for various aspects of the litigation including strategy, drafting.
• Dalmia and Dhunseri groups in their joint challenge to the urgency provisions being invoked in a land acquisition proceeding before The Supreme Court of India. Led the litigation in the Supreme Court and was responsible for various aspects of the litigation including strategy, drafting and presenting arguments. The litigation resulted in the successful withdrawal of the urgency provisions by the State Government;
• A HNI in the highly contested probate proceedings of his mother’s will before The Calcutta High Court and The Supreme Court. Led the litigation in the final phase and was responsible for strategy and all aspects of the litigation and mediation proceedings. The litigation resulted in a win before The Calcutta High Court and ultimately a settlement before The Supreme Court through mediation (by the Supreme Court judges themselves);

High Courts

• Medima LLC - before The Calcutta High Court in 1) an anti arbitration injunction application. This was a strongly contested litigation to injunct the ICC arbitration commenced in UK by our client. Led the litigation and was responsible for overall strategy, drafting, arguments. The litigation resulted in the Court declining to give a stay to the ICC proceedings both before the Single Bench and the Division Bench; 2) a post foreign award Section 9 Proceeding – resulted in Section 9 proceeding being held maintainable.
• Medima LLC - before the Calcutta High Court in an application under S.9 of The Arbitration Act for interim reliefs post the passing of Award (The Award was passed in an ICC proceeding seated in London as discussed above). The Calcutta High Court was called upon to discuss the maintainability of the Section 9 application and thereafter assess the grounds for grant of reliefs claimed. The Calcutta High Court was pleased to hold, for the first time, that a Section 9 application in a post- foreign Award case was maintainable and granted the interim relief that was prayed for.
• Unitech Developers and Projects Limited/ Candor Gurgaon Two Developers & Projects Pvt. Ltd. before The Calcutta High Court in section 9, 34 and 37 proceedings. Was responsible for leading the Kolkata leg of the matter in both the arbitration and the Court. The arbitration and following litigations under Section 34, 37 and SLP were decided in favour of the clients;
• Uber India Technology Pvt Ltd before The Calcutta High Court, challenging the regulations of the state government which was preventing the company from carrying on business in the state. Led the litigation and was responsible for strategy and all aspects of the litigation. The litigation resulted in a stay (pending final adjudication) of the regulations;
• Glenmark Pharmaceuticals before The Tripura High Court in a civil revision in a labour matter. Led the litigation and was responsible for overall strategy, filing and arguments. The litigation resulted in a stay of the Order of the Tribunal. The matter is pending final adjudication;
• Reliance Commercial Finance Limited and Reliance Capital Limited before The Calcutta High Court in a quashing application of criminal proceeding. The matter was urgent as the promoters had been impleaded. Led the litigation and was responsible for filing, strategy and arguments. The litigation resulted in the stay of the criminal proceeding;
• Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank before The High Court of Calcutta in an injunction application filed for the purpose of stopping of enforcement of an inter bank, bank guarantee. We were briefed after the injunction was granted ex parte against the banks. Led the matter and was responsible for all aspects there on. The litigation resulted in the injunction being vacated within a short time and on the strength of arguments only;
• Linde India Limited before The Calcutta High Court on 18 quashing applications (each for multiple years) of criminal proceedings. Was responsible for strategy and arguments. The quashing application which was pending for years for was finally heard and allowed within a short time of the matter being entrusted. 13 of the 18 matters were quashed. Multiple years in the remaining 5 petitions were also quashed;
• Indus Towers Ltd before The Calcutta High Court in their appeal proceedings against an order which resulted in dismissing the Company’s challenge to the levy of a tax that is unconstitutional. Led the mater in the appeal stage and was responsible for all aspects of the matter. The litigation resulted in the stay of the impugned Order. The final adjudication of the appeal is pending;
• Nandos International Ltd (International restaurant chain) before The Bombay High Court on their trademark litigation. Was responsible for drafting pleadings, briefing senior counsels and the strategy based on a comparative law research and analysis. The litigation resulted in a landmark decision of the Bombay High Court in favor of the client;
• Jindal Steel & Power Ltd. before The Calcutta High Court in their defense for contractual damages. Led the litigation for the client and was in charge of strategy, drafting and appearing. The matter resulted in 2 of the 3 Defendants being dropped from the suit in an extremely timely manner without having to face trial and one defendant being referred to arbitration. In effect the Suit was rendered infructuous.

District Courts

• Quickheal Technologies Ltd. before the District Court at Serampore, West Bengal in a suit for infringement and damages. Led the litigation from inception, strategizing and advising from time to time. Successfully obstructed passing of an ex-parte order against client at time when client was on the verge of closing its IPO process.
• Johnsons Controls (India) Private Limited before the Alipore Court, Kolkata in a suit for damages. Leading the litigation from the inception, strategizing, drafting and acting for the client in the proceedings. Was successful in preventing any interim orders from being passed against the Client.
• Volkswagen Group Sales India Private Limited before the Alipore Court against a leading car dealership agency, in a civil suit. The agency had obtained an ex parte ad interim injunction preventing our client from giving effect to the termination notice. We were successful in getting the termination vacated and the suit was later dismissed.
• PETNET Radiopharmaceutical Solutions Private Limited, a leading manufacturer of positron emission tomography (PET) radiopharmaceuticals, against Eko Diagnostics Private Limited, before the Commercial Court, Rajarhat (Calcutta). Led the mater in the appeal stage and was responsible for all aspects of the matter. The Clients were successful in obtaining stay of the termination notice issued by counter party in a pre-arbitration proceedings for interim reliefs under Section 9 of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996.
• Various individuals in their matrimonial disputes both at the district court and High Court in Mumbai and Kolkata;

Arbitration

• Promoters of one of the largest logistics companies of India in a family arbitration. Was responsible for all aspects of the arbitration including strategy, drafting pleadings, briefing senior and negotiating a settlement for the client;
• Unitech Developers and Projects Limited/ Candor Gurgaon Two Developers & Projects Pvt. Ltd in an arbitration involving a contractual dispute arising out non-repayment of loan taken under three separate ICD agreements. Led the matter in Kolkata along with Delhi team advising on overall strategy;
• One of the largest multinational companies in an arbitration involving a commercial dispute with their joint venture partner in India.
• International Commercial Arbitration: One of the largest Indian infrastructure companies involving a construction contract against a foreign government company in an Arbitration based outside India. The Award is reserved.
• International Commercial Arbitration: One of the largest data storage technology and infrastructure companies in relation to various guarantees and agreement entered into between multi-national parties to settle multiple cross border disputes, litigations. The said case involves an inter-play of various foreign judgments passed by courts in reciprocating and non-reciprocating territories and their binding nature in India and on the disputes raised in the arbitration.

National Company Law Tribunal / NCLAT

• Contemporary Brokers Pvt. Ltd. before the National Company Law Tribunal, Kolkata Bench. Successfully led the matter in an application under Section 7, IBC, 2016 resulting in an order of admission despite the corporate debtor claiming disputes. An issue of whether the claim was operational or financial was also settled in the client’s favor;
• A promoter of one of the largest media groups in an ongoing highly contested litigation before The NCLT, Kolkata for control over the family company. Leading the litigation and is responsible for strategy, drafting and all aspects of the litigation;
• Various financial institutions in their insolvency proceedings as financial creditors.

National Green Tribunal

• Dhunseri Petrochem & Tea Ltd (one of the largest petrochemicals and tea companies of India) before the National Green Tribunal, Delhi in their environment litigation. Led the litigation and was responsible for strategy and all aspects of the litigation. The litigation resulted in the quashing of the closure notice of the company’s petrochemical plant;
• Football Sports Development Ltd before the National Green Tribunal, Kolkata in an environment PIL filed against them and other parties for the purpose of stopping ISL matches from being held at an eco-sensitive area. Involved in devising a successful strategy to meet the concerns of the PIL and securing permission to continue with the matches;
• Riga Sugar Ltd. before the National Green Tribunal, Delhi in their environment litigation. Involved in strategizing and all other aspects of the litigation. The litigation resulted in the quashing of the closure notice of the company’s sugar and distillery;

Continuing Legal Education/Panel discussions:

• Guest faculty at the WB National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata (NUJS) in 2014. Taught a credit course on Arbitration; Have guest lectured from time to time at NUJS and recently at Symbiosis Law College, Nagpur.
• Authored the following contributions recently:
  • Fraud and Arbitration – An Attempt to Deconstruct the Russel Principles Published with the Supreme Court Cases - Citation (2021) 5 SCC J-39
  • The Firm Women: A Perspective on Indian Women working in Law Firms published Indian Advocate (Volume XLII, Women and Law Issue, 2018) and republished with permission by Bar & Bench - https://www.barandbench.com/columns/the-firm-women-a-perspective-on-indian-women-working-in-law-firms
  • Patent illegality: Supreme Court travels a long road to tame a herd of unruly horses - Published with The International Law Office, July, 2020;
  • Supreme Court Clears The Air On Coparcenary Rights Of Daughters Under The Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005 -
    https://www.mondaq.com/india/trials-appeals-compensation/977352/supreme-court-clears-the-air-on-coparcenary-rights- of-daughters-under-the-hindu-succession-amendment-act-2005 ;
  • Op ed piece – Shamnad Basheer: How an affable, erudite professor influenced everyone around him -
    https://indianexpress.com/profile/columnist/nandini-khaitan/ ;
  • “Debit and Credit Card Data Theft in India: Manifestation of Data Privacy and Data Protection” published by India Law News (Volume 9, Issue 2, 2017) (August 2017);

Panel Discussions

• Panelist for webinar on Time and Cost management in International Commercial Arbitrations. Panel included Mr Gary Born, Mr Stephen Finizio, Mr Sanjeev Kapoor, Mr Kinshuk Banerjee and Ms. Dharshini Prasad https://youtu.be/-ynoqS8SOeA ;
• Moderator for webinar on Virtual Courts. The panel consisted of The Hon’ble Mr Justice Sanjib Banerjee, Sr. Advs. S N. Mookherjee and Mr Mukesh Lahiri. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRewVPsJAeE&t=4267s ;
• Moderator for webinar on Indian Arbitration Guideline Launch 2.0 by IAF. Panel consisted of The Hon’ble Mr Justice A.K. Patnaik (retd.), The Hon’ble Ms. Justice Maushmi Bhattacharya and Sr. Adv Mr S.N.Mookherjee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKihayGQUng ;
• Panelist on ODR hosted by BW Legal
• Panelist for webinar on Inclusive Contract Drafting (responsible for the arbitration and force majeure clauses) for Indian Chamber of Commerce and Merchant Chamber of Commerce;
• Panelist with the then Additional Solicitor General of India, Ms Pinky Anand for a discussion on “Decode Law 4 Women” organized by YFLO Calcutta;
• Panelist with former MP Priya Dutt and journalist Ms Anubha Bhonsle on Social Justice organized by Ladies Studies Group, Kolkata;

Other

• Host Behind The Bookshelves (on Bar & Bench) – a talk show on books and readings with legal luminaries
• Advisor to Standard Indian Legal Citation (SILC) – the first Indian legal citation system.

