Jonathan Wood FCIArb

President

Jonathan has in-depth knowledge and understanding of Ciarb having served five years as Chair of the Board of Trustees, and eight years as a Trustee.

During that time, he has overseen significant growth and change in Ciarb. This includes four years of consultation, review and work which culminated in critical governance changes being approved by members in 2022 and the Privy Council in early 2023.

Jonathan is an independent arbitrator with over 40 years’ experience in the field. He started his career in criminal defence and human rights before moving into shipping, insurance, energy and international trade for commercial clients, as well as art and cultural property law. He helped to establish an office in the UAE, practised in Singapore and taught in Tanzania. For 25 years he represented the British Government’s export credit agency around the globe.

Jonathan chairs Reynolds Porter Chamberlain’s Arbitration Department and the Board of the London Chamber of Arbitration and Mediation, and is a founding member of Legal UK and the Virtual Arbitrations forum. He was co-chair of the International Bar Association’s International Sales Committee.

Jonathan ranked in band 1 of Chambers and Partners arbitrators category and is described as a “leading individual” by the Legal 500. He is recommended as a Global Leader for Litigation in Who’s Who Legal.