S7 E3 - Cecilia Flores Rueda, Arbitrator

Welcome back to Season 7 of Tales of the Tribunal! After a short August break, we’re back with another global voice shaping the practice of international arbitration: Kevin Nash, Director General of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). Kevin’s career spans Canada, Asia, and now London, where he’s helping lead one of the world’s most prominent arbitral institutions into a new era. In this episode, Kevin shares: His journey from Western Canada to Singapore and now London Lessons from team sports that apply directly to leadership in arbitration The LCIA’s priorities around AI, diversity, and potential rule changes Why transparency in institutional data matters—and what LCIA is doing about it Advice for students and young practitioners navigating their careers Plus, a few book and music recommendations you might not expect 🎶📚 And this episode is extra special—our intern Lidia joins the conversation to add her own perspective and questions. 🕒 Timestamps Opening Notes – 00:33 Interview Begins – ~03:04 Person Interest - 51:00 Closing Notes – ~1:03:49 📚 Books Mentioned The Road – Cormac McCarthy → Amazon Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – Hunter S. Thompson → Amazon Blindness – José Saramago → Amazon 🎶 Music Mentioned The Tragically Hip – YouTube K-Pop Mix – YouTube 🙌 Shout-Outs Patricia Shaughnessy (LLM mentor) - 51:20 Adriana Uson, Shweta Biduri & Michelle Sonnen (SIAC colleagues) Nadia Smahi (friend of the show & connector)   Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/40833847/admin/   Check out our website: TalesOfTheTribunal.com   For Feedback, comments or submissions contact [email protected]   None of the views shared today or any episode of Tales of the Tribunal is presented as legal advice nor advice of any kind.  No compensation was provided to any organization or party for their inclusion on the show nor do any of the statements made represent any particular organization, legal position or view point.  All interviewees or organizations included appear on an arms-length basis and their appearance should not be construed as any bias or preferred affiliation with the host or host’s employer.  All rights reserved.

This week we travel (virtually) to Mexico City for a powerful conversation with arbitrator, law firm founder, entrepreneur, wine enthusiast—and CIArb North America Chair—Cecilia Flores Rueda! 🎙️ In this episode, Cecilia shares: Her early legal journey, how she discovered arbitration by accident, and helped build Canaco’s ADR center from the ground up What it means to be a woman in arbitration and the importance of just doing it—even when the doors don’t open easily Tips for young lawyers: building a niche, gaining real-world experience, and not being afraid to network boldly Reflections on her entrepreneurial ventures, including Real Hearing, which provides AI-powered transcription services And her newest challenge? Studying to become a certified sommelier 🍷 Whether you’re an aspiring practitioner, an established arbitrator, or just here for good storytelling—this is one not to miss. 🕒 Timestamps Opening Notes – 00:32 Interview Begins – 03:20 Closing Notes – 26:22 📚 Books Mentioned Arbitration texts by Gary Born, Martin Hunter, and Manuel Gallardo (Note: no specific titles provided, but likely references include Born’s International Commercial Arbitration and Redfern & Hunter.) Wine & classical music books (general reference; no specific titles cited) 🎶 Music Mentioned 🎼 Amazon Prime’s “Concentration Playlist” (Classical music for focused work) 🎧 Listen here 🎧 Platinum Pop Playlist (Workout/fun) 🎧 Listen here 🎻 Summer concert season of the Minari Orchestra (Mexico) (Live performances) 🎻 Local event link – search “Orquesta Minería” 🔗 After the Show  Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/40833847/admin/ Check out our website: TalesOfTheTribunal.com Feedback, comments or submissions: [email protected] None of the views shared today or any episode of Tales of the Tribunal is presented as legal advice nor advice of any kind. No compensation was provided to any organization or party for their inclusion on the show nor do any of the statements made represent any particular organization, legal position or view point. All interviewees or organizations included appear on an arms-length basis and their appearance should not be construed as any bias or preferred affiliation with the host or host’s employer. All rights reserved.