Thalia MaraghJamaica

Thalia is a dually qualified barrister and attorney at law of the English and Jamaican Bars with over 20 years’ experience. She was called to the Jamaican Bar in 1999 and the English Bar in 2009.

She specialises in human rights, constitutional law and criminal defence. She has appeared in courts and tribunals in Jamaica, the Turks and Caicos Islands and England and Wales where she has appeared in some of the most high profile cases in recent British legal history. She is currently representing a number of bereaved families in the Covid Public Inquiry and has appeared in the Grenfell Public Inquiry, the Public Inquiry into the Manchester Area Bombing, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (ICSA) and the Hillsborough Inquests in which she represented the families of 77 of the 97 Liverpool football fans who died.

She is ranked as a leading junior in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 and was a recipient of the Legal Aid Awards in 2016 for her work on the Hillsborough Inquests (2014 – 2016).

She advises on and has appeared before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in a number of appeals from across the Caribbean: Grant v The Queen [2006] UKPC 2; Tapper v The Queen [2012] UKPC 26; Phipps v The Queen [2012] UKPC 24; Commissioner of Police v Benjamin [2014] UKPC 8; INDECOM v Jamaica Police Federation [2020] UKPC 11

She has also appeared before the Caribbean Court of Justice in the case of Cabral Douglas v The Commonwealth of Dominica [2017] CCJ 1 (OJ) - an appeal involving the interpretation of the provisions of the Caribbean Common Market (CARICOM) Treaty relating to freedom of movement.

Between 2019 – 2020, Thalia was appointed to the JUSTICE Working party “When Things Go Wrong” which was set up to investigate and make recommendations for improvements in Inquests and Public Inquiries.

She also drafted submissions on black death in police custody on behalf of the charity INQUEST for the Dame Elish Angiolini Review of Deaths in Police Custody Review in 2017.

Thalia has been an advocacy trainer, of the Honourable Society of Middle Temple since 2015, member of the Criminal Bar Association, Jamaica Bar Association and Advocates Association of Jamaica.

Fiona EySamoa

Fiona Ey is a Founding Partner of Clarke Ey Koria Lawyers in Apia, Samoa. Her practice focuses on cross-border transactional and dispute resolution work. Over 25 years of practice in the Pacific region and Australia, she has developed particular expertise in corporate, finance, tourism, intellectual property and telecommunications matters. She has consulted extensively in governance and public policy across the region.

Fiona is consistently recognised as a Leading Lawyer for the Pacific Islands in Chambers Asia-Pacific and Global rankings.

Fiona holds a Masters in International Law and undergraduate degrees in history and law from the Australian National University, Canberra. She was admitted to the bar in Samoa in 2002 and the Australian Capital Territory in 1997. She is also an alumna of the East-West Centre’s leadership programmes in Hawaii.

Since 2017, Fiona has been Papua New Guinea’s Honorary Consul to Samoa. She also holds the office of Notary Public. Fiona has served on the Samoa Law Society’s Complaints and Investigation Committee since 2018 and is a member of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and LAWASIA.

Fiona is passionate about the fundamental role that rule of law plays to promote fairness and protect human rights, particularly in small island developing states. She has published various articles about rule of law through Samoa’s constitutional and political crises.

Fiona is a strong believer in community service and mentorship. She was formerly chair of the Samoa Small Business Enterprise Centre (2010-2018), which supports grassroots economic development through access to finance, business training and advisory services. In 2018, Fiona founded Apia International School, an online learning initiative, to promote access to secondary education. She is a mentor to the Eco Toa Pacific youth environment initiative and the Community Music Programme at the National University of Samoa, as well as Honorary Solicitor for Samoa Lifeline / Faataua le Ola.

Kaye A WilliamsBarbados

Kaye A. Williams is an Attorney-at-Law based in Barbados, admitted to the Bar in 1997. She has a first degree in Literature, and obtained an LLB Law degree from the University of the West Indies. She was awarded a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship in Law and Governance, which was tenable at the Law Society of England & Wales in London. A Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, she was also granted a Professional Development Scholarship from the Organization of American States held at the Washington School of Law and received post graduate training in the field of International Trade Law.

She has always maintained a personal interest in the Commonwealth and its shared values, in particular, the importance of the Rule of Law. She is a member of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and a keen participant in Hub activities. As a long-standing Council Member of the Barbados Bar Association, she is has chaired as Convener of the Law Reform and Legislation Committee which reviewed Bills and legislation to provide comments for submission to Working Groups and to Parliament. As Convenor, Kaye presented on behalf of the Barbados Bar on key pieces of legislation such as the Integrity in Public Life Bill, and the Data Protection Bill to Joint Select Committees of both Houses of Parliament chaired by the Attorney General of Barbados.

As a Council member Kaye has served with the Barbados Bar Association to promote the rule of law and to advocate for consultative, participatory and representative approach to law reform. In the years during her tenure as Convenor of the Law Reform and Legislation Committee the Barbados Bar submitted to Parliament calls for reform of existing legislation and comments on wide range of legislation including the Anti-Corruption and Anti-Terrorism Agency Bill, Prevention of Corruption Bill, Whistleblower Protection Bill, Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act, Prison Amendment Act, Draft Sentencing Guidelines, Barbados Citizenship Bill, and Immigration Bill, Employment Rights Tribunal Rules, Non-Contentious Probate Rules, Electronic Filing and Service Rules.

She is presently the Association’s Convenor of the Legal Education Committee.

Kaye has authored a number of articles, including the research article ‘Sentinels and Guardian of the Rule of Law’ on strengthening the rule of law in the delivery of justice, published in The Barbados Bench / Bar Journal. The Journal was a bespoke publication commemorating 50 years of Barbados’ independence produced with the assistance of the Impact Justice Project funded by the Government of Canada and implemented by the Caribbean Law Institute Centre, University of the West Indies.

Kaye is Principal of PineBridge Law, a full service law practice with emphasis on civil litigation, conveyancing, estate and succession law.

Y.C Maikyau, SAN, FCIArbUK

Mr. Yakubu Chonoko MAIKYAU, SAN, FCIArb (UK), FCIMC was called to the Nigerian Bar in December 1990. After NYSC programme, he joined the law firm of Messrs. Danladi Bamaiyi and Co. in Sokoto, where he worked and rose to become the Head of Chambers, until he founded his own law firm, Y. C. Maikyau & Co., in 2003. He was conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in August 2011. Subsequently, he obtained a Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London, United Kingdom and was admitted as Fellow of the Institute (FCIArb) in 2014. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (FICMC).

Mr. Maikyau is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the International Bar Association (IBA). As a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, he has served in many capacities: Member, NBA Legal Profession Regulation Review Committee (LPRRC), which made far-reaching recommendations for the reform of the Profession culminating in the Legal Profession Regulation Bill; Chairman, North Disciplinary Committee from 2012 to 2014; and Chairman, Law and Individual Rights Committee of the Section on Legal Practice; Member, Ad Hoc Welfare Committee set up to assist members during the COVID–19 pandemic; Chairman, NBA Welfare Committee from 2020 to 2022 and Member, NBA National Executive Council (NEC) since 2018. On 26 August 2022, he was sworn-in as the 31st President of the NBA.

As an advocate, Mr. Maikyau gained recognition by his participation as counsel in the Human Rights Violation Investigation Commission of Nigeria – The Oputa Panel. He has handled several notable cases that have had an impact in the Nigerian legal landscape, one of which is Re: Abdullahi, (2018) 14 NWLR (Part 1639) 272, where he convinced the Supreme Court of Nigeria to reach a novel decision. Beyond litigation, he has advised on some project finance and facility disbursement matters and has served on arbitral tribunals in various capacities.

Outside the field of law, Mr. Maikyau is a graduate of Rhema Bible Training Centre, Nigeria, where he obtained a Diploma in Ministerial Training, with emphasis on Societal Leadership. He is a community development and welfare enthusiast and has been responsible for several free medical outreaches in his home state, Kebbi State. Y. C. Maikyau is happily married to Zainab and they are blessed with children.

Anil K. KapoorCanada

Anil Kapoor practices criminal law, appeal and trials, national security law and regulatory law primarily in professional discipline. He has been an adjunct Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, lectured at the Law Society of Upper Canada, Federal Department of Justice, Ontario Court of Justice, Ontario Crown Attorneys’ Association, Criminal Lawyer’s Association, The Federation of Law Societies’ National Criminal Law Program, the National Judicial Institute, Oxford University, University College London (UK) and the Advocates Society. He has appeared at all levels of court including Supreme Court of Canada, provincial courts of appeal in Ontario, Québec, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. In addition to his court-room work, Mr. Kapoor is routinely retained to advise on corporate compliance matters and to conduct internal investigations for various corporate clients and governments. In 2006 he was appointed Commission Counsel to the Commission of Inquiry into the Investigation of the Bombing of Air India Flight 182 (the Air India Public Inquiry). In 2008 the federal government appointed Mr. Kapoor to a roster of Special Advocates to conduct National Security litigation. In 2010 Mr. Kapoor was appointed to the Prime Ministers’ Advisory Council on National Security. Between 2011 and 2014 Mr. Kapoor served on the Board of Directors of the Advocates Society, a professional organization dedicated to promoting excellence in advocacy. Since 2014 he has been on the board of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers where he presently serves as the Chair of the American College’s Gale Cup Moot Committee. He is also a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the International Society of Barristers and the Litigation Counsel of America (Trial Lawyer Honorary Society).

Sir Dennis ByronSt Kitts and Nevis

Sir Dennis Byron was President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (2011-2018), former Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (1999-2009) and has been Chairman of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute in Halifax, Canada since 2000.

The Conference of Heads of Judiciaries of the Caribbean has described Sir Dennis as a judge of “amazing leadership and scholarship” who “has been a burst of talent, energy and stamina” and has made a “rich and sterling contribution to the jurisprudence of the Caribbean.”

His judicial career began in 1982, age 38, when he was appointed as a High Court Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. He was soon frequently sitting as a Court of Appeal Judge in an acting capacity before being appointed a substantive member of the Court of Appeal in 1990.

