Arbitration of Energy and Climate Change Disputes

Young ICCA and Young Canadian Arbitration Practitioners (YCAP) are inviting you to attend their in-person event in Vancouver on Thursday 1 June 2023 from 15:00 to 18:00 Pacific Time at Blake, Cassels & Graydon. The theme of the event is Arbitration of Energy and Climate Change Disputes.

This two-part event is designed to (1) give young practitioners the opportunity to watch a panel discussion on an interesting and cutting-edge topic, as well as (2) practice their own presentation and oral advocacy skills. The event will also provide a fantastic opportunity for attendees to network with peers from the Young ICCA, ICCA and YCAP communities.

In part one of the event, leading arbitration practitioners will participate in a debate on the following motion: Is arbitration the best dispute resolution procedure for climate change disputes? Speakers include:

• Jessica Crow, Arbitra International
• Hon. Barry Leon FCIArb, Arbitration Place / 33 Bedford Row / Caribbean Arbitrators
• Arvindran Manoosegaran, Omni Bridgeway
• Kirsten Odynski, White & Case
• Maanas Jain (Moderator), Three Crowns

In part two of the event, we will be running an “Arbitration Shark Tank”. The idea is simple: up to five (5) pre-selected Young ICCA and YCAP Members will be given up to 5 minutes each to present what they consider to be the most significant decision related to both energy and international arbitration – whether issued by a court or an arbitral tribunal – following the signing of the Paris Agreement in December 2015.  A panel of leading arbitration practitioners will comment on the presentations, and the audience will then have an opportunity to vote for the most persuasive presentation.

Participants need not but may want to register for the conference co-hosted by ICCA and VanIAC the following day. For more information about the conference entitled “Energy Infrastructure Disputes and Arbitration: Today and Tomorrow” click here.

We look forward to seeing you in Vancouver!

Meet the Speakers

Jessica Crow

Jessica Crow is an independent arbitrator with Arbitra International.  She specialises in matters relating to the energy transition and the international climate change regime.  In the field of climate law and governance, she advises corporates, investors, and States in relation to international and domestic climate policy, transition regulations, and litigation risk.  Jessica’s practice is also shaped by her role with leading research institutions.  She is a doctoral researcher in climate law and litigation at the University of Cambridge where she teaches environmental law and collaborates with world-leading experts in climate science, economics, and policy.

Hon. Barry Leon

Hon. Barry Leon, FCIArb, is an independent arbitrator and mediator with Arbitration Place, 33 Bedford Row and Caribbean Arbitrators. He was the Presiding Judge of  BVI’s Commercial Court, 2015–2018. Barry is an IMI Certified Mediator and a past Chair of ICC Canada. He is a member of Campaign for Greener Arbitrations, North America, and the CanArbWeek Executive Committee, and is Co-Chair of the Canadian Arbitration Report and an Executive Editor of the Canadian Journal of Commercial Arbitration. Barry is a member of the TCAS Arbitration Act Review Committee and is one of the OGEMID arbitration listserv moderators. In 2022, Barry was shortlisted by Global Arbitration Review for its ‘best prepared’ arbitrator award. He is a recipient of the CPR “Award for Outstanding Contribution to Diversity in ADR”.

Arvindran Manoosegaran

Arvindran Manoosegaran is an Investment Manager in Omni Bridgeway’s Singapore office, and currently on secondment to our Toronto, Canada office in 2023. He is responsible for assessing and managing funded cases throughout Asia, including arbitration, litigation and insolvency claims. Arvindran began his career at Drew & Napier LLC, the premier dispute resolution firm in Singapore. His practice spanned international arbitration and litigation, advising and representing high-profile clients in private equity and other investment-related disputes, shareholder, partnership and corporate disputes, and civil fraud. He has acted on several international arbitrations under the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) Rules. In 2015, he was appointed by the Supreme Court of Singapore as amicus curiae where he assisted the Court in addressing novel points of law.

Kirsten Odynski

Kirsten Odynski is a partner in White & Case's International Arbitration Practice, based in the Paris office. Kirsten has experience in commercial and investment treaty arbitration in a variety of sectors, and a focus in the energy and construction sectors. She was a member of the ICC Task Force for Resolving Climate Change Related Disputes through Arbitration and ADR, and is a member of the Firm’s Climate Change Disputes Group.  Kirsten was recognized in Who’s Who Legal as a Future Leader in International Arbitration.  She has also been active in White & Case's pro bono work in the area of public international law and legal education service programs. 

Maanas Jain (Moderator)

Maanas, an English-qualified barrister and senior associate in the London office of Three Crowns, has advised, represented, and conducted advocacy for corporations and States in complex, high-value commercial and investment treaty arbitrations in a broad range of sectors (including energy, finance, technology, and infrastructure) under all major arbitration rules. He has extensive experience handling disputes involving States or State entities, as well as cases with an Indian connection. Maanas is a current co-chair of Young ICCA, and is ranked as a “Rising Star” in The Legal 500 UK’s 2023 guide for International Arbitration. He was also recently recognized as one of London’s brightest arbitration stars in Legal Business’ 2022 Disputes Yearbook.

Meet the Shark Tank Participants

Claudia Garcia Bustamante

Claudia Garcia Bustamante is a lawyer who attended the prestigious Universidad de Lima in Lima, Peru. Moreover, she has received arbitration training from two prestigious institutions: Universidad Austral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and American University in Washington, District of Columbia, United States. She focuses on conflict resolution and prevention, especially in the areas of natural resources, energy, and telecommunications regulation. She has experience representing clients in both commercial litigation and arbitration.

Glenn Gibson 

Glenn has a broad complex commercial litigation practice for public and private companies, with a focus on international arbitration and class actions. She advises clients in high-value and complex international and domestic arbitrations in a range of industry sectors, including transportation, mining, securities, construction and logistics under ad hoc and institutional rules.

Joan Nelima 

Joan Nelima is a Senior Policy Analyst with three years of experience working with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), advocacy groups, and government agencies. Joan holds a Master's degree in Environmental Policy from the University of Nairobi, where she is currently enrolled. She has worked in the environmental sector in a variety of capacities, including green building, blue economy, and energy investments. She is a CIARB Kenya associate member. Development of a data platform, partnership management, successful project performance (budget and time), contribution to publication of insightful articles, ensuring environmental legal framework has been adhered to, capacity building of women and youth are some of the key achievements she has been able to achieve. She was also a part of the FSPI Blue Economy Week 2021 and the University of Cambridge cohort for Piloting Sustainable Development Law and Policy Courses 2023. She strives for attainment of sustainability and green development especially in developing countries. She strives for attainment of sustainability and green development especially in developing countries.

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