Research and Academic Affairs Manager, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Mercy McBrayer, FCIArb, is CIArb’s Research and Academic Affairs Manager. Mercy is a United States qualified attorney (Texas) and certified mediator with experience as party counsel in commercial business litigation and arbitration. She holds a Master of Laws (LLM) in comparative and international dispute resolution from Queen Mary University of London, a Juris Doctorate (JD) from Southern Methodist University, and a Master of Science (MSc) in environmental biology from the University of North Texas. Mercy is also a graduate of CIArb’s Post-Graduate Diploma programme in international commercial arbitration (PGDip). Mercy trained in international commercial arbitration with Al Tamimi and Co. in Dubai, UAE, and was an associate with Blume, Faulkner, and Skeen in Dallas, Texas, before joining the CIArb Executive in 2018. Mercy is CIArb’s observer delegate to UNCITRAL Working Groups II and III and curator of CIArb’s professional practice guidelines. She is an assistant editor of the CIArb Journal, a Teaching Fellow in international arbitration at Queen Mary University of London, a speaker and lecturer on issues of international arbitration and ADR, and moot coach. Mercy is a US citizen who grew up in Nairobi, Kenya and is based in London, UK.

Elizabeth Chan (陳曉彤) is a Registered Foreign Lawyer (England and Wales) in Allen & Overy’s Global and Asia-Pacific Arbitration team, based in Hong Kong. She specialises in international commercial arbitration and investment treaty arbitration. Prior to joining Allen & Overy, Elizabeth practised for five and a half years at a leading specialist international arbitration practice in London. Before that, she also practised international arbitration in New York and Hong Kong. 

She has represented both investors and foreign governments in arbitrations under many major arbitral rules (including ICC, LCIA, ICDR, ICSID and UNCITRAL), seated in many major arbitral seats (including The Hague, Singapore, London, Geneva, and Washington, DC). She is ranked as a Future Leader of Who’s Who Legal – Arbitration 2022. She obtained her LLM from Yale Law School as a Fulbright Scholar. She is admitted as a Solicitor-Advocate in England and Wales, a New York attorney and a New Zealand barrister/solicitor (non-practising). She speaks English, Cantonese and Mandarin. 

Elizabeth is also a Board Member of ArbitralWomen, a Member of the Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge Young Practitioners’ Subcommittee, host of the CPR Y-ADR Corporate Counsel Interview Series, a member of the CPR Y-ADR Steering Committee, Secretary of the CPR European Advisory Board, a Young ICCA Mentoring Programme Group Advisor, a member of the ICC Task Force on Disabilities Inclusion in International Arbitration, a Co-Founder of ARBinBRIEF, Founder of 国际仲裁沙龙, and Administrator of MetaverseLegal. 

Marcus Cato MICE, CEng, FCIArb is Honorary Secretary of the CIArb South East Branch, was co-Chair of CIArb Board of Management and Non Executive Member of the Rwandan Branch Committee. He has over 25 years experience in international construction and engineering disputes resolution in matters of technical evaluation, breach and performance, bonds and securities. He is a practicing certified commercial mediator and qualified arbitrator - operating internationally throughout East Africa, Europe South Africa and the UK.

Frederico is a barrister and arbitrator practising from Gatehouse Chambers, in London.

Ann Ryan Robertson C.Arb FCIArb is an International Partner at Locke Lord LLP in the practice areas of International Arbitration, Domestic Arbitration and Commercial Litigation.

She holds a J.D. and a LL.M in International Economic Law and acts as arbitrator and advocate in international and domestic arbitrations.

Ann is experienced in cross-border commercial disputes, involving a variety of oil and gas issues, franchise law, partnerships, sales contracts (including those governed by the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods), and commercial contracts pertaining to manufacturing, supply, warranties and project development.

She is the immediate past President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), a past member of the Board of Trustees of CIArb, and a past Chair of the North America Branch of CIArb.