His 36 years of adjudication have bequeathed an unparalleled jurisprudential legacy. The president of the Organization of Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Associations described Sir Dennis as having a “sharp intellect” and being “a truly international legal icon”.

In 1986, he famously presided over the celebrated case of the Grenada 17 accused of assassinating Prime Minister Maurice Bishop of Grenada – the longest criminal trial in Caribbean history.

As Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court he launched the Judicial Education Institute, produced its Code of Ethics and was the first Chief Justice to implement the English-modelled Civil Procedure Rules in the Caribbean region. The President of the CCJ describes him as “a great judicial reformer” who had “boundless enthusiasm, indefatigable zeal, vision and bold leadership”.

Another colleague on the CCJ described him as leading “spectacular procedural and technological reforms to judicial systems, improving their accessibility and efficiency”.

His international work includes judicial education programmes for the Haitian Judiciary (1995) and membership of a fact-finding mission to investigate abuses against the Rule of Law in Zimbabwe on behalf of the Human Rights Institute of the International Bar Association (2001).

At the invitation of Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, he became a permanent Judge of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in 2004 and was elected President of the Tribunal in May 2007 and re-elected for a second term in May 2009 by his colleagues in recognition of his skills and competence. As President, he was required to present annual reports to the United Nations General Assembly.

Sir Dennis has written many publications and has been a keynote speaker and guest lecturer at renowned events and conferences across several continents, including the 9th Annual Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen International Law Lecture of the United Nations Association of London hosted by the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London.

He also holds the first Yogis & Keddy Chair in Human Rights Law at Dalhousie University.

In a recent interview with Radio Netherlands Worldwide, Sir Dennis highlighted two judgments of the ICTR as trend-setting in international law. Akayesu, which was the first case at the international level to interpret genocide in the light of the Genocide Convention and is also recognized as the seminal authority in international criminal law on sexual violence in conflict situations. As a result of this precedent, rape is now a crime of genocide. Secondly, President Byron highlighted the Media case which has identified the principles governing media responsibility in international criminal law.

Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Dame Janice Pereira, described Sir Dennis as “one of the greatest jurists from the CARICOM region and beyond, his legacy contained in a rich body of judicial pronouncements in every respect immortalized”. Sir Dennis was recently biographed in Sir Dennis Byron: Law Legend by Dr. Francis Alexis.

Richard Clayton KCEngland

Richard Clayton QC practises from London, England. He undertakes many Supreme Court/ Privy Council appeals, practising in public, constitutional and commercial law. His four Privy Council appeals in 2022 include a Bahamas constitutional challenge to security for costs for disproportionately restricting access to the Court and he also represents the AG of Anguilla in compulsory purchase compensation appeal.

Richard works in Anguilla, Bahamas, Belize, Cayman, St Vincent, Trinidad, Turks & Caicos, Channel Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong and Isle of Man and in cases before the European Court of Human Rights. His Supreme Court and Privy Council appeals include Seepersad (2021) (detaining juveniles in adult prison breaches constitutional rights against deprivation of liberty without due process of law and protection of law) Maharaj (2019) (freedom of information), Maharaj (2018) (Commission appointing Supreme Court judges must include lay people), Kennedy (2015) (freedom of information and common law rights), Suratt (2008) (constitutionality of discrimination legislation) Toussaint (2007) (right of access to the court and parliamentary privilege), Huang (2007) (important human rights proportionality case), Greenfield (2005) (principles for human rights damages) and the first environmental case before the Privy Council from Belize, BACONGO (2003).

Richard successfully represented former Prime Minister, Basdeo Panday before the Trinidad CA and was lead Counsel in the 8-day Court of Appeal case for the former Chief Minister of Turks & Caicos, Michael Misick and his cabinet. He was recently instructed in Trinidad in the cartel case and successfully defended judicial review against a Commission of Inquiry.

Richard has been a Deputy High Court Judge since 2011. From 2011-2019 he was the United Kingdom’s representative to the Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional law, the Venice Commission. Richard is a former Chairman of the Constitutional and Administrative Bar Association, a Visiting Professor at University College, London and joint author of the Law of Human Rights (Oxford University Press) cited by the Supreme Court about 45 times.

Lungisani Zulu Zambia

Mr. Lungisani Zulu is the President of the Law Association of Zambia and a Partner in the Commercial Law Firm of Equitas Legal Practitioners in charge of Banking, Finance and Fintech. He has previously served as Senior Legal Counsel of the Zambian Central Bank, Bank of Zambia, where his duties included providing legal guidance to the Central Bank in the formulation and implementation of the financial laws, policies, procedures and practices, litigation services before courts of law and arbitral tribunals among other key legal tasks. Before joining the Central Bank, he had been a lecturer at the University of Zambia teaching commercial law, investment law, land law and trade law as well as working as private practice legal practitioner with Tembo Ngulube & Associates.

Lungisani is an experienced Arbitrator and Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK (MCIArb), Accredited Insolvency Practitioner, member of Listing Committee of the Lusaka Securities Exchange Plc, Notary Public and sits on the Lands Tribunal as member adjudicator.

He is also a Director on the Board of Institute of Directors Zambia championing good corporate governance in the country in addition to sitting on Boards of different commercial business entities. He holds a Master of Laws Degree (LLM) from Cornell University, New York and a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB) from the University of Zambia. He is an Advocate of all Superior Courts in Zambia with over 13 years professional experience.

Barbara MurchieCanada

Ms. Murchie has over 35 years’ experience in conducting civil and Intellectual Property litigation at all levels of the courts in Canada. Her focus has been professional negligence, construction, municipal liability, and pharmaceutical litigation. She is a regular contributor to numerous skills-training and advocacy and ethics-related CPD programs. Ms. Murchie has served as a mentor for many young lawyers over the course of her career. In the community, she has been acting on various charitable boards.

Ms. Murchie is a bencher at the Law Society and an adjudicator at the Law Society Tribunal where she is vice-chair of the Appeal Division. Over the last 10 years and continuing, she has adjudicated many cases in which there are allegations of professional misconduct. She also conducts good character hearings in licensing applications. Ms. Murchie is currently chair of the Professional Development and Competence committee at the Law Society of Ontario.

Bill Holohan SCIreland

Bill Holohan SC, Solicitor and Senior Partner of Holohan Lane LLP solicitors, Cork and Dublin is unique among Irish solicitors, a fact recognised by the September 2020 decision of the Irish Government to award him a Patent of Precedence as result of which he became one of the first group of solicitors in Ireland to become a Senior Counsel Solicitor.

The criteria for appointment as Senior Counsel under section 173 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 require a legal practitioner in his or her practice as a legal practitioner, to have displayed-

• a degree of competence and a degree of probity appropriate to and consistent with the grant to him or her of a Patent,
• professional independence, and
• one or more of the following:
  • a proven capacity for excellence in the practice of advocacy;
  • a proven capacity for excellence in the practice of specialist litigation; or
  • specialist knowledge of an area of law.

As a senior and experienced legal practitioner in professional practice for 40 years, and as the author of no less than nine legal text books in the areas of professional practice, commercial Law, Bankruptcy, Personal Insolvency and Insurance/Professional Negligence, Bill Holohan had no difficulty in satisfying all criteria.

Prior to his appointment as Senior Counsel Solicitor, in another historic precedence, he had also been appointed in 2000 by the Chief Justice of Ireland as a Notary Public for both Cork & Dublin, notaries normally being appointed for single jurisdictions only. He is also an Irish and EU Trade Mark Practitioner and Intellectual Property Attorney.

Over his career he has been awarded multiple awards including the Irish Franchise Association Award for Franchise Person of the Year (2007), (the only service professional ever so honoured by the franchise industry in Ireland), the Irish Law Awards award for Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioner of the year (2013) as well as his firm having been awarded the Irish Law Awards award for Best Law Firm of the year (2017) as well as a host of other legal services industry awards. In October 2021 he was awarded the Award for Irish Lawyer of the year by the Irish Law Awards. In March 2022, the Cork Business Association gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of his contribution to legal and business life.

He has also, in addition to many other roles, served as:

• Secretary, later Treasurer and finally as Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators,
• Director & Council member of the Mediators Institute of Ireland,
• Founder member and Council member of the Irish Society of Insolvency Practitioners,

and currently serves as:

• Council Member of the Law Society of Ireland,
• Chair of the Law Society of Professional Indemnity Insurance Committee,
• Member of the Law Society Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee,
• Member of the Charity Appeals Tribunal, (Ministerial appointment – two terms),
• Member of the Complaints Adjudication Panel for Personal Insolvency Practitioners (Ministerial Appointment – two terms).

Gurukrishnakumar SubramaniamIndia

Guru Krishnakumar graduated in law from the University of Madras with a University Rank. Even while in college, he was an active debator and won prestigious debates at the State and National level. He represented India in the prestigious Phillip C. Jessup International Moot Court competition in Washington D.C. and finished in the top 8 teams of the world.

He was selected by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office under the British Chevening Scholarship Programme for pursuing a course in Commercial and Corporate Law in the UK. This programme involved an academic phase and a practical phase where he worked in a law firm and Barristers’ chambers in London.

He began his career as a legal resource in Larsen and Toubro Ltd one of India’s leading corporate houses. He resigned from the assignment after a brief stint to take up full time litigation work, initially in the Madras High Court and thereafter moved to the Supreme Court of India. In 2012, he was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Supreme Court of India. He has extensive experience of over three decades now in handling disputes and appearing in important cases in varied fields of law, like Constitutional law, Commercial and Corporate laws including Intellectual Property Law, Arbitration law, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Law, Election Disputes etc. He also served as Additional Advocate General of a federal State in the Supreme Court of India. He has appeared pro bono in cases involving issues of significant social implications.

His transnational work experience includes appearance in international commercial arbitrations, advising clients on Indian law in disputes in foreign jurisdictions involving conflict of laws.

He has participated in seminars and conferences at the national and international level and presented papers on various legal issues of topical importance. He presented a paper on “Constitutionalism & Rule of Law - Obstacles to African Development” at the CLC Conference at Livingstone in 2019 and chaired the session.

Justice Gautam PatelIndia

Born in Mumbai on 26th April 1962, Mr Justice G. S. Patel is a graduate of St. Xavier's College and Government Law College. He started practice in 1987 in Mumbai, working on commercial, corporate and civil litigations and also appearing in a large number of environmental public interest litigations including those relating to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, protection of mangroves, town and country planning issues, Melghat National Park, the Mill Lands, protection of open spaces, etc.

