Welcome to the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
North America Branch

Olajide Olagunju

Lusby, Maryland

Olajide Olagunju, Ph.D., FCIArb, FICMC, Attorney-at-Law, Professor of Conflict Resolution. He teaches arbitration, mediation, and negotiation at Bakke Graduate University. He has practiced law, arbitration, and mediation for three decades. His broad experience with government, academia, and Fortune 500 includes the United States, United Nations, Harvard, World Bank, and Chevron. His fall 2012 counsel as government adviser broke the logjam to the Nigerian energy sector privatization, thus impacting 250 million people across four countries. Multilingual and multidisciplinary in Law, Anthropology, and Peace Studies, he is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Conflict Studies (JOCS) published in nine languages. His other books published internationally in 25 languages include How to Resolve a Conflict (Winner, Best Alternative Dispute Resolution eBooks of All Time, and Best Conflict Management eBooks of All Time). His publications are accessible at https://www.amazon.com/Books-Olajide-Olagunju/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AOlajide+Olagunju&page=2.

Onur Yildirim

Avon Lake, OH

Onur Yildirim, FCIArb, B.Sc, LL.M is Global Marine Manager of Advanced Polymer Coatings Inc. He is a master mariner and maritime professional with over 20 years of technical experience. He has been involved in the maritime industry and worked with shipowners, shipyards, charterers, ship financers, flag states, classification societies from all around the World. Member of expert panel at EMAC (Emirates Maritime Arbitration Center) and supporting member of LMAA which currently listed as 'Supporting Members prepared to accept appointments as arbitrators.' Author of 'Environmental Salvage: Is the time ripe for Liability Salvage?'.

John W. Garman, LL.M., FCIArb

Huntington Beach, CA and Vienna, Austria

John is the Past Chair of the North American Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and has recently been honored by being named the "Inaugural Fellow Emeritus" by the NAB. John's background and experience is in the areas of international commercial transactions and alternate dispute resolution. He is a Neutral on the American Arbitration Association Commercial Arbitration and Mediation Panel and has served as Panel Chair, Panel Member and Sole Arbitrator in various matters. John currently teaches as a part time Professor at University of Southern California, Gould Law School. John is "Of Counsel" to Hasch & Partners, an Austrian law firm and has offices in Vienna, Austria and Huntington Beach, California. He is admitted in California, the District of Columbia and as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales.

Paul Neufeld

Houston, TX and London, England

Dr. Paul Neufeld is a Partner in Locke Lord's Houston and London offices, where his practice focuses on international arbitration and litigation in a wide range of industries including energy and construction. As counsel, Paul has acted for clients in US, English, and DIFC courts and in proceedings under all major arbitration rules (e.g., ICC, LCIA, ICDR, SCC, DIAC, ICSID, UNCITRAL) in both commercial and treaty arbitration cases. He is admitted in Texas, New York, England & Wales (Solicitor) and has rights of audience in the DIFC Courts, UAE, where he is also a registered arbitrator with the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC). Paul obtained his Ph.D. from Brown University and previously taught at the University of Rhode Island and Providence College. He has published on many topics in international arbitration and litigation and is a Fellow of CIArb.

Grant Kim

San Francisco, CA

Grant Kim is a partner at LimNexus who has transitioned from advocate to arbitrator over the past 6 years. He previously served as counsel in numerous arbitrations while working for 30 years at top firms in San Francisco, Seoul, and Tokyo. He has deep expertise with IP and technology and has extensive experience with other disputes, including M&A, joint venture, sales and distribution, construction and engineering, and development and manufacturing.

Grant is a member of the Tech List of the Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Center and a Fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He served as an NAB Board member and Chair of the San Francisco Chapter. He is a member of the arbitrator panels of the ICDR, AAA, CPR, WIPO, HKIAC, and KCAB, and has also served as an ICC arbitrator.

EDWARD J. MURPHY

Houston, Texas

Ed Murphy FCIArb is an arbitrator and trial lawyer. He has extensive international and domestic experience in litigation and arbitration, as an advocator and arbitrator. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration, a member of the American Arbitration Association Commercial Panel and serves on domestic and international arbitration panels. Ed has tried to verdict numerous jury and bench trials throughout the U.S. and has participated in the defense of clients in international venues.

A graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy and St. John's School of Law, Ed began a trial and arbitration practice focusing on international and domestic disputes. He joined the Coastal Corporation, serving as counsel and SVP for Coscol Petroleum Corp. and Coscol Marine Corp. Following his tenure at the Coastal Corporation, he re-entered private practice where he continues his arbitration and trial work.