International Arbitrator | Barrister (England & Wales, Ireland) | FCIArb (Fellow 19 years)
Nationality: Irish- (EU Person) | US Person
Residency / Work Authorisation: UK, EU, EEA, USA (no visa requirements)
Languages: English (native)
Email: transnationallaw@tarasallar.com | tara@tarasallar.com
Telephone: UK +44 743 213 2390 | Ireland +353 87 270 3726 | USA +1 708 829 2024
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND:
International arbitrator and dispute resolution practitioner with over 20 years’ experience in international commercial, financial (banking and finance), investment, and energy-related disputes. Frequently appointed as sole arbitrator in expedited and standard international arbitrations seated mainly in London. Extensive experience as counsel before the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court of Ireland, also Business Court, High court in England and Wales, with a strong background in banking and finance, cross-border investments, EU regulatory law, and complex transnational contracts. Recognised for independence, analytical rigour, and efficiency in the conduct of arbitral proceedings.
ARBITRATION EXPERIENCE:
Sole Arbitrator Appointments (Primary Practice)
Extensive experience and regularly appointed as sole arbotrator in international arbitrations, including consolidated proceedings, conducted on an expedited and standard basis, Ad Hoc/ Institutional) with disputes governed by English law, Irish law, and EU law, seated primarily in London. Disputes span banking and finance, energy and oil trading, construction and infrastructure, shareholder and joint‑venture disputes, service and supply agreements, biotechnology, securities, and international investment‑related claims.
Expert Arbitrator / Tribunal‑Appointed Expert
Appointed in complex financial and investment disputes involving regulated and unregulated financial products, securitisation structures, collective investment schemes, and cross‑border asset arrangements.
Sole Arbitrator Experience:
International arbitrations as sole arbitrator: 25+
Seats: London (primary)
Governing laws: English law, Irish law, EU law
Procedures: Expedited, standard, consolidated proceedings
Awards: Final, reasoned awards issued in all concluded matters
As sole arbitrator, I place particular emphasis on procedural fairness, efficiency, and early issue identification. I actively manage proceedings to ensure proportionality, cost control, and timely resolution, while safeguarding each party’s right to be heard. My approach includes early procedural conferences, clear procedural timetables, focused pleadings, and disciplined treatment of evidence and expert material. I am experienced in expedited and consolidated proceedings and am comfortable determining disputes on documents-only bases where appropriate. Throughout, I maintain strict independence and impartiality, and deliver clear, well‑reasoned awards that address the parties’ core issues and are enforceable across jurisdictions.
AREAS OF SPECIALISATION:
Banking & Financial Disputes (regulated and unregulated structures)
International Commercial Arbitration
Investment Treaty Arbitration (including ICSID-related matters)
Consumer Law (EU Regulatory and English Law)
Sovereign Finance, Securitisation & Financial Products
Energy, Oil & Gas, Clean Energy & Infrastructure (including data centres, SMRs)
Construction & Infrastructure (FIDIC contracts)
EU Regulatory & Financial Services Law (including GDPR)
Shareholder, Joint Venture & M&A Disputes
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (COUNSEL & ARBITRATOR):
International Arbitrator & Dispute Resolution Practitioner (2003–Present)
Acting as arbitrator, counsel, and expert in international and domestic disputes.
Instructed by international law firms in the USA (Los Angeles, New York, Florida, Texas), Europe (Oslo, Warsaw), and the Middle East (Dubai, Abu Dhabi).
Advising on transnational contracts and disputes governed by English and Irish law, including offshore asset structures (Channel Islands, Jersey), escheat and bona vacantia.
Regularly advising on international investment structures, treaty protections, and jurisdictional issues across the EU, EEA, USA, Canada, Middle East, North East Asia, and Hong Kong.
Practising Barrister:
Bar of Ireland (2003) | Bar of England & Wales (2007)
Appeared before all Irish courts, including the Supreme Court, in banking, finance, and commercial disputes.
Specialist advocacy in injunctions, financial instruments (including interest rate swaps), insolvency, energy, IP, and public law.
SELECTED NOTABLE MATTERS:
Allied Irish Banks plc v Rory Ennis [2021] IESC – Supreme Court of Ireland
Unanimous judgment on evidential standards in summary proceedings.
Allied Irish Banks plc v O’Callaghan (2022)
Question of law of general public importance concerning EU law compliance and classification of borrowing; proceedings settled following Supreme Court deliberations, achieving a favourable outcome for the client.
Adviser and off-counsel on high-value international investment trades, including energy projects (approx. USD 750m), fine art (approx. USD 500m), precious stones (approx. USD 1.2bn), and gold assets.
MEDIATION EXPERIENCE:
Accredited Mediator (Bar Council of Ireland, 2005)
Mediator in commercial banking, financial, and property disputes, including international mediations.
ACADEMIC & TEACHING APPOINTMENTS:
Visiting Tutor, SOAS University of London (2014–2016)
LLM modules: International Investment Arbitration; State Responsibility; Investment Law & Human Rights.
Senior Consultant, AZTech Training & Consultancy and GLOMACS, Dubai (from 2014)
Training lawyers, in-house counsel, executives, and engineers in oil & gas, project management contracts, and procurement.
Lecturer and tutor at King’s Inns, Dublin Business School, Law Society of Ireland, and Westmoreland College.
EDUCATION:
Queen Mary University of London – Centre for Commercial Law Studies
LLM International Business Law (2010–2012)
Focus: Public & Private International Arbitration; International Investment Law; Sovereign Finance, International economic Law.
Dissertations:
• Sovereign Debt Structuring and Restructuring
• Party Insolvency in International Commercial Arbitration
Diploma (LLM Standard), International & Comparative Commercial Arbitration - CCLS
Diploma (LLM Standard), International Construction Contracts & Arbitration - CCLS
Award Writing Examination in International Commercial Arbitration (2007)- CCLS QMUL
Additional Education & Training:
Certificate in International Dispute Resolution – University of Cologne (CIA/DAS)
Accredited Mediator – Bar Council of Ireland
UNHCR Certificate in Human Rights Law
Barrister-at-Law Degree – King’s Inns, Dublin
LLB (Hons)
VOLUNTARY & PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:
CIArb Northern Ireland Chapter – Expert Training (2025)
Judge, Bar of Ireland Pre-Vis Moot
Judge, Cross-Moot Advocacy (Paris)
Panel member and coach, Vis Moot and FDI Arbitration Moots
Keen interest in art, technology & networks systems data centre, ethical AI, clean energy and space law.
Mentoring CIArb YIAG team (2014)
Mediator Judge SOAS / Jones Day Mediation Competition (2017)
AVAILABILITY & DISCLOSURE:
Available for appointments worldwide as sole, presiding, or co-arbitrator. Independent and impartial; conflicts disclosed in accordance with applicable rules and full transparency.
My experience managing consolidated proceedings and its related jurisdictional procedure, coordinating expert evidence, understanding facts and evidence and admissibility of evidence, principles and doctrines ultra vires, international public policy, (ASI) anti-suit forum non conveniece, competence of the tribunal, resolving jurisdictional and procedural issues, and urgent injunctive remedies equips me to lead tribunals effectively, promote collegial decision‑making, and ensure efficient and disciplined conduct of proceedings from constitution to final award.
