Arbitration Chambers

Independent International Arbitrator

John Beechey CBE is among the best-known arbitrators in the world. A UK citizen, he has served as chairman, party-appointed arbitrator, or sole arbitrator on international arbitral tribunals in both ad hoc (including UNCITRAL) and institutional arbitrations under the Rules of all major arbitral institutions including, inter alia, Association of Arbitrators South Africa, DIS (German Arbitration Association), DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre), the European Development Fund, ICC, ICDR/AAA, HKIAC, ICSID, LCIA, OHADA Common Court of Justice and Arbitration, PCA (Permanent Court of Arbitration), SCAI (the Swiss Chambers’ Arbitration Institution),  SIAC and SCC (Stockholm Chamber) on more than 80 occasions.

John is a past President of the International Court of Arbitration of the ICC (2009-2015).  His term of office at the ICC is regarded as one which brought about significant reform to, and the reinvigoration of, the ICC Court.  He had previously served on the Executive Committee of the Board of the AAA in New York and as a Vice-President and member of the Board of the LCIA.  He is the current Chairman of the Board of the BVI International Arbitration Centre. In March 2018, John was elected to serve a four-year term on the Governing Board of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA).  Before his retirement from private practice in the City of London, he was the founding partner and Head of the highly regarded International Arbitration Group of Clifford-Turner (subsequently, Clifford Chance LLP) (1983-2008).  In June 2016, John was appointed CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to international arbitration.

John joined Arbitration Chambers in 2015.

English; French

Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Appointed member of the Council of the Mumbai Centre of International Arbitration (April 2016) Appointed member of the Council of ACICA (March 2016) Appointed Chairman of the Board, BVI International Arbitration Centre (October 2015) Appointed Chairman of the ICC (UK) Arbitration Committee (2015-2019) and Member of the Governing Body of ICC (UK) (September 2015 to date) Member of the Investment Advisory Panel, Woodsford Litigation Funding (2014 – 2021) Member IBA Working Group on Guidelines on Impartiality, Independence and Disclosure in International Commercial Arbitration (2004) President of the International Arbitration Club (2002 – 2008) Vice President of the LCIA Court (May 2002 - May 2007) and member of the LCIA Board (1996 – December 2008) Member of the Board of the American Arbitration Association (member of the Board’s Executive Committee, 2001-2008) Re-appointed as a UK representative to the ICC Commission on Arbitration and Mediation (2000 – September 2008) Member of the IBA Working Group responsible for drafting the First Edition of The IBA Rules on the Taking of Evidence in International Commercial Arbitration (1999) Member of the ICC Institute of World Business Law (October 1998 – present) Member of the UK Delegation to the ICC Commission and member of the ICC UK’s Arbitration Group under the Chairmanship of Lord Steyn (1993 – 2008)

B.A. Modern Languages (French and German) (BA converted into an MA in 1977), Christ Church, Oxford, 1971 – 1974