African Arbitration Association - Member public profile

Organisation

Independent Arbitrator and Arbitration Counsel

I practise/work in

International Arbitration
International Alternative Dispute Resolution

Profile Photo (Headshot or Logo)

Title (Mr/Mrs/Miss/Dr)

Mr

How you'd like your name to appear in the directory

Ben Sanderson

Suffix

FCIArb

Gender

Male

Country

Non-African Country

Non-African Country (Please Specify)

Spain

Country of Birth

United Kingdom

Nationalities

British

If non-African, how do you promote Africans in international arbitration/ADR?

Ben Sanderson is an independent arbitrator based in Madrid and London, with extensive knowledge of complex international commercial and investment treaty arbitrations. Ben has 20 years’ experience in international arbitration working at leading global law firms (DLA Piper, Skadden and Kirkland & Ellis). He has advised clients across a range of sectors, notably energy and natural resources, construction and infrastructure, and technology and telecoms. He has particular expertise in disputes arising in Africa and he has represented Kenya, Zambia and Uganda.
Ben has delivered many capacity building projects across the continent, principally aimed at government lawyers and members of the judiciary.

Languages

English, French and Spanish

Individual Member Profession (see note below)

Arbitrator
Counsel

I have not sat as an arbitrator but hold this relevant qualification (see note below)

Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)

Number of Cases as Counsel in international arbitration/ADR

20+

Number of Cases as Sole Arbitrator in international arbitration

1-5

Areas of Speciality

Construction & Infrastructure
Corporate Law / M&A
Distribution / Franchising
Energy & Natural Resources
Engineering
Entertainment & Media
Environment
Finance & Banking
Food & Beverages
Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
Hospitality & Leisure
Insurance
Intellectual Property
International Commercial Disputes
International Investment Disputes
Investment law
Joint Venture
Public International Law
Regulatory
Sales & Purchases
Technologies
Telecommunications
Transport

Degrees/Qualifications, Institutions and Dates Obtained

Oxford University, BA First Class (1999), MA
College of Law, London (2002)
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (2021)

Professional Experience (Job Title, Organisation and Dates)

Independent Arbitrator and Arbitration Counsel - 2024 to date
Of Counsel, Global Practice Manager for International Arbitration, DLA Piper, 2014 - 2024
Partner, Kirkland & Ellis, London 2011-2013
Associate, Skadden, London 2006-2011

Biography

Ben Sanderson is an independent arbitrator based in Madrid and London, with extensive knowledge of complex international commercial and investment treaty arbitrations. Ben has 20 years’ experience in international arbitration working at leading global law firms (DLA Piper, Skadden and Kirkland & Ellis). Ben also sit as an arbitrator and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Ben has extensive experience advising clients in international arbitration disputes across a range of sectors including energy, mining and technology. Ben has represented both States and commercial parties in investment treaty claims. He successfully represented the Republic of Kenya in ICSID arbitration proceedings brought by investors in the mining sector, as well as the Republic of Zambia in defeating a commercial arbitration claim.
Ben also advises investors, particularly in emerging markets, on commercial matters as well as the structuring of their investments to benefit from protections available in international law under bilateral and multilateral investment treaties. He is passionate about rule of law, and has worked on a number of pro bono initiatives to build capacity in this area.
Ben is ranked as a Future Leader in Who’s Who Legal for Arbitration, and Legal 500 notes "Of counsel Ben Sanderson combines an extensive and impressive practice in public international law and arbitration matters, as well as an exceptionally deep academic understanding of public international law."

Legal Background

Common Law
International Law

Qualified in (specify jurisdiction(s))

England & Wales

Types of agreements from which disputes in your practice most frequently arise

Agency/Distribution
Concessions
Energy Pricing
Engineering
Finance
Partnership
Sale of Business
Sale of Goods
Share Purchase/Joint Venture
Tender Processes

List arbitration/ADR articles, book chapters, books and where published

• Awards: Challenges, published in The Guide to Challenging and Enforcing Arbitral Awards, ed. J William Rowley QC, GAR, 2021 and 2019
• Investment Arbitration in Africa, published in GAR's Middle Eastern and African Arbitration Review 2021
• Litigation funding in Africa: Maximizing opportunities, DLA Piper, 4 November 2020
• Africa Arbitration Review, DLA Piper, 15 October 2020
• Online Arbitration Hearings: A review of key developments in response to COVID-19, DLA Piper, 28 September 2020
• Ethiopia Ratifies the New York Convention, DLA Piper, 24 March 2020
• The Hague Rules on Business and Human Rights Arbitration, DLA Piper, 18 February 2020
• Arbitrating climate change disputes, DLA Piper, 20 January 2020

Member details

Independent Arbitrator and Arbitration Counsel

Member profile details