In 1994-1995, Mr Justice Patel received the First international Fellowship at Pacific Energy & Resources Center, Sausalito, California in environmental law. This included course work at the University of Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law and an internship with the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund.

He served as the Honorary Secretary of the Bombay Bar Association for two three-year terms from 1999 to 2005 and served on the Association's Standing Committee till his appointment as a High Court judge.

From 2008-2011 he was a part-time lecturer in Administrative Law, Constitutional Law and Environmental Law at Government Law College.

Mr Justice Patel wrote a weekly newspaper column in the Mumbai Mirror for three years. He has also contributed articles to articles and reviews to the Economic & Political Weekly, TimeOut Mumbai, the Mumbai Reader, etc.

Mr Justice Patel has previously served as a trustee on several public charitable trusts and foundations in the fields of education, environment and the hearing-impaired.

Lubna ShujaEngland

Lubna Shuja – Vice President of the Law Society of England and Wales

In October 2022, Lubna became the first Asian, first Muslim and only the 7th female President of the Law Society of England and Wales.

She qualified as a solicitor in 1992. She is a sole practitioner at Legal Swan Solicitors in Birmingham, a firm she set up in 2007, where she now specialises in professional discipline and regulation. She has experience in dealing with family law, conveyancing, personal injury claims, wills/probate and litigation. Prior to 2007, she worked in a high street firm in West Yorkshire for 14 years undertaking litigation and personal injury work.

She is also a Mediator (CEDR accredited) conducting civil and family mediations.

Lubna works with a number of professional regulators. She was a Chair of the Health and Care Professions Tribunal’s Conduct and Competence Committee and Interim Orders Committee. She is currently an Adjudicator Chair of Social Work England’s Fitness to Practise Committee, a Legally Qualified Deputy Chair of the General Pharmaceutical Council’s Fitness to Practise Committee and a Chair of the General Chiropractic Council’s Investigating Committee. Lubna was also a Chair of the Disciplinary, Appeal and Regulatory Committees of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants for 11 years and she was also a Deputy Clerk at the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for over 13 years. She is a past Chair of the Solicitor Sole Practitioners Group (SPG).

Lubna has been a member of the Law Society Council since 2013 representing the interests of sole practitioners. She is a member of the Law Society Board and the Chair of the Law Society’s Strategic Litigation Group. Lubna was the inaugural Chair of the Law Society’s Membership and Communications Committee (2018-2021) and was previously a member of its Membership Board as well as the Finance and Investment Committee.

Donald DeyaTanzania

Don Deya is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU). Among other things, he chairs the Executive Committees of the Pan African Citizens’ Network (PACIN, formerly known as the Centre for Citizens' Participation in the African Union [CCP AU]), the Stop the Bleeding Consortium and the International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect (ICRtoP). He is also the Vice Chair of the Financial Transparency Coalition (FTC). He is a current Steering Committee member (and former Chair) of the African Court Coalition (ACC) and is also a former Secretary of the African Forum of the International Bar Association (AfrIBA). He is also a former member of the Executive Committee of the International Institute of Law Association Chief Executives (IILACE).

He is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, and was previously the CEO of the East Africa Law Society (EALS), and, before that, Acting Executive Director of the Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ-Kenya), and, preceding that, Deputy CEO of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK). While at the EALS, he founded the East African Civil Society Organizations’ Forum (EACSOF).

He litigates extensively at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR), African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AComHPR), and the East African Court of Justice (EACJ). He has engaged in advocacy with several organs and institutions of the African Union (AU), African Development Bank (AfDB), African Legal Support Facility (ALSF), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), amongst others. He also engages the United Nations (UN) system, and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Robin EgertonHong Kong

Robin was admitted as a solicitor in England and Hong Kong in 1984 and he was called to the Hong Kong Bar in August 2004. He is a former Chairman of the Law Society Family Law Committee, the Family Mediation Committee and the Hong Kong Family Law Association. He has sat as an Ad Hoc Family Court Judge. He is a fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and an accredited Mediator. He currently sits on the Hong Kong Bar Council and the Legal Aid Services Council.

Thomas Roe QCEngland

Thomas Roe Q.C. (England & Wales) has a vigorous and wide-ranging practice encompassing commercial and chancery litigation, arbitration, civil fraud, insolvency, property law, constitutional & administrative law, and public international law. He does a great deal of appellate work.

Thomas appears regularly in the High Court, where he is a highly experienced trial lawyer, and Court of Appeal in London. He has argued several cases before the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and dozens before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. He has also appeared often before courts in other jurisdictions, including the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal of The Bahamas, and the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean.

Some recent cases of note in which Thomas has appeared include

• Suraj v Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago [2022] UKPC 26, [2022] 3 W.L.R. 309, concerning the constitutionality of restrictions on gatherings introduced in response to the pandemic, and
• Pakistan International Airline Corp v Times Travel (UK) Ltd [2021] UKSC 40, [2021] 3 W.L.R. 727, [2022] 2 All E.R. 815, which is now the leading English case on the scope of the defence of duress as an answer to a claim in contract.

Thomas is also highly experienced in dealing with legal disputes arising from the business affairs of the Indian Diaspora in the United Kingdom. Recent examples include:

• litigation about the true ownership, dealings with and value of real property portfolios in India subject to an English law trust (Shah [2020] EWHC 1840 (Ch)), and
• litigation concerning the relationship between orders of the High Court in London and the High Court in Delhi about disputed commercial assets in India (Badyal [2019] EWHC 467 (Ch)).

The Legal 500 calls him

• ‘incredibly astute, quick thinking and impressively calm under fire’,

Chambers & Partners says he is

• ‘clever and reliable’, ‘tenacious’ and ‘delightful to work with’.

Thomas Roe Q.C. read English Literature and Law at Cambridge University and was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 1995 and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2014. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Bernard BanksNew Zealand

Bernard is a part time mentor and internal adviser and former Consultant at Gibson Sheat Lawyers, in Wellington, New Zealand. Earlier he was a Partner at Kiely Thompson Caisley in Wellington, a Crown Counsel at the Crown Law Office, Wellington and Office Solicitor for the Department of Labour Head Office. Employment law, public law and immigration law are his particular areas of interest.

Bernard has consulted on issues of employment law and labour market regulation in the region, including project roles for international organisations in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Myanmar.

He has travelled regularly in the Asia Pacific region, and looks forward keenly to the opportunity to resume these activities as we emerge from the restrictions necessitated by the pandemic, and he has offshore conference roles scheduled from late 2022 onwards. He greatly enjoys his professional relationships with employment law colleagues in many jurisdictions in the region.

Bernard is Chair of LAWASIA’s Employment Law Committee and a Vice Chair of LAWASIA’s Constitutional and Rule of Law Committee. He is a former Executive Committee member of the ASEAN New Zealand Business Council and serves as the Council’s Laos Chapter Chair.

He is a co-author of Mazengarb’s Employment Law text book and a joint editor of the Employment Law Bulletin. He has been a speaker and moderator at numerous international conferences.

Lt Col (Dr) Michelle NelSouth Africa

Lt Col (Dr) Michelle Nel, BLC, LLB (Pret) and LLM, LLD (Unisa), is Vice Dean of Social Impact and Personnel and a senior lecturer in Criminal and Military law at the Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University. She joined the Defence Legal Services Division in 1996 as a prosecutor and was appointed as a lecturer in the Department of Mercantile and Public Law (Mil) of the Faculty of Military Science of Stellenbosch University in 2002. She was admitted as advocate to the High Court in 2005 and completed her Doctor of Laws in 2012, titled ‘Sentencing Practice in Military Courts’. She serves as part-time researcher in the Security Institute for Governance and Leadership in Africa’s (SIGLA) maritime governance hub. Her areas of research include International Law, Human Rights, Military Law and Maritime Security. She has also been involved in research on South African Military Unions and has participated in research activities with the Office of the Military Ombud on matters relating to oversight and the expansion of the Office’s African footprint since 2016. Her work has been published in South Africa and internationally.

Research available at:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michelle_Nel

Donovan C. WalkerJamaica

Donovan Walker is a Partner of Hart Muirhead Fatta, Jamaica. Donovan is also a Notary Public and practices in the areas of corporate and commercial law, maritime law, conveyancing, financing and securities, mergers and acquisitions, international trade and investments, sports and entertainment law.

He served as the President of the Jamaican Bar Association and is a Member of its Commercial Law, Publications and Revenue Sub-Committees. Donovan is also a Vice-President of the Organisation of Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Associations (OCCBA). He presently serves as a member of the General Legal Council, Jamaica.

Donovan is the Executive Chairman of Subway (Jamaica) Limited and is a director of the Companies Office of Jamaica, the Maritime Authority of Jamaica and the Citizens Action for Free and Fair Elections. He is the Chairman of the Maritime Authority Pension Fund and served as a Commissioner of the Consumer Affairs Commission, Jamaica.

He is an active Rotarian and a Distinguished Past President of the Rotary Club of Saint Andrew.

Donovan read for a Bachelor of Laws at the University of the West Indies as well as a Master of Laws at University College London. He also studied at the Norman Manley Law School, where he presently serves as an Associate Tutor.

He is named as one of the leading commercial Attorneys-at-Law in Jamaica by Chambers Global as well as IFLR 1000.

Laurie PawlitzaCanada

Laurie is a partner at Torkin Manes LLP, a 100 lawyer law firm in Toronto, Ontario. As the co-head of the firm’s family law group, Laurie works with clients involved in parenting disputes, and in high income and significant property cases.

Laurie writes a regular family law column in the National Post, one of Canada’s two national newspapers. She is consistently recognized for her excellence in family law, including in The Canadian Lawyers Lexpert Directory and The Best Lawyers in Canada.

Tana’ania Small Davis, QCJamaica

Tana’ania is a graduate of the University of the West Indies and the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica. She has over twenty five (25) years in practice having been admitted in Jamaica, British Virgin Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Anguilla. Tana’ania main practice areas are Commercial Litigation, Insolvency and International and Domestic Arbitration. She has considerable experience in preparing and conducting complex multi-jurisdictional litigation and arbitration in the areas of shareholders’ disputes, breach of contracts, and asset tracing and recovery which often involves urgent interim relief by way of freezing orders, orders for disclosure of documents and information, search and seizure orders and injunctions.

Tana’ania is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration and a member of the Bar Associations of Jamaica, Antigua and Anguilla and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and the Recovery and Insolvency Specialists Association (BVI) and the International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Professionals (INSOL), the world-wide federation of national associations for accountants and lawyers who specialise in turnaround and insolvency.

