In memoriam: Prof. Dr. Nael Bunni C.Arb FCIArb

We join our international community in mourning the loss of Prof. Dr. Nael Bunni C.Arb FCIArb, who sadly passed away on 25 November 2025. On behalf of everyone at Ciarb, we send our sincere condolences to Dr Bunni’s family, friends and colleagues. 

Dr Bunni was a deeply influential figure in Ciarb’s community. He joined the membership in 1975, going on to become a Chartered Arbitrator in 1999. He was one of seven co-founders of the Ciarb Ireland Branch in late 1981, which he went on to chair from 1986 to 1989. Dr Bunni was elected Ciarb President 2000-2001 and, more recently, was appointed Patron of the Ciarb Ireland Branch which, in 2023, awarded him its Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Dr Bunni had over 50 years’ experience in construction dispute resolution as an expert, conciliator, dispute board member and an arbitrator. He was appointed as arbitrator in over 150 cases, and acted as a dispute resolution in disputes in over 50 jurisdictions. Over his long and illustrious career, Dr Bunni’s many positions in construction dispute resolution included:  

• Past President of Ciarb
• Past Chair of the Ciarb Ireland Branch
• Past President of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland
• Member of the Board of Directors of London Court of International Arbitration
• Chair of the Dispute Resolution Panel of the then Institution of Engineers of Ireland
• Member of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre and Chair of its Executive Committee
• Member of the Commission on International Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris
• Past Chair of the Ministerial Panel of Adjudicators appointed under the Construction Contracts Act 2013
• Member of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration 

His written works include a number of authoritative publications, including Risk and Insurance in Construction, 3rd Edition (Routledge, 2022), three editions of The FIDIC Forms of Contract (Wiley-Blackwell, 2005), and Insights on Construction Contracts and Insurance (in dialogue with Tayseer Treky and Misbah Kamal, 2023). 

In 2018, he was awarded the prestigious Louis Prangey Award in recognition of his contribution to the work of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC). 

Dr Bunni was also an accomplished and highly respected educator, touching the lives of many students through his role as Visiting Professor in Construction Law and Contract Administration at Trinity College Dublin. 

Amb. (Ret.) David Huebner C.Arb FCIArb, Chair of the Ciarb Board of Trustees said: “The loss of Dr Bunni will be deeply felt by Ciarb Ireland Branch, our wider Ciarb community and the profession as a whole. His dedication and contributions to Ciarb and, in particular, to the Ciarb Ireland Branch will be long remembered. We will miss him.” 

Ciarb President, Professor Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab C.Arb FCIArb, said: “It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Prof. Dr. Nael Bunni, a distinguished arbitrator, a remarkable professional, a generous mentor to many, and a deeply respected gentleman. His loss is felt profoundly by all who had the privilege to know him, work with him, and/or learn from him. Prof. Dr. Bunni was a towering figure in the world of dispute resolution, and his life was a journey of giving to all those who interacted with him. His integrity, intellectual rigor, and unwavering commitment to excellence was an inspiration to many. Through his work, he helped shape the standards that many adhere to today. He left a legacy that will endure in the numerous projects, publications, arbitrations and adjudications he was involved in. He has touched the lives of many, directly and indirectly, and those who knew him personally will remember his kindness and his willingness to give his time and guidance to others.  

To his family, friends, and to all members of the ADR world, we extend our heartfelt condolences. May his soul rest in peace, and may we find comfort in the knowledge that he imparted, the wisdom he shared, and in his memory that will remain a source of pride and consolation.” 

Catherine Needham BL FCIArb, Current Chair of the Ciarb Ireland Branch, said: “Prof. Dr. Nael Bunni will be remembered with the deepest respect as a seminal figure in both Irish and international arbitration, whose wisdom, integrity, and scholarship profoundly shaped the development of the profession over many decades. 

His distinguished contributions as practitioner, institutional leader, author, and educator leave an enduring legacy that continues to enhance the standards and reputation of the global dispute resolution community”. 

Read Dr Bunni’s obituary on FIDIC and 39 Essex Chambers.