S7E2 – Dr. Emilia Onyema Welcome back to Season 7 of Tales of the Tribunal! We’re thrilled to bring you another powerful conversation in this week’s episode. Our guest is the incomparable Dr. Emilia Onyema, professor at SOAS University of London, international arbitrator, and global thought leader on justice, inclusion, and reform in international dispute resolution. 🎙️ In this episode, Emilia shares: Her personal journey from Nigeria to the UK, and how her father’s advice changed her career Why Africanization of arbitration matters—and what it should (and shouldn’t) mean A clear-eyed look at inclusion, diversity, and who gets to sit at the arbitral table The evolving roles of arbitrators in the age of AI, ESG, and social accountability Her active research on African women arbitrators and third-party participation in ISDS Reflections on boundaries, solitude, mentorship—and walking through life with purpose 🕒 Timestamps Opening Notes – 00:32 Interview Begins – 03:31 Personal Interest Segment – 40:25 Closing Notes – 54:25 📚 Books Mentioned People Fuel: Fill Your Tank for Life, Love, and Leadership by Dr. John Townsend 📖 Amazon Link 🎶 Music Mentioned Christian Radio: Emilia listens to uplifting Christian programming 🎧 K-LOVE (Popular Christian Radio Stream) Artists of the 80s: 🎶 Michael Jackson – “Rock With You” 🎶 Diana Ross – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” 🎶 Luther Vandross – “Never Too Much”     Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/40833847/admin/   Check out our website: TalesOfTheTribunal.com   For Feedback, comments or submissions contact [email protected] None of the views shared today or any episode of Tales of the Tribunal is presented as legal advice nor advice of any kind.  No compensation was provided to any organization or party for their inclusion on the show nor do any of the statements made represent any particular organization, legal position or view point.  All interviewees or organizations included appear on an arms-length basis and their appearance should not be construed as any bias or preferred affiliation with the host or host’s employer.  All rights reserved.

Welcome back to Tales of the Tribunal – Season 7 is here! After a bit of a break, we’re thrilled to be back with a new season of global stories, personal journeys, and bold conversations from the world of international law and dispute resolution. Thanks for sticking with us! We’re kicking off this season with a long-overdue conversation with none other than Tafadzwa “Tafi” Pasipanodya, Partner at Foley Hoag LLP in Washington, D.C., and a fierce advocate for sovereign states in high-stakes international disputes. In this powerful and wide-ranging discussion, Tafi shares her journey from Harare to Princeton to NYU Law, and how her passion for international justice and post-conflict reconstruction led her to represent states at the ICJ, in investor-state arbitrations, and beyond. She also dives deep into: How she manages the balance between technical complexity and compelling storytelling in arbitration The legitimacy crisis in ISDS and what true diversity means in global adjudication Her work with the ICC Court of Arbitration, the African Society of International Law, and an upcoming book on Africa and the Law of the Sea Plus: surf lessons, parenting in the tech age, and dancing to Afrobeats in Lisbon 🌍🎶 ⏱️ Timestamps: Opening Notes: 00:00:36 Interview Begins: ~00:02:30 Closing Notes: ~00:59:20 📚 Books Mentioned: The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness – Jonathan Haidt ➤ Link 🎶 Music & Genres Mentioned: Afrobeats – 🎧 Essence by Wizkid ft. Tems A defining track in the modern Afrobeats movement. Salsa – 💃 Vivir Mi Vida by Marc Anthony A modern salsa classic with broad appeal and great energy. Classical Music – 🎻 Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major – J.S. Bach (Yo-Yo Ma) An iconic cello performance by one of the most famous cellists. 🔗 After the Show  Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/40833847/admin/ Check out our website: TalesOfTheTribunal.com Feedback, comments or submissions: [email protected] None of the views shared today or any episode of Tales of the Tribunal is presented as legal advice nor advice of any kind. No compensation was provided to any organization or party for their inclusion on the show nor do any of the statements made represent any particular organization, legal position or view point. All interviewees or organizations included appear on an arms-length basis and their appearance should not be construed as any bias or preferred affiliation with the host or host’s employer. All rights reserved.

