International Arbitrator | Barrister (England & Wales, Ireland) | FCIArb (Fellow since 2007)
Nationality: Irish- EU Person | US Person
Residency / Work Authorisation: No work permit requirements- UK, EU, EEA, USA
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 disputes. Frequently appointed as sole presiding 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 -unled/ sole representing counsel, also, Business Court, Chancery Division High court in England and Wales. 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 arbitrator 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, collective investment schemes and international investment claims.
Expert Arbitrator:
Appointed for expertise in complex financial and investment disputes some involving regulated and unregulated financial products, securitisation structures, collective investment schemes, cross‑border asset arrangements, corporate governance disputes.
Sole Arbitrator Experience:
International arbitrations as sole arbitrator: 25+
Seats: London (primary)
Governing laws: primarily but not to limited to- English law, Irish law, EU law, Off shore jurisdictions / dependent, certain federal states in the United States, MENA.
Procedures: Expedited, standard, consolidated proceedings, Ad hoc (incl. court appointed and governing arbitral rules) or institutional rules.
Awards: Final, reasoned awards issued in all concluded matters
As sole arbitrator, I place particular emphasis on procedural fairness, efficiency, and early issue identification. Particularly in ad hoc process I actively manage proceedings to ensure procedural compliance with local laws (eg cause, request and scope of jurisdictional discretions), case management, proportionality, cost control, and timely resolution, while safeguarding each party’s right to be heard. My approach includes early procedural conferences, procedural timetable, focused statement of case, 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
Consumer Law (EU Regulatory and English Law)
Sovereign Finance, Securitisation, CIS & 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 by institutional appointment, ad hoc, or act of court.
Instructed by international law firms in the USA (Los Angeles, New York, Florida, Texas), Europe (Oslo, Warsaw), and the Middle East (Ajman, Dubai, Abu Dhabi).
Advising on transnational contracts and disputes governed by English and Irish law, in rem actions, offshore asset structures (North of Ireland, 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
Necessary in the interest of justice and a matter of general public importance. Unanimous judgment on evidential standards in summary proceedings.
Allied Irish Banks plc v O’Callaghan (2022)
Question of law of general public importance and necessary in the interest of justice concerning compatibility and application of 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, carbon credit, energy projects (approx. USD 750m), fine art (approx. USD 500m), CIS (approx. USD 1.4bn), precious stones (approx. USD 1.2bn), and gold assets.
MEDIATION EXPERIENCE:
Accredited Mediator (Bar Council of Ireland, 2005)
Mediator in commercial, financial, and property disputes, including international mediation on commercial disputes.
ACADEMIC & TEACHING APPOINTMENTS:
Visiting Tutor, SOAS University of London (2014–2016)
LLM modules: International Investment Arbitration; State Responsibility; Investment Law & Human Rights.
Senior Consultant training in-house state and corporate- 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; Bank for International Settlement BIS, Sovereign Finance, WTO disputes and International economic Law.
Dissertations:
• Sovereign Debt Structuring and Restructuring, Club de Paris
• 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)
Prior to Independent Practice, worked in-house for Ireland's two largest banks - Bank of Ireland (Business Banking) and Allied Irish Banks (Lending and securities)- and subsequently as legal officer for KBC Asset Management.
Member of the constitutional framework history working group (2002-2003) with the United States and the United Nations on transitional justice system and the preparatory process for the drafting of the Iraqi constitution in the pre-war period. Prepared written submissions on democratic principles and civil liberties, the rule of law, fiscal reforms, human rights, the preamble and separation of powers. The work covered policy proposals, legislative powers, proposal on commercial code, the demographics of energy fields and the Kirkuk region, the repatriation of indigenous populations to KRG, and proposed tribunals and compensation schemes for expropriated assets of the Turkmen and Kurdish claimants.
Marsh & McLennan and Sedgwick Dineen - Dublin 2
James G O'Mahony & Co. Solicitors- Dublin 2
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, arbitrability- ultra petita principles and ultra vires doctrine, international public policy, (ASI) anti-suit, forum non convenience, competence of the tribunal, resolving jurisdictional and procedural issues, and urgent injunctive remedies equips me to case manage effectively, promote collegial decision‑making, and ensure efficient and disciplined conduct of proceedings from constitution to final award.
