Hugill & Ip Takes the Arbitration Pledge

Today our Caroline Thomas moderates an online and in person panel discussion at the Hong Kong Club entitled: “Celebrating the Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge”.

Hugill & Ip joins more than 5,500 organisations in taking the Arbitration Pledge.

What is the Arbitration Pledge?

In recognition of the under-representation of women on international arbitral tribunals, in 2015 members of the arbitration community drew up a pledge to take action:

“As a group of counsel, arbitrators, representatives of corporates, states, arbitral institutions, academics and others involved in the practice of international arbitration, we are committed to improving the profile and representation of women in arbitration. In particular, we consider that women should be appointed as arbitrators on an equal opportunity basis. To achieve this, we will take the steps reasonably available to us – and we will encourage other participants in the arbitral process to do likewise – to ensure that, wherever possible:

• committees, governing bodies and conference panels in the field of arbitration include a fair representation of women;
• lists of potential arbitrators or tribunal chairs provided to or considered by parties, counsel, in-house counsel or otherwise include a fair representation of female candidates;
• states, arbitral institutions and national committees include a fair representation of female candidates on rosters and lists of potential arbitrator appointees, where maintained by them;
• where they have the power to do so, counsel, arbitrators, representatives of corporates, states and arbitral institutions appoint a fair representation of female arbitrators;
• gender statistics for appointments (split by party and other appointment) are collated and made publicly available; and
• senior and experienced arbitration practitioners support, mentor/sponsor and encourage women to pursue arbitrator appointments and otherwise enhance their profiles and practice.”

Background to the panel discussion

Caroline joined Ciarb (East Asia Branch)’s board last year and was tasked with the diversity portfolio. Thus Caroline gave a lot of thought to the kinds of diversity events Ciarb EAB could organise or support. Around the same time, the ERA Pledge APAC Subcommitte was launched. Meanwhile, whilst speaking to clients, friends and lawyers in the arbitration community globally, Caroline was surprised to note that awareness of the Pledge was lower than she had anticipated and that a reminder event might be useful.

The event’s is jointly hosted by Ciarb (East Asia Branch) and the ERA Pledge APAC Subcommitte with support from the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC). The panel comprises: Karah Howard of Pinsent Masons; Stella Hu of Dechert LLP and Thomas Walsh of Clifford Chance Asia Pacific who also chairs the HKIAC’s Appointments Committee.