Show Notes: Welcome back to another edition of Tales of the Tribunal! This week, we bring you an exciting deep dive into the first-ever AtlAS Pre-Moot, a premier event in the Southeast U.S. designed to sharpen the skills of aspiring arbitration advocates before the Vis Moots in Vienna and Hong Kong. Hosted in Atlanta, Georgia, this inaugural Pre-Moot featured teams from: 🏛️ University of South Carolina School of Law 🏛️ University of Georgia School of Law 🏛️ Campbell University School of Law 🏛️ Emory University School of Law The competition brought intensity, brilliance, and camaraderie — setting the tone for what may become a major annual tradition in the arbitration calendar. 🏆 Results Recap: 🥇 Champion: University of Georgia (UGA) 🥈 Runner-Up: Campbell Law 🥉 Third Place: University of South Carolina Tune in as we share highlights, behind-the-scenes moments, and exclusive interviews with team members, coaches, and organizers who made this event a huge success.   Time Stamps: University of South Carolina -1:30  University of Georgia - 5:33 Zach Torres-Fowler, Troutman Pepper - 10:00 Emory - 11:55 Campbell - 15:23 Closing Notes - 19:50

DISPUTES DIGEST Week of February 24, 2025 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/40833847/admin/ Check out our website: TalesOfTheTribunal.com For Feedback, comments or submissions contact [email protected] News: How Russia’s legal tactics are undermining international dispute resolution; here and here The Senegal-ArcelorMittal dispute: can a billion-dollar settlement can be undone? here Libya’s legal struggles: failed appeals, investment disputes, and the limits of arbitration; here Nigeria’s brand new ADR policies None of the views shared today or any episode of Disputes Digest is presented as legal advice nor advice of any kind.  No compensation was provided to any organization or party for their inclusion on the show nor do any of the statements made represent any particular organization, legal position or viewpoint.  All interviewees or organizations included appear on an arms-length basis and their appearance should not be construed as any bias or preferred affiliation with the host or host’s employer.  All rights reserved.

DISPUTES DIGEST Week of February 20, 2025 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/40833847/admin/ Check out our website: TalesOfTheTribunal.com For Feedback, comments or submissions contact [email protected] News: LCIA appoints a new President – that’s Maxi Scherer, here SIAC Rules 2025: a Fresh Approach to Flexibility and Efficiency in Arbitration, here The Updated Energy Charter Treaty aims at balancing Investment Protection and Climate Goals, here Legal Crossfire: How the EU Shut Down Russia’s Arbitration Blockade, here and here Enforcement of Arbitral Awards in Switzerland, here None of the views shared today or any episode of Disputes Digest is presented as legal advice nor advice of any kind.  No compensation was provided to any organization or party for their inclusion on the show nor do any of the statements made represent any particular organization, legal position or viewpoint.  All interviewees or organizations included appear on an arms-length basis and their appearance should not be construed as any bias or preferred affiliation with the host or host’s employer.  All rights reserved.

