Our Session 1 Speakers
"Endemic: New Crossroads Ahead for Arbitral Institutions.
Keep Tradition or Start Anew?"
Session 1
[Session 1] Moderator
Steve Kim
Secretary-General, KCAB INTERNATIONAL
Steve Kim is the Secretary-General of KCAB INTERNATIONAL.
As a US attorney, Steve has extensive experience in the field of international arbitration, and served as the Director of the International Centre for Dispute Resolution of the American Arbitration Association (New York). During his tenure at ICDR, he helped to grow the ICDR to become the global number one international arbitration administration center.
Steve also served as a senior corporate counsel for Samsung Corning Precision Material, advising on various corporate legal matters including dispute resolution, antitrust investigation, intellectual property negotiation, JV and host of other high-profile matters. Steve then went on to become the Korea country manager for CPA Global, one of the largest intellectual property legal service providers based in UK. As a country manager, Steve achieved multiple million USD in new revenue and created a new business paradigm which helped CPA Global to become the largest IP service provider in Korea and other key Asian markets. Steve served as a Korea consultant for one of the largest EU law firm, assisting the firm to develop new business in Korea and made inroads to new revenue stream in the field of dispute resolution, IP, natural resources, technology and cross-border investment.
Recognizing the importance of helping new companies to grow beyond the Korean market, Steve advised several start-up companies in various industries including methane gas reduction and blockchain/AI technology.Steve has a BA in Psychology from University of California San Diego (UCSD) and received his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law (New York).
[Session 1] Speaker
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Eric Ng
Deputy Secretary-General, HKIAC
Eric is Deputy Secretary General at HKIAC.
Prior to joining the HKIAC, Eric worked for several years as a barrister-at-law in Hong Kong focusing primarily on international commercial and construction arbitrations, as well as general commercial litigation in Hong Kong, and has worked as counsel as well as tribunal secretary for several major international commercial, construction, and financial arbitrations around the world.
In addition to his work as a barrister, Eric was previously Adjunct Professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, lecturing in advocacy and investor-state arbitration.
He has also lectured at Tsinghua University and Peking University. Eric has also published on issues of international dispute resolution and investor-state arbitration.
Eric holds a BCL from Oxford University, PCLL and JD from City University from Hong Kong, MSc E-commerce from the University of Hong Kong, as well as a BS in Business Administration and Information Systems from Babson College in the USA. He is admitted to practice law in Hong Kong.
[Session 1] Speaker
Justice Nageswara Rao
Former Judge, Supreme Court of India
Justice L. Nageswara Rao, elevated to India's Supreme Court in 2016, left an indelible mark during his six-year tenure with over 248 authored judgments and participation in over 700 quorum decisions.
He is the seventh person to be directly elevated to the Supreme Court from the Bar. As an esteemed Senior Counsel since 2000,
his three-decade trajectory encompassed landmark cases spanning commercial, civil, criminal, and constitutional domains.
He served two terms as the Additional Solicitor General of India.
Even post-retirement from the bench, his visionary contributions persisted, central to the development of foundational frameworks for
the Indian Olympic Association and All-India Football Federation. The pursuit of professional enrichment led him to complete a mediation course at Pepperdine University, further enhancing Justice Rao’s prowess as a seasoned mediator.
Prior to his elevation to the Supreme Court of India, Justice Rao was a counsel in several commercial arbitrations.
At present, Justice Rao is an arbitrator in several international and domestic arbitrations demonstrating his extensive experience in the field of construction, oil and gas, energy, corporate disputes, media and entertainment, insurance, automotive and real estate matters.
His distinction as an accomplished arbitrator and mediator across various contexts is complemented by his co-authorship of a seminal work on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code of India.
[Session 1] Speaker
Jae Sung Lee
Senior Legal Officer, UNCITRAL
Jae Sung Lee is a senior legal officer at the International Trade Law Division (ITLD) of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, which functions as the substantive secretariat for the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
He currently functions as the Secretary of Working Group III on investor-State dispute settlement reform and has functioned as the secretary of Working Group II, which finalized the UNCITRAL Expedited Arbitration Rules as well as the working groups on secured transactions and electronic commerce.
Before joining the United Nations in 2007, Jae Sung served in the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A Korean national, Jae Sung is a graduate of Seoul National University College of Law, holds LL.M. degrees from Seoul National University Graduate School of International Studies and NYU School of Law as well as a Ph.D in Law from Seoul National University. He is also a member of the NY State bar.
[Session 1] Speaker
Kevin Nash
Registrar, SIAC
Kevin is the Deputy Registrar & Centre Director of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC). Since joining SIAC in 2012, Kevin has overseen the administration of thousands of international cases under all versions of the SIAC Rules and the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules across a range of seats and governing laws.
Kevin regularly speaks, writes and teaches on international commercial arbitration and investor-state dispute settlement. He is a member of the Singapore delegation at UNCITRAL Working Group II (Dispute Settlement) and represents SIAC as an observer at UNCITRAL Working Group III (ISDS).
Kevin holds a B.A. from Mount Allison University and a J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School. He previously worked at one of Canada's prominent 'Seven Sister' law firms before earning an LL.M. in International Commercial Arbitration at Stockholm University. He is qualified as a Barrister and Solicitor with the Law Society of Upper Canada.
[Session 1] Speaker
Independent Arbitrator, Former Vice President, AAA-ICDR
Michael Lee
Michael Lee, as a former vice president and the Head of Asia at AAA-ICDR, played a pivotal role in establishing Singapore as a premier arbitration venue in Asia.
With over 15 years of experience at AAA-ICDR, Michael now serves as an independent arbitrator and mediator, specializing in international dispute resolution. Leveraging his extensive background, he offers clients efficient and effective resolution strategies as an independent practitioner.
[Session 1] Speaker
Zhijin (Donna) Huang
Director, ICC Arbitration and ADR, North Asia
Zhijin (Donna) Huang, Director of ICC Arbitration and ADR, North Asia, Chief Representative of ICC Shanghai Representative Office, Secretary of ICC Belt and Road Commission.
Dr. Huang is in charge of strategy and business development, promotion and marketing for ICC Arbitration and ADR services in North Asia.
Dr. Huang developed her experience working as a law professor, counsel, legal expert, and consultant in a Chinese University, a law firm as well as for ICC. Dr. Huang has been active in government-level academic exchange before she joined ICC. She was granted Fulbright Fellowship and EU Erasmus Fellowship and has published widely on issues of international law in China.