by Gladwin Issac, Associate, S&R Associates, Mumbai, India

Youssef Al Saman, Member of the Institutional Liaison Task Force of Rising Arbitrators Initiative (RAI)’s Executive Committee and Partner at Zulficar & Partners in Cairo, kicks-off RAI’s “Interview the Institution” Series with an insightful conversation with Paula Hodges QC, President of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) Court.

In this short interview with Youssef, Paula reflects on her first arbitral appointment and the need for global support initiatives for upcoming arbitrators like the RAI. She discusses the “very flexible process” under the newly-revised 2020 LCIA Arbitration Rules for the appointment of arbitrators, the criteria that the Court applies when considering appropriate candidates, and how those apply to first-time appointees. Also, Paula notes the Court’s commitment to walk the diversity talk in international arbitration, supported by outstanding diversity appointment statistics for the year 2019.
Lastly, Paula offers very inspiring advice to rising arbitrators on the expertise they should get and how they can focus on “raising their profiles” in the market. She discusses how to enhance visibility in the pool of arbitrators, institutions, and opposing counsels and also through professional networking engagements in the arbitration community.

Watch the full recording of the interview on the RAI website available here.