She is a partner at Livingston, Alexander & Levy, Attorneys-at Law in Kingston Jamaica, the oldest law firm in the Commonwealth Caribbean.

Justice L Nageswara RaoIndia

Justice L Nageswara Rao practiced law from 1984 to 1994 in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and thereafter till 2016 in the Supreme Court of India. He was designated as a Senior Counsel in the year 2000. He served as Assistant Solicitor General of India from August 2003 to May 2004 and from August 2013 to December 2014. He was elevated to the Supreme Court of India in May 2016. He was the seventh person who was elevated directly from the Bar. He retired as a Supreme Court Judge on 08th June 2022.

Justine CollinsJamaica

Justine Collins CIPP/E, CIPM is an Attorney-at-Law at Hart Muirhead Fatta and was called to the Bar in Jamaica in 2016, after having completed her studies at the Norman Manley Law School. She received a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) with honours from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados.

Justine is also the holder of a Master of Laws (LLM) in Commercial and Corporate Law with Distinction from Queen Mary, University of London. She has an avid interest in technology law, with a research focus on blockchain applications, computer law, financial technology (Fintech) and E-commerce law. Justine also has a certificate in Fintech Law and Policy from Duke University and a certificate in Fintech from the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional for European law (CIPP/E) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

The Hon Justice J A Logan RFDAustralia

The Honourable Justice John Alexander Logan RFD was appointed to the Federal Court of Australia in September 2007.

He graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws. Justice Logan was admitted to the Queensland Bar in 1980. He was then working in the Commonwealth Crown Solicitor’s office in Brisbane. He commenced private practice at the Queensland Bar in 1984 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 1999.

Since 2011, Justice Logan has held an additional commission as a judge of the Supreme and National Courts of Papua New Guinea. He visits PNG periodically to sit on that country’s appeal court, the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea.

Justice Logan also serves as President of Australia’s Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal. He was a member of Australia’s Army Reserve, being awarded the Reserve Force Decoration (RFD) in 1993 in respect of lengthy, efficient service as an officer.

From 2010 to 2020, Justice Logan was a Deputy President and sometime Acting President of Australia’s Administrative Appeals Tribunal

Narghis BUNDHUN SCMauritius

Narghis BUNDHUN SC
605 Chancery House, Lislet Geoffroy Street,
Port-Louis, Republic of Mauritius
(+230) 211 12 51
narghis@nbundhunchambers.com

I obtained a “Licence en droit” and a “Maîtrise en droit” from Université de la Réunion, and passed the Mauritian bar, and became a barrister in 1989. In addition, I hold a Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration from the Chartered Institute of Arbitration (UK), and I am a trained and qualified mediator accredited by the same institution. More recently, I submitted a paper titled “Muslim religious marriage in Mauritius Law” in the course of a “Diplôme Universitaire en droit civil mauricien”.

My practice as a barrister, is centred around family law. This expertise has allowed me to teach as part-time lecturer in family law whether at the University of Mauritius or for the professional examinations (for Barristers, Attorneys and Notaries). I have contributed to the redaction of statutory instruments for the Ministry of Women, Child Welfare and Family Protection (Foster care regulations in 2001, compendium of laws relating to children in 1999 and “Code de la Famille” in 1993). I was appointed on a Committee by the Attorney General to work on the re-introduction of Muslim Personal Law in Mauritius.

In 2022, I wrote the chapter on ”droit de la famille” in “Droit de l’ile Maurice » published by « Association Henri Capitant”.

I have been an expert witness on matrimonial property before several jurisdiction including Quebec, Canada, Johannesburg South Africa and the Seychelles.

In 2016, I was one of the first two women to be appointed as Senior Counsel. I was also the first woman to be the Chairperson of the Mauritius Bar Association in 2000, position that I have served on two further occasions. In addition in 2001, I was appointed for 4 consecutive mandates as a member of the Electoral Supervisory Commission and Electoral Boundaries Commission, and I sat on the Law Reforms Commission. Since 2009, I have been a fellow of the International Association of Family Lawyers.

I am the founder of the Chambers of Narghis Bundhun SC, a boutique law chambers currently comprising of 6 barristers, that specialises in family law.

Ian McDougall

Ian P. McDougall
Executive Vice President & General Counsel
LexisNexis Legal & Professional

Ian McDougall is the Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the LexisNexis, Legal & Professional division of RELX Group PLC.

Mr. McDougall joined LexisNexis in 2004 as Vice President and Legal Director for LexisNexis International (LNI), where he oversaw the legal function for the group, including Regulatory Compliance, Commercial Agreements, IT, Intellectual Property and Litigation. Mr. McDougall was also involved in business strategy, acquisitions and general business planning. At LexisNexis, Mr. McDougall has stepped into varying roles, including Interim CEO of Asia Pacific. In addition, he led the LexisNexis implementation of the U.K. Bribery Act compliance and created the organization’s first broad regulatory compliance review program.

Before joining LexisNexis, he led Legal, HR and Facilities departments at Telco Global Ltd., previously one of the largest U.K. independent telecom providers

Mr. McDougall sits on the United Nations Rule of Law Steering Committee and is a member of the UN General Counsel Advisory Board. Until Mr. McDougall’s move to New York he was a Board Director and Trustee for U.K. charity Peaceful Place, which is dedicated to providing support to sufferers of early-onset dementia. He was also appointed as judge in the Barrister’s Disciplinary Tribunal and is a broadcast cricket commentator in association with the Royal National Institute for the Blind. Mr. McDougall is based in London.

Robert LathamUSA

Bob Latham, Partner, Jackson Walker LLP, Dallas Texas USA

In his 39 years as a trial lawyer, Robert P. “Bob” Latham has distinguished himself in multiple areas including media law and intellectual property litigation and has chaired both practice areas at Jackson Walker. His trial practice also involves complex commercial disputes as well as unfair competition, sports, securities, employment, banking, telecommunications, energy, international, and class action matters. Bob is a former President of the Media Law Resource Center Defense Counsel Section, a member of the Governing Committee of the American Bar Association Forum on Communications Law, and currently serves on the International Board of ARTICLE 19, an NGO based in London that promotes freedom of expression around the world. He is a former board member of the United States Olympic Committee, a former Chairman of USA Rugby, and has served on the Executive Committee of World Rugby for the last 11 years, where he also chairs the World Rugby Regulations Committee. As well as a trial lawyer, Bob is a published author and columnist, and a much sought-after speaker nationally and internationally. He has spoken on matters related to the rights of free speech, technology and intellectual property litigation, advocacy and litigation strategy, dispute resolution and sports.

Bob has recently been appointed as Chair of the International Board of ARTICLE 19, an NGO that facilitates several campaigns on freedom of expression and information and also works to preserve freedom of expression through legal and policy work. More information can be found by visiting this link Bob Latham Article 19.

Pallavi ShroffIndia

Designation | Managing Partner & National Practice Head, Dispute Resolution

Practice | Dispute Resolution and Arbitration, Competition Law

Professional Membership | Supreme Court Bar Association; Delhi High Court Association

Education | B.A (Eco. Hons), University of Delhi, Master of Management Studies (i.e. MBA) from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, LLB from Government Law College, Mumbai

Pallavi S. Shroff is the Managing Partner of Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas with over 39 years of extensive experience. Her broad and varied representation of public and private corporations and other entities before various national courts, tribunals and legal institutions has earned her national and international acclaim. Pallavi is the Head of the Dispute Resolution practice at the Firm. She also mentors the Competition Law practice at the Firm. Pallavi Shroff is a member of the Competition Law Review Committee, constituted by the Government of India to ensure that the legislation is in tune with the changing business environment. She is also recently appointed as a member of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance (India Chapter - one of 5 women in India selected), constituted by the Government of India.

Pallavi Shroff actively contributes to public-policy related work. She is also presently a director on the boards of prestigious Indian companies including Apollo Tyres, Trident Group, One97 Communications Ltd (Paytm), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, IndiGo and Juniper Hotels Ltd.

For her legal acumen and thought leadership, she is frequently featured by several international publications. She was conferred with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the Chambers India Awards 2019. She has been recognised as one of the Most Powerful Women in Indian Business by Business Today and Fortune India. Business World recognised her as the one of ‘The Most Influential Women in India’ for her exceptional contribution in the field of law. She has also been honoured with the ‘Award of Mulan’ at the BRICS Women Innovation Contest.

Roger ChinMalaysia

Roger Chin is the current President of the Sabah Law Society. Having graduated with an LLB and Bcom from The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, he started the first part of career at Accenture as a Business Analyst in the Strategy Capability Group before entering the legal profession and eventually becoming a Partner in Chin Lau Wong & Foo, Sabah, Malaysia. He is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia and a registered patent, trade mark and industrial design agent. He practices mainly in the fields of dispute resolution, corporate & commercial and intellectual property with a keen interest on building businesses with clients and sourcing for investments for Sabah, Malaysia.

Gregory DasMalaysia

Gregory Das is a Partner at Messrs Steven Thiru & Sudhar Partnership.

His practice has a particular emphasis in public and administrative law, employment law, corporate and commercial litigation and litigation related to property development.

Gregory is the author of “The Law and Practice of Judicial Review in Malaysia”, which is the first practitioner’s text exclusively on the law of judicial review in Malaysia.

Gregory is also a former Vice – President of the Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators.

Gregory read law at the University of Bristol and graduated with an LL.B. (Hons) degree in 2010. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales by the Inner Temple in 2011. He was thereafter called to the Malaysian Bar in 2012.

Desirée ArtesiSt Lucia

Desiree was called to the Bar of England Wales in October 1998 by Inner Temple. Desiree has a diverse civil and commercial practice, as well as, all aspects of property, public law and judicial review. She is experienced at tacking the most complex of community legislation and regulatory regimes and judicial review. Desiree is regularly instructed and has successfully appeared in the Privy Council in appeals concerning difficult, complex and interesting points of constitutional and human rights law. Desiree has a particular interest in international commercial arbitration with a focus on Caribbean and North American jurisdictions. Desiree is a member of the Caribbean Group of ArbitratorsDesiree has a predominantly Privy Council practice.

Desiree was called to the Bar in St Lucia with the ability to practice throughout the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

Desiree was appointed as a Bencher to the Honourable Society of Inner Temple.

In July 2020 Desiree was appointed as Legal Chair to a telecommunications regulatory tribunal.

Over the years Desiree have written extensively and engaged in professional training at all levels. She has also contributed articles for Practical Law (Thomson Reuters), and is currently a regular webinar speaker for MBL Seminars Limited.

