A management support service for arbitrators with 18 practitioners on its books has opened its doors in London and Washington DC. 
 
Arbitra is led by Owen Lawrence, a well-known figure within London’s arbitration community having helped Legal 500 publisher Legalease set up the International Arbitration Centre (IAC) in 2019. 
 
Lawrence’s new venture will offer its members practice management, consultancy and administrative services across offices in London’s Paternoster Square and adjacent to the World Bank in Washington DC. 
 
Its members offer expertise across a range of jurisdictions, including Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Malaysia. 
 
They include Dubai-based former Clyde & Co partner Alec Emmerson, chair of the DIFC Arbitration Institute, John Judge, a founding member of Arbitration Place in Toronto, Ania Farren, a partner at London boutique Omnia Strategy, and Washington-based Frank Lattal, who spent more than 20 years at Chubb, where he was chief claims officer. 
 
Lawrence said: “Our arbitrator members are internationally recognised, and all act independently in their capacity as arbitrators. They have experience in substantial disputes under all of the vital institutional rules. 
 
“Many members focus exclusively on their work as arbitrators; however, one of Arbitra’s key benefits is that we also start people’s arbitral journey with them, particularly those transitioning from counsel work, whether as a long or short term career goal, to become a full-time neutral.” 
 
Lawrence spent ten years at 39 Essex Chambers as a practice manager before teaming up with Legalease to launch the IAC at its premises in Fleet Street in February 2019. The IAC launched an associated arbitrator wing, Int-Arb Arbitrators & Mediators, in January 2020.