New YMG Chair and Vice-Chair set out priorities for 2024

Theominique Nottage MCIArb and Travis Gonyou MCIArb, the new Chair and Vice-Chair respectively of Ciarb’s Young Members Group Global Steering Committee share their objectives and ambitions for 2024.

The Ciarb YMG brings together dispute resolution practitioners below the age of 40 interested in building their careers in this fast-growing and dynamic field. The YMG Global Steering Committee volunteer their time to plan, organise, and promote activities designed for young practitioners across the globe. The group actively collaborates with other international and regional groups.

Theominique Nottage, YMG’s new Chair, says, "One of my major 2024 objectives for the Ciarb Young Members Group Global Steering Committee is to ensure that we increase our connection with and support of all of the YMG Branches. The YMG Branches are very important to the growth and development of the next generation of dispute resolution practitioners, and we want to do all that we can to ensure that those members have access to education and training opportunities through events, workshops, and courses." 

Travis Gonyou, YMG’s new Vice-Chair says, “I want to thank Baptiste and Cam Tu for their incredible leadership this past year. They expanded the reach of the YMG and positioned it as a central resource for young practitioners around the globe. We are excited to build on that progress by strengthening that network, developing greater communication and connectedness between young practitioners. Whether through the YMG Branches or through programming in emerging arbitration communities, we aim to have the YMG bring the under-40 community together and serve as a central resource for training and career development.”

Theominique D. Nottage, MCIArb, is a Bahamian Counsel and Attorney-at-Law, who has worked in both the public and private sectors with professional experience in civil, commercial and trusts litigation, intellectual property matters, environmental law and arbitration. A 2015 Chevening Scholar, Theominique has a passion for international arbitration and has been extensively involved in several prominent professional organisations holding leadership positions (as the first Bahamian to do so) in Young International Council for Commercial Arbitration, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Young Members Group Global Steering Committee and the Institute for Transnational Arbitration Caribbean Task Force. She has been a Member of Ciarb since January 2017.

Theominique has also published articles on commercial arbitration and trusts arbitration, and most recently co-contributed a chapter to a book on diversity in international arbitration. She currently works as a Consultant to the Government of The Bahamas on matters of international arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution processes. In this role, Theominique is responsible for the reform of the legislative framework to support arbitration, mediation, and construction adjudication in The Bahamas and to establish the country as a preferred centre for arbitration in the Americas. She is considered a leading advocate for the use of alternative dispute resolution in not only The Bahamas but also the Caribbean and is a budding arbitration practitioner. 

Travis Gonyou, MCIArb, is a US lawyer (barred in Michigan, New York, and Washington DC). He currently works at Hooper Hathaway in Michigan where he focuses on complex commercial litigation, international arbitration and disputes, and internal and government investigations. Prior to joining the firm, Travis practiced in New York with a litigation boutique. He has been active in the arbitration community as a member of the New York City Bar Association Arbitration Committee, Social Media Chair of the Ciarb New York Branch, and Coach of the Vis Commercial Arbitration Moot Team at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. 

Find out more about the Young Members Group here

Watch the YMG Spotlight On series here

Watch the YMG Mentorships Programme here

Join us for two events to mark International Women’s Day:

• On 7 March 2024, join us in London for Let’s Discuss what can I do to be Included.

• On 8 March 2024, join us virtually for Let’s Discuss How to Inspire Inclusion.

Theominique will be a moderator at the event on 8 March 2024.