Desiree has a particular interest in the challenges faced by small jurisdictions and is an Associate of the Island Rights Initiative, a consultancy and think tank dedicated to helping small island communities facing global human rights challenges.
www.islandrights.org/about-us/

Desiree is an affiliate expert of the Centre for Law and Social Justice at Leeds University and has a keen interest in social justice issues.

Desiree is a visiting lecturer with Dr Adaeze Okoyo, Law, Brighton University.

David A. Lavery CBNorthern Ireland

The Law Society of Northern Ireland Chief Executive

David Lavery was appointed Chief Executive of the Law Society of Northern Ireland in September 2019.

Mr Lavery also previously served as Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service and as Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Northern Ireland Department of Justice.

He also served as Principal Private Secretary to Northern Ireland’s First Minister from 1998-2001.

Mr Lavery holds an LLB from Queen’s University, Belfast and an LL.M from Harvard Law School and he spent the earlier part of his career in private practice at the Northern Ireland Bar.

He was a Knox Fellow at Harvard and an Associate at Harvard’s Centre for International Affairs. He is an Eisenhower Fellow and a Visiting Professor at Ulster University.

Mr Lavery is a Member of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

In 2008 he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath.

Ian FreckletonAustralia

Ian Freckelton is a Queen’s Counsel in full-time practice throughout Australia. His practice is trial, appellate and advisory. He was admitted to the Bar in 1988 and took silk in 2007. He is also a Judge of the Supreme Court of Nauru and has been a member of 9 administrative tribunals.

Ian is a Professor of Law and a Professorial Fellow in Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne where he is a co-director of the postgraduate health programme; an Honorary Professor of Forensic Medicine at Monash University; and an Adjunct Professor at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand and at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. He is an elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, the Australian Academy of Social Sciences and the Australasian College of Forensic Medicine. He is the Editor of the Journal of Law and Medicine and the Founding Editor of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law.

Ian is the author of some 50 books, including latterly Expert Evidence: Law, Practice, Procedure & Advocacy (7th edn, Thomson Reuters, 2023); Australian Public Health Law (w Bennett, Federation Press, 2022); COVID-19: Law, Regulation and Human Rights (w Bennett and Wolf, OUP, 2022), Pandemics, Public Health Emergencies and Government Powers (w Bennett, Federation Press, 2021); and Scholarly Misconduct (OUP, 2016), as well as more than 700 scholarly articles and chapters of books. He has given over 750 scholarly presentations in more than 30 countries.

In 2021 Professor Freckelton was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for “distinguished service to the law and the legal profession in fields including health, medicine and technology”.

William Wylie ClarkeFiji

Wylie, as he prefers to be called, is a graduate in law of the Australian National University. He also has an honours degree in Government from the University of Sydney. He was admitted to the High Court of the Australian Capital Territory in 1995 and subsequently to the Fiji bar in 1996. He was a Prosecutor with the Director of Public Prosecutions Office from 1996 until 1998.

Wylie is a commercial lawyer in Fiji and has been Westpac Bank’s main legal advisor in Fiji for over 17 years. He is a former president of the Fiji-Australia Business Council and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Fiji advisory board.

Wylie’s areas of practice include finance, property and resort development, mergers and acquisitions, transaction negotiations and documentation as well as commercial litigation.

Wylie is a former President of the Fiji Red Cross National Society and is a current member of the Governing Board of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, based in Geneva. He is also a founding and former member of the Compliance and Mediation Committee, a part of the International Federation established to assist it with governance matters and in taking any steps necessary to resolve potential breaches of integrity by National Societies and to resolve disputes; he served on that committee for 8 years.

An important and enduring focus of Wylie’s work has been in the area of governance and compliance. A key role he has fulfilled for more than 10 years has been to advise the International Federation of the Red Cross on matters pertaining to actual and potential breaches of integrity. He has also worked with domestic national societies to assist them with building and ensuring the continuity of governance structures and he has also help assist in ensuring their elections are conducted in accordance with their rules.

Wylie was elected President of the Fiji Law Society in September 2020 and appointed to the LAWASIA Exco in 2021. In 2022 Wylie was co-opted as Council Member of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association.

Gwendolyn ParkinEngland

GWENDOLYN PARKIN MBA, MA, BA UKCP

Gwendolyn Parkin is a Director/Founder/Consultant/Psychotherapist and Lecturer. She created and directs IntegralCareer ltd., a pioneering career and organisational consultancy which provides innovative and impactful services for clients to achieve commercial success, career fulfilment and thrive into the Future of Work.

Her methodology combines disciplines including commercial/ business, psychotherapy, neuroscience, and macro ‘Future of Work' trends. A key component is the analysis of an individual's work and life experience to understand key skills and competencies and how they can transfer into future work careers. Gwendolyn has developed this approach for over 25 years at IntegralCareer but also from her previous roles such as a Strategy Consultant for the Boston Consulting Group and General Manager for People Express Airlines, a start up company which revolutionised the airline industry post deregulation in the 1980’s.

Additionally, Gwendolyn is also a VP Emeritus and Board Member of the HBS London Alumni Club and has been responsible for developing career and leadership events for alumni in London and globally. At the St. Gallen MBA Programme, has been a Lecturer and Career Lead for the where she wrote and delivered a required course called Career Strategy. As a Course Tutor and Psychotherapist for The School of Life, Gwendolyn designs and delivers the sell-out Career Counselling sessions: and previously taught the pioneering ‘Finding a Career That Fits’ course both of which have been attended by 1000’s of participants.

Gwendolyn has worked with clients from multiple nationalities across the globe, diverse backgrounds, seniority levels, and industries including law, business, healthcare, education and countless others. She has also developed partnerships with many organisations including Harvard Business School, The School of Life, The Tavistock Consultancy Service and The Institute of Directors. She has an MBA from Harvard Business School, an MA in Psychotherapy and Counselling from City University/Regents University, a BA in English from Boston College and is UKCP accredited. She has worked and lived in the UK, Europe, Asia and the US, speaks German and is first generation American, with German and British heritage.

Diana Asonaba DapaahGhana

Diana Asonaba Dapaah is a Deputy Attorney-General and Deputy Minister for Justice of the Republic of Ghana.

Until her appointment as a Deputy Attorney-General & Deputy Minister for Justice, Ms. Dapaah was a lecturer in law at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) where she taught Corporate Law and Governance, Public International Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and Human Rights Law.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Dapaah was a Senior Associate of Sam Okudzeto & Associates, one of the leading law firms in Ghana, where she brought her over a decade experience to bear in handling complex cases before the Superior Courts and lower courts of Ghana. Ms. Dapaah also served as an arbitral tribunal secretary and subsequently as an arbitrator with the Ghana Arbitration Centre.

As a trainer in ADR and Human Rights as well as a World Bank certified trainer in corporate governance, she has trained lawyers, judges and ACCA members in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Ms. Dapaah has also served as a consultant for both local and international institutions including the EU’s Accountability, Rule of law and Anti-Corruption Programme (ARAP) and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Ghana. She is one of the founders of the Ghana ADR Hub and served as its Vice President. In June 2020, Ms. Dapaah was named one of Africa’s 50 Most Promising Young Arbitration Practitioners by the Association of Young Arbitrators.

Ms. Dapaah graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with first class honours in law and the Fordham University School of Law where she graduated with an LL.M (cum laude).

Ms. Dapaah is a member of the Ghana Bar Association and the New York Bar.

The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KCSecretary-General of the Commonwealth

Patricia Scotland was born in the Commonwealth of Dominica. She is the tenth of twelve children and grew up in London. She completed her LLB (Hons) London University at the age of twenty and was called to the Bar at Middle Temple at the age of twenty-one.

Her career has been marked by achieving a number of extraordinary firsts, not least of which was to be the first woman in the more than 700-year history of the office to serve as Her Majesty’s Attorney-General for England and Wales and for Northern Ireland.

While holding these and other senior ministerial office she was given responsibility, inter alia, for gender equality, domestic violence, forced marriage, and international child abduction, and from these positions promoted diversity and equality of opportunity, particularly for women and girls.

As the only woman to have been appointed Secretary-General of Commonwealth she is placing special emphasis on mobilising the 56 nations of the Commonwealth to tackle climate change – including its disproportionate impact on women – and, through women’s enterprise, to build the resilience of smaller or more vulnerable countries. Eliminating domestic violence and violence against women and girls is another area of focus.

Boma Alabi OON, SAN Nigeria

Boma Alabi, OON, SAN is a Senior Partner of Primera Africa Legal (PAL). She leads PAL’s Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice.

In addition to being an experienced Arbitrator and accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator, Boma specializes in International Tax Law, Maritime Law, Mergers & Acquisitions and Capital Market Transactions. She has advised on some of Nigeria’s leading commercial deals in a number of sectors including real estate and infrastructure, manufacturing, banking, hospitality, telecommunications, maritime, energy, project funding and development.

She served as the President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association 2011-2013, the first and only woman President in the over 50 year history of this association of lawyers from 54 countries, across 7 Continents. She was a Council Member of the Board of the Royal Commonwealth Society and also served as the Chairwoman of the Association of Women Solicitors of England and Wales between 2005/2006. She is a member of the Institute of Directors and the ICC.

She serves on the board of ALFA International, and as Chairman of the Board of Just Commercial Vehicles Ltd, and The Shipping Association of Nigeria. In addition, Boma serves as an INED on the Board of ARM Harith, and Cowry Assets Management. She is also on the advisory board of WISCAR, a not for profit structured mentoring organization.

Hon. B. St. Michael Hylton OJ, QC Jamaica

B. St. Michael Hylton O.J., Q.C. is an Attorney-at-Law with a distinguished career in both the private and public sectors. A graduate of the University of the West Indies and the Norman Manley Law School, Mr. Hylton spent the first 24 years of his professional life at one of Jamaica’s leading law firms.

In 2001 he resigned from the firm to accept appointment as Solicitor General of Jamaica, a position he held until he retired in 2007 to return to private practice.

Mr. Hylton was Chairman of the General Legal Council (the statutory body that regulates the legal profession in Jamaica) between 2010 and 2016. He has also chaired other regulatory bodies including:

• The Caribbean Financial Action Task Force;
• The Financial Services Commission; and
• The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority

In 2016 he was appointed as a Commissioner of the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission and has been its deputy Chairman since 2021. In 2022 he was appointed as a temporary Judge of the Supreme Court of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Mr. Hylton has written and published numerous legal articles and has made many presentations at conferences throughout the Commonwealth. In addition to Jamaica, he is also admitted to practice in Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts Nevis, Grenada and the British Virgin Islands.

