Christopher Newmark

Christopher Newmark

Partner & Arbitrator, Spenser Underhill Newmark LLP

Highlights

  • Has been sitting as an arbitrator since 2007
  • Listed in Band 1 of International Arbitrators in Chambers UK 2023
  • Listed in Who's Who Legal leading arbitration practitioners 2023
  • Chairman of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR from 2014 to 2017
  • Senior Associate Lecturer at the School of International Arbitration, Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London

Description

Chris works full-time as an arbitrator and has extensive experience as a mediator.

Chris started sitting as an arbitrator after leaving international law firm Baker & McKenzie in 2007.  He has acted as chairman, sole arbitrator or party appointed arbitrator in international arbitrations under ICC, LCIA, SCC, DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, SIAC and UNCITRAL rules, as well as ad hoc proceedings.

Chris was the first emergency arbitrator to be appointed by the ICC under the Emergency Arbitrator Provisions introduced in the 2012 ICC Rules of Arbitration and was appointed in 2020 by the LCIA as emergency arbitrator in two related cases arising out of the COVID pandemic. Chris was jointly appointed by the parties as a sole arbitrator under the 2017 ICC expedited arbitration rules.

Chris was the Chairman of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR from 2014 to 2017.  Prior to taking up this position, he was a member of the Drafting Sub-Committee of the 2012 ICC Rules of Arbitration and chaired the task force set up to review the ICC ADR Rules, Expertise Rules and Dispute Board Rules. He also co-chaired the ICC task force on reducing time and cost in complex commercial arbitrations.

From 2007 to 2010, Chris sat on the board of directors of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR) in New York. Chris was a rapporteur to the CEDR Commission on Settlement in International Arbitration whose report and rules were published in 2009.

Chris writes and speaks regularly on arbitration and ADR. He is a Senior Associate Lecturer at the School of International Arbitration, Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London. He is also a member of CEDR’s teaching faculty.

Specialisms

  • Commercial
  • Cross-border
  • Energy and Natural Resources
  • Information Technology

Education

  • University of Birmingham, Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)