Class of 2025: Srishti Chawla
We spoke to Srishti Chawla, Arbitration Policy and Professional Practice intern at Ciarb, about what she’s learned in her role and what she’ll take from it.
What led you to apply for an internship at Ciarb?
I completed my Master's degree in International Dispute Resolution at King's College London, graduating in 2023. I’d been applying for arbitration positions for a year and was almost at the point of giving up because nothing was working out and I was contemplating going home (to India). I really wanted to get into this market.
One day, I was looking through LinkedIn, and a classmate who had already done the Arbitration Policy and Professional Practice internship at Ciarb had reposted Mercy's [McBrayer FCIArb, Head of Arbitration Professional Practice at Ciarb] advert for the internship application. My classmate had only good things to say about her time as an intern at Ciarb. I applied for the same role, but I had no hope of success because I’d lived a year on no success and no good news.
Within a few weeks, Mercy reached out to tell me that I’d been shortlisted for a screening call. After this call, I was still contemplating booking a ticket to India as I didn’t think I’d be successful in getting the internship. I remember being at a friend’s birthday party when I received an email from Mercy saying I’d been included in the final round of interviews.
Entering the interview room, I had no idea what to expect. After the interview, I didn’t know if I’d be offered the internship. But a few weeks later, I received an email from Mercy to congratulate me on being selected. I asked my classmate if she had any tips. She told me to keep an open mind and be confident – she had only good things to say about Ciarb, so I was excited.
What were your main responsibilities as an intern?
From the job description, my responsibilities were mostly around drafting, international arbitration research, writing project briefs and case notes, and assisting the senior members of Ciarb’s Policy team. But when I started the internship, I found that if you’re highly motivated and passionate and you want to get involved in something, you can. As a result, I’ve worked alongside Ciarb’s Director of Education and Training, Catherine Hitchen, to review her training materials. Catherine would encourage me, saying: ‘this is your call, this is your project, you need to update this. Do what you think is right’. That’s the kind of trust that motivated me even more.
I also co-founded Ciarb’s Student newsletter with Content Marketing Manager Laura Hamilton, and served as Guest Editor. It was a project the two of us started with the Marketing team, and another example of being given a platform to present and execute my ideas. I’ve worked, it seems, with everyone in this building [Ciarb HQ] on different subjects and projects.
Cristen [Bauer, Director of External Affairs at Ciarb] made me responsible for coordinating with the Events team to organise guest speakers and be the main point of contact for speakers. This allowed me to talk to the best international arbitration practitioners from around the world.
I’ve made some wonderful connections through being given that responsibility. Everyone at Ciarb has showed trust and given me responsibility. It means that when I step into my next role, I’ll be more confident that I know what I’m doing.
What did you learn during your internship?
There are certain subject areas of international arbitration that I've been able to see from a different lens – from a research lens, an academic lens and an institutional lens. For example, I’ve seen Mercy and Mohamed [Sadiq ACIArb] at work on the Guideline on Third-Party Funding and Cristen writing the Guideline on the Use of AI in Arbitration, and I assisted Aruna [de Silva, Ciarb’s Senior Dispute Resolution Advisor (Arbitration)] on the Expert Witness Report. These are topics that, as a student, I didn't know much about, but working on them at Ciarb is different and you get to know the core areas and what's going on.
There are knowledge gaps around these topics that need to be filled, and institutions like Ciarb are trying to fill these gaps to improve the law. It’s important learning, and it’s inspiring.
Is there anything you contributed to that you'd like to mention?
Yes. I co-authored an article with Mercy – ADR Taskforce: The Hinkley Connection Project. By working on this, I got to see a different side of how ADR is being used for energy transition disputes. Another major highlight is getting an opportunity to work with Sir Robin Knowles CBE on his recent Roebuck Lecture, and meeting Claudia Salomon FCIArb, President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, at the Alexander Lecture.
What are your personal highlights from your time at Ciarb?
In my first month at Ciarb, Mercy and Cristen asked me what my expectations were for the internship and what I wanted to focus on. This surprised me because it was all about me and my growth. I was able to set goals and really think about what I wanted from the internship. When I think back at this, it’s more than I expected. These two wonderful women who have done exceptional work in their life, are lifting me up and telling me I’m also doing good work.
It’s these little things that make a difference, and they are empowering you and keeping you motivated. I think that's something I will take with me, along with some wonderful memories of attending global ADR events in London with my fellow interns, Mohamed and Clément Bonnechère.
Another personal highlight is finding my mentor, Amanda Lee FCIArb. I now have not two but three wonderful women guiding me in this field. Ciarb has given me a lot.
Would you recommend this internship to others?
I would say the minute the application is open, just go and apply – anyone who's looking to get their first experience in international arbitration or build knowledge in this field, do this internship because it's a stepping stone into the industry. You expand your research knowledge, but you also meet the best professionals in ADR.
I think when you enter the ADR arena, you may not know if you want to get into mediation, arbitration or adjudication. At Ciarb, you tap into everything, so it’s the best place to start to help you make that decision. This internship is the best possible thing that can happen to you as your first step.
What are you planning to do next?
I'm just going to prepare for my Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) 1 and apply to positions for my next role.
Read Srishti Chawla’s work:
Case note: Rockhopper vs. Italy