In 1995 Mr. Hylton was appointed Queens Counsel, and in 2006 he was awarded the Order of Jamaica in recognition of his contribution to Law and the Public Service.

Keith Anderson LL.B, LL.M Canada

Keith is a lawyer who had depression. He is a graduate of Dalhousie Law School ( LL.B., 1983) and University College London ( LL.M., 1987). Keith lives in Nova Scotia, Canada.

He first went public with his journey in an article in the National Post newspaper, called How I Returned to a Life Worth Living, published on February 20, 2008.

Since then, Keith has spoken at national and international mental health conferences, legal conferences, universities, and fundraisers.

His articles have appeared in publications of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, the Canadian Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.

He has also served on numerous Boards of Directors and Committees for mental health non-profit groups.

Keith was a volunteer with Glenn Close’s mental health advocacy group, Bring Change to Mind, for many years.

In the fall of 2015, Keith launched Worth Living Mental Health Consulting, which offers a blog, podcasts, consulting, and conferences. Worth Living is a safe, diverse, international online community where people gather to share their personal journeys with mental health challenges. The message is one of Hope Healing Health and Happiness.

Last summer, Keith published the book, Life Worth Living: A Mental Health Anthology. He wrote Chapter 1- Darkest Days to the Brightest Nights. He was then joined by 11 other authours each contributing a chapter about their journey. It is an incredibly diverse group of authours, from Canada, the United States, and Nigeria.

Keith also works with the Canadian Mental Health Association Nova Scotia as the Provincial Lead: Peer Support and Community Suicide Prevention. He also serves on the Social Justice Committee at CMHA NS and the Suicide Prevention and Risk Reduction Working Group which is led by the Nova Scotia Provincial Department of Health and Wellness.

He has recently accepted an offer to join The Associates Consulting Firm while continuing with his current work.

When he is not working, Keith enjoys concerts, traveling, and celebrating life with great food.

Dr Tawanda Hondora The Commonwealth Secretariat

Tawanda has over 20 years' senior management experience in the inter-governmental, philanthropic, and civil society sectors. He is a dual-qualified lawyer with extensive private legal practice and in-house experience and has litigated in a number of international jurisdictions. He possesses extensive experience in influencing the strengthening of rule of law frameworks through consensus-building, awareness-raising, technical assistance, grant-making, and the use of strategic litigation. He previously worked as an Investments Director at Humanity United and as Head of Strategic Litigation at Amnesty International, among other senior roles. Most recently, he was the Executive Director of World Federalist Movement – Institute for Global Policy (WFM-IGP), an organization that acts as the Secretariat for the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC) and the International Coalition on the Responsibility to Protect.

The Hon Mr Justice Adrian Saunders

The Honourable Mr. Justice Adrian Saunders,
President of the Caribbean Court of Justice

The Honourable Mr. Justice Adrian Dudley Saunders, a native of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill) in 1975 and a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad & Tobago in 1977. He began his legal career as a barrister and solicitor in private practice in his home country. In 1990, he established the firm of Saunders & Huggins before being invited to join the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) High Court Bench in 1996. On May 1st 2003, Mr. Justice Saunders was appointed to the ECSC’s Court of Appeal and served as acting Chief Justice between 2004 and 2005.

While at the ECSC, Mr. Justice Saunders developed a passion for and was deeply involved in various judicial reform efforts. These included the introduction of court-connected mediation in the Eastern Caribbean and the development of that Court’s first Judicial Code of Ethics. He also served as Chairman of the ECSC’s Judicial Education Institute from 2001 to 2004. His work in judicial education has continued with the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute (CJEI). He earned a Fellowship of the CJEI in 1998 and, for several years was the Course Director of The CJEI’s Intensive Study Programme. He is also one of the Institute’s Directors.

In 2005, Mr. Justice Saunders was among the first cohort of judges to join the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) bench. Mr. Justice Saunders has contributed greatly to regional judicial outreach and judicial education efforts. He is a founding member of the Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers (CAJO) and has served as the organization’s Chairman since its inception in 2009. Due to his active engagement in advancing judicial integrity, Mr. Justice Saunders serves on the Advisory Board of the Global Judicial Integrity Network by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) Global Programme for the Implementation of the Doha Declaration.

Mr. Justice Saunders’ interests also extend to the area of court administration where he has adopted an active role in the CCJ’s public education and other strategy development projects. He led the development of the Court’s first Strategic Plan in 2012 and chaired the project to develop the Strategic Plan for 2018-2023 and continues to be involved in its on-going execution.

Mr. Justice Saunders has written many legal articles and publications and is a Consulting Editor of The Caribbean Civil Court Practice and a co-author of Fundamentals of Caribbean Constitutional Law. From 2009 – 2019 he served as Chairman of the Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers which, in collaboration with UN Women, played a leading role in developing and promoting the adoption of Gender Sensitive Protocols for Judicial Officers for various Caribbean judiciaries. He also lectured part time at the UWI, St Augustine Faculty of Law on Constitutional Law.

At its 29^th Intersessional Meeting in Port au Prince, Haiti, in February 2018, the Caribbean Community Heads of Government agreed to the recommendation of the Regional and Judicial Legal Services Commission (RJLSC) that the Honourable Mr. Justice Adrian Saunders be appointed President of the Caribbean Court of Justice. He assumed the office of President on July 4, 2018.

The Honourable Mr Justice Saunders is married to Marilyn née Joslyn and the couple has two sons, Yuri and Yanek.

Mohammad Akram Sheikh Pakistan

Mr. Sheikh, a Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of Pakistan is a fierce advocate of human rights in Pakistan.

Mr. Sheikh in his illustrious career spanning more than 48 years, has served as an elected member of the Pakistan Bar Council and Council Member of the Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association. He was the head of the Pakistani delegation to the 49th United Nations Sub Commission on ‘Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities’ held at Geneva in 1997. Having served as the country president of the Union International des Avocats, Mr. Sheikh is also a founder president of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan.

Mr. Sheikh has an extensive practice spanning over more than four and a half decades in civil, revenue, criminal, commercial, international and constitutional matters. He has the largest number of reported judgments in various jurisdictions from Commercial International Agreements on Jurisdiction and Choice of Law Clauses, Constitutional and other areas of Private International Law.

Have more than 550 reported cases each not only interpreting law but having consequential impact on the rest of the cases.

Mr. Sheikh has been involved in a large number of cases of great constitutional significance in Pakistan including the Dissolution of the National Assembly case, challenge to the 18th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2010, and the reinstatement of the former Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Justice Iftkhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Mr. Sheikh has authored Protection of Pakistan Act 2013 and has been the Lead Counsel in most of the cases involving terrorism or the legislation relating to Terrorist Activates Act.

Conducted a high profile case (writ of quo warranto) against Jehangir Khan Tareen ex-MNA of PTI for disqualification under Article 62 & 63 of the Constitution reported as PLD 2018 SC 114.

Successfully prosecuted former Chief of Army Staff Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf on the offences of the High Treason for abrogating the Constitution.

In 2012, successfully represented Mr. Mansoor Ijaz before the “Memogate” Commission, which was the first fact finding Commission of its kind in Pakistan’s judicial history with a direct mandate from the Supreme Court of Pakistan using video link for recording evidence of Mansoor Ijaz, the only witness carrying messages to the US Security Chief from the President of Pakistan. Hence, pioneered the use of internet, digital and modern technology for purposes of recording evidence in Pakistan.

Conducted Mehram Ali vs Federation of Pakistan, PLD 1998 SC 1445, as a result Government amended the Anti-Terrorism Act and incorporated the changes as suggested by the Supreme Court. On October 24, 1998, the Anti- Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance was issued. The provisions of this act were ultra vires to Constitution, and Independence of judiciary was upheld.

In 1989, Mr. Sheikh conducted the first case of floor crossing (political defections) before the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

During 1988-1990, Mr. Sheikh successfully acted before the Supreme Court in a famous case pertaining to “determination of the powers & relations between the Federal Government & the Province of the Punjab”.

In 1983, successfully defended Safia Bibi, a visually impaired rape victim. Her case has revolutionized Muslim laws on rape and criminal evidence in Pakistan and the case continues to be taught in law schools across the world.

Mihir Govilkar India

A 3rd Generation Advocate, Mihir Govilkar is a Partner at Govilkar & Associates LLP; a full-service litigation firm based in Mumbai, India. He is also empanelled as a Mediator with ADR ODR International and is an Advisor & Mediator with Mediation Initiative, a boutique mediation services provider.

Having an MBA, an MSc in Finance and an LL.B. degree; with experience in the fields of hotels, tourism and law under his belt, Mihir brings a unique blend of attributes to the table which provide him with an insightful perspective on the issues at hand. His field of work primarily covers property disputes, company matters, IPR, debt recovery, family law, Constitutional law and general legal advisory. He currently represents private institutions/individuals as well as Government bodies in the Courts.

Mihir's disputes resolution practice spans the different modes of litigation, arbitration and mediation.

Mihir is a Certified Mediator, registered with the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (under the aegis of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, India) and he has also completed the Civil/Commercial Mediation Training Course offered by ADR-ODR International, recognized by the UK Civil Mediation Council (CMC), certified by the International Mediation Institute (IMI) and accredited by the Singapore International Mediation Institute (SIMI).

In addition to English, Hindi & Marathi, Mihir has professional proficiency in French. He is a food connoisseur, a budding audiophile, collects fountain pens and is one of the founding members of the Fountain Pen Association of India.

Karen Cheah Yee Lynn Malaysia

Karen Cheah Yee Lynn is the President of the Malaysian Bar for the 2022/2023 term.

She was the Chairman of the Malacca State Bar Committee from 2012 to 2015, and was elected as Council Member for 7 consecutive terms from 2016 to 2023.

She was appointed as the Treasurer of the Malaysian Bar during the terms 2013/2014 and 2014/2015, and has also served as the Secretary of the Malaysian Bar for two terms (2015/2016 and 2016/2017).

She is the Co-Chairperson of the Bar Council Committee to Reform the Legal Sector (LPA Amendment). She is also a member of the following Bar Council committees: Committee on AMLA, Corporate and Commercial Law Committee, Finance Committee, and Women’s Rights Committee.

She was the Chairperson of the Bar Council Ad Hoc Committee on Conditional Fee Rules (Re Non-Personal Injuries), Co-Chairperson of the Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee, and Co-Chairperson of the Bar Council International Professional Services Committee.