In a Tales of the Tribunal exclusive, we provide an audio version of the 32nd Wilhelm C. Vis Moot Case Problem.  The same will be loaded on our forthcoming YouTube Channel. This was an ambitious and exciting undertaking and we are eager to know your thoughts! If you would like your work--legal article, arbitral rules, or other documents produced in similar fashion, please get in touch at: [email protected]    Track List for Vis Problem (2024-2025) Intro – Vis Moot Case File Intro 2 (The Problem Description) 00h 00m 39s Letter by Langweiler – July 31, 2024 00h 01m 37s Request for Arbitration 00h 04m 00s Claimant’s Exhibit 1 (CE1) – Request for Quotation, Equatoriana Ren Power 00h 32m 26s Claimant’s Exhibit 2 (CE2) – Purchase and Service Agreement 00h 39m 09s Claimant’s Exhibit 3 (CE3) – Article from Transition News 00h 51m 24s Claimant’s Exhibit 4 (CE4) – Email from GreenHydro dated August 26, 2023 00h 56m 19s Claimant’s Exhibit 5 (CE5) – Witness Statement of Poul Cavendish 00h 59m 37s Claimant’s Exhibit 6 (C6) – Letter from GreenHydro dated 29 February 2024 01h 11m 19s Claimant’s Exhibit 7 (C7) – Letter from GreenHydro dated 25 May 2024 01h 14m 09s FAI Letters beginning 31 July, 2024 01h 16m 14s Letter from Fastrack dated 14 August 2024 01h 23m 07s Answer to Request for Arbitration 01h 24m 37s Respondent Exhibit 1 (RE1) – Witness Statement of Johanna Ritter 01h 38m 10s Respondent Exhibit 2 (RE2) – Email from GreenHydro dated 12 July 2023 01h 46m 38s Respondent Exhibit 3 (RE3) – Email from GreenHydro dated 10 July 2023 01h 49m 38s Respondent Exhibit 4 (RE4) – Article from Vindobona Legal 01h 52m 05s Letter by Langweiler dated 14 August 2024 to FAI making Objection 01h 55m 22s Claimant’s Exhibit 9 (CE8) – Witness Statement of August Wilhelm Deiman 01h 59m 18s Letter by FAI dated 15 August 2024 regarding Procedure 02h 02m 48s Letter by FAI, dated 27 August 2024 concerning decisions of the Board 02h 07m 34s Letter by FAI, dated 6 September 2024 – Confirming Appointment of Arbitrators 02h 10m 57s Letter by FAI, beginning 20 September 2024, concerning Appointment of Presiding Arbitrator 02h 13m 06s Letter by Greenhouse date 27 September 2024 02h 25m 48s Procedural Order No. 1 02h 27m 35s Procedural Order No. 2 02h 34m 05s Outro 02h 55m 55s  

We are saddened to learn of the passing of friend of the show and previous guest, Calvin Hamilton.  Calvin was a dear friend and he will be missed by those that knew him including a number of institutions in the international and commercial legal worlds.  He was a champion for the underrepresented, especially those in the Caribbean and for supporting international law. This episode is a re-air of his appearance on the show along with opening and closing notes honoring his legacy.  Here is the GAR Article discussing his passing: https://globalarbitrationreview.com/article/in-memoriam   Opening Notes - :40 Episode Begins - 2:12 Personal Shift - 41:45 Closing Notes: 55:57   Comments and feedback may be sent to [email protected]    None of the views shared today or any episode of Tales of the Tribunal is presented as legal advice nor advice of any kind.  No compensation was provided to any organization or party for their inclusion on the show nor do any of the statements made represent any particular organization, legal position or view point.  All interviewees or organizations included appear on an arms-length basis and their appearance should not be construed as any bias or preferred affiliation with the host or host’s employer.  All rights reserved.

Dr. S.I. Strong  Season 6 Finale! It has been action packed season here at Tales of the Tribunal and we have exciting new content and initiatives to bring you in the weeks and months ahead.  But before we get there, we bring you one more conversation --   This week, Chris sits down with Dr. Stacie Strong—a Californian at heart who built a career in international law, spanning continents and disciplines. From groundbreaking arbitration cases to her insights on AI, legal tech, and navigating the field of international dispute resolution, this episode is packed with inspiration, humor, and practical advice for aspiring lawyers and seasoned practitioners alike. ARB-Tech: https://www.arbtech.io/podcast  VIAC Congress: https://www.viac.eu/en/service/upcoming-events/3rd-viac-can-congress    Time Stamps: Opening Notes - :40 Interview Begins - 5:00 Personal Interest - 52:333 Closing Notes - 1:02:59   Books: @ 54:50 Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes Music: @ 57:35 Choral Music The Monkees   Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/40833847/admin/   Check out our website: TalesOfTheTribunal.com   For Feedback, comments or submissions contact [email protected] None of the views shared today or any episode of Tales of the Tribunal is presented as legal advice nor advice of any kind.  No compensation was provided to any organization or party for their inclusion on the show nor do any of the statements made represent any particular organization, legal position or view point.  All interviewees or organizations included appear on an arms-length basis and their appearance should not be construed as any bias or preferred affiliation with the host or host’s employer.  All rights reserved.