Juliet Ibekaku Nigeria

Current and Previous Positions:

Special Assistant to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari on Justice Sector Reform/International Relation/Asset Recovery in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (2016 to Date)

• Pioneer National Coordinator, Open Government Partnership Support Unit, Nigeria (2016-2019)
• Immediate Past Director, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU, 2012-2013), EFCC
• Legal Adviser, Commonwealth Secretariat, Senegal (Advising the ECOWAS FATF-Regional Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism Group – GIABA, 2007-2010)
• Assistant Director, International Cooperation, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (2004-2013)
• National Program Coordinator, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC, 2002-2004)
• Program Manager, United States Agency for International Development (USAID, 2000-2002)

Professional Achievements

Mrs. Ibekaku-Nwagwu is a Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Justice Sector Reform and International Relation from 2016 to Date with a focus on international asset recovery and management as well as the use of recovered assets for sustainable development.

She has (29) twenty-nine years postgraduate call experience and has worked extensively in the anti-corruption sector in Nigeria and internationally. She is also an international criminal law attorney and development expert. She was called to the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor in 1993. She has a Masters in International Human Rights, Humanitarian and Criminal Law from the University of Lagos, Nigeria She is currently finishing her Masters program in MA in Governance and Corruption at the University of Sussex, UK. She has a postgraduate certificate in anti-corruption studies, investigation and prosecution of financial and economic crimes from the University of Hong Kong.

Ms. Ibekaku-Nwagwu has investigated several corruption cases and won an Egmont FIU Award for the Best Case while serving as Acting Director of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit of EFCC from 2012-2013. She was also instrumental in the removal of Nigeria from the FATF Non-Cooperating Countries or “Grey List” in 2013. She is a recognized international expert on open government, anti-money laundering, financial crime and anti-corruption. She has done extensive work in the development of legislation on fraud, financial crime and terrorist funds.

Education:
Barrister Ibekaku-Nwagwu is an alumnus of

• University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu Campus
• University of Lagos,
• Nigerian Law School,
• Hague Academy of International Law, Netherlands,
• University of Hong Kong Program on Anti-corruption, University of Salzburg, Austria’s program on international human rights and humanitarian law as well as
• the United States International Florida Bankers’ Association.
• Most recently, she participated in a certificate course on Applying Behavioral Insights to the Design of Public Policy for Senior Executives, at the Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Education.

Through her work on governance, she has made significant contributions to the review of laws, regulations, and procedures to strengthen anti-corruption institutional and legal measures in Nigeria and internationally, including the following laws:

• Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit Act 2018
• Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 2018
• Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022
• Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022
• Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022

Her innovative work in ensuring that Nigeria has a credible anti-corruption system through “AN EFFECTIVE LEGAL FRAMEWORK” has gained her much accolade in Nigeria and internationally.

Growing up, Barrister Ibekaku-Nwagwu’s dream was to be a lawyer – not just an ordinary lawyer but a lawyer whose work would intersect the critical crossroad of “justice and development”. Determined to achieve this goal, Barrister Ibekaku on graduation from law school, worked closely with women’s rights organizations to achieve her dream. Her work with “BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights and Shelter Rights Initiative” gave her the opportunity not only to bring justice closer to the ordinary Nigerians, but also gave her the opportunity to speak out for women and children’s rights. She also provided pro-bono legal services to victims of rape and domestic violence. From 1999 to 2002, she participated actively as a member of the Nigerian civil society delegation in the negotiation of the provisions of “Gender-based violence” in the Rome Statute during the establishment of the International Criminal Court.

She is an advocate for the strengthening of women’s rights, human rights, and governance institutions in Nigeria. She is the founder of J.C. IBEKAKU Hope Project and IBEKAKU Multi-purpose cooperative where she supports leadership and entrepreneurial development for women and youths.

International Development Work:
Mrs Ibekaku-Nwagwu has served in the following places as an international development expert:

• The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) - 2000 to 2002;
• National Project Coordinator for United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) - 2002 to 2004;
• Legal Advisor for the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism in West Africa (GIABA), Senegal
• the Commonwealth Secretariat –Governance and Institutional Development Division (GIDD}, London, UK- 2007-2010;
• the British Department for International Development’s (DFID) Justice for All Program (J4A) in Nigeria -2011 -2012;

She has been involved in various British-DFID programmes in Africa and until recently was an advisor on the development of an anti-corruption program for DFID Nigeria and Ghana. She has consulted for various law-enforcement agencies in Nigeria and outside Nigeria on issues ranging from anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, and financial of terrorism measures as well as on financial intelligence. She is a certified training expert on financial crimes.

Since 2016, Mrs. Ibekaku-Nwagwu has led the implementation of various justice sector policy reform initiatives under the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. These reform initiatives have led to the development of a strategic plan for the reform of the justice sector that cuts across prosecution, law review and drafting of new policies and legislation, human rights, asset recovery, and anti-corruption.

Following her nomination as the National Coordinator for the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in 2016, Mrs. Ibekaku-Nwagwu led a multi-stakeholder group made of government, civil society organizations and private sector entities to develop and co-create the first Nigeria’s National Action Plan on Open Government. She not only set up the Secretariat for the Open Government in Nigeria but also laid the foundation for civil society participation as equal partners in the governance of Nigeria.

This initiative underpins President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision for an open government and corrupt free society. The Open Government initiative has strengthened Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts, particularly around fiscal transparency, access to information and citizens’ engagement and empowerment using technology and innovation. More details can be obtained from the website of the Federal Ministry of Justice – www.justice.gov.ng or from OGP social media platforms listed below. In 2018, Mrs. Ibekaku-Nwagwu’s effort led to the election of Nigeria into the Global Open Government Steering Committee for three years starting. In this role, Nigeria will lead African countries in the implementation of OGP principles across the continent.

Mrs Ibekaku-Nwagwu’s innovative contributions as the lead adviser for Nigeria on International Asset Recovery since 2016 on www.justice.gov.ng. Her work has led to the recovery and return of more than $700 million.

She has facilitated and spoken at several national and international conferences including the EU Anti-money Laundering Conference on Financial Crime, UK, the Cambridge Symposium on Economic Crimes, UK, the Florida International Bankers Association Conference, Miami USA, Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS), the Bank of America Annual Seminar on Financial Crimes in Charlotte, North Carolina, International Business Machines (IBM) Financial Fraud Summit, North Carolina USA, School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS), London, UK, the International Anti-Corruption Conference of the Transparency International, the Commonwealth Secretariat program for law enforcement officers, the Nigerian Police Seminar on Fraud Prevention, the Zero Coalition Against Corruption, Corruption Conference on Whistle-blowing Measures in Nigeria and the Conference on Global Terrorism among others.

She represented the Federal Ministry of Justice on the Board of the International Institute for Justice and Rule of Law, Malta, Europe and co-chaired the Board as Nigerian representative from November 2018.

Current Leadership Positions:

• Chairperson, Law and Development Project, Federal Ministry of Justice
• Chairperson, Project Management Team, Tripartite Asset Agreement for the Repatriation of $311million USD to Nigeria (Signed among Nigeria, USA, and Island of jersey)
• Member, Executive and Legislative Joint Committee on Harmonization of Legislative Policies and Bills in Nigeria
• Pioneer National Coordinator, Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Nigeria
• Lead, International Asset Recovery Team at the Federal Ministry of Justice
• Member Association of Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering Specialists, United States
• Fellow, Compliance Institute of Nigeria (FCIN)

Mrs. Ibekaku-Nwagwu has spoken at several conferences including the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, the International Anti-Corruption Conference, the Compliance Institute of Nigeria, the Florida International Bankers’ Association, and at several government led programmes.

AWARDS RECEIEVED:
She has won several awards at the local, national, and international level such as:

• Anti-Corruption Research Award, 2018
• Justice For All Program of the British Department of International Development, UK, 2014 Award for “Outstanding Achievement and Contribution to the Promotion of Justice and Equality for All Women.
• Macarthur Foundation Fund for Leadership Development, 2003.
• Nominated by Center for Socio-Legal Studies, Oxford University, UK and Open Society for Justice Initiative to participate in the Media Advocacy Training Program, July 2004
• Received the United States Agency for International Development Superior Unit Citation:

“In recognition of the Mission’s Outstanding work in the last year, in a country which both the Clinton and Bush Administrations have cited as one of the highest priority countries for USAID assistance, and in a very difficult working environment – October 23, 2001”.

Follow on Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/juliet-ibekaku-nwagwu-93239b33

Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/JulietIbekaku

Chia Boon TeckSingapore

Mr Chia Boon Teck was called to the English Bar (Lincoln’s Inn, United Kingdom) as a Barrister-At-Law in 1994, and he was admitted to the Singapore Bar as an Advocate & Solicitor in 1995. Mr Chia has appeared before all levels of the Singapore Courts to litigate in a variety of practice areas including civil & commercial litigation, company law, corporate litigation, criminal litigation, defamation, employment law, immigration matters, and military court martials.

Mr Chia is a member of the Singapore Law Society Council (elected from 2002 to 2007 and 2016 to present). Mr Chia sits on various Law Society committees which provide practice guidance to the Singapore Bar and propose legal reforms to the Ministry of Law.

Mr Chia co-chaired a Law Society committee in 2005 that liaised with the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Home Affairs regarding accused persons’ access to counsel whilst in custody, as well as the prosecution’s disclosure obligations, which culminated in criminal justice reforms in 2010.

In 2006, Mr Chia again co-chaired another Law Society committee to liaise with the Ministry of Law and the Attorney-General’s Chambers regarding capital punishment in Singapore.

In 2007, Mr Chia was a member of a Law Society ad hoc committee that presented a response to the Government’s proposed reforms to the Penal Code.

Mr Chia also contributed the Singapore chapter for Global Legal Insights: Litigation & Dispute Resolution (2018, 2019 and 2021 editions) and Global Legal Insights: Bribery & Corruption (2019 and 2022 editions).

Ben Slade Australia

Ben is a barrister at William Forster Chambers in Darwin, Australia. He was called to the bar in 2022 after 21 years as Managing Principal of the NSW practice of Maurice Blackburn, a national plaintiff and union law firm. Ben specialises in consumer, human rights, mass tort and commercial class actions and individual claims. Ben’s first 10 years as a lawyer were at Sydney’s Redfern Legal Centre where he learnt to identify and address mass wrongs for prisoners and consumers of credit. He was Manager, General Law at Legal Aid NSW for 6 years before joining Maurice Blackburn in 2000.

Ben is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, the Chair of the Law Council of Australia’s Australian Consumer Law Committee and co-Chair of its Class Actions Committee. Ben has held board positions of the Australian Consumer’s Association, CHOICE, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, the Consumer Credit Legal Centre, the Specialist Accreditation Board (NSW) and the Law Society of NSW.