Prominent London arbitration specialist Ben Giaretta is leaving Fox Williams to practice exclusively as an arbitrator at Newmans Row.
Giaretta will take up residence at the arbitration-only set next month and will sit as an arbitrator in international commercial and investment treaty arbitrations.
The move brings to a close his 27-year career as a solicitor, during which he has held senior roles, first at Ashurst, then Mishcon de Reya, and lastly Fox Williams, where he was head of international arbitration.
While practising as an arbitration counsel, he has also built up a strong reputation as an arbitrator – since 2009, he has been appointed as arbitrator in more than 35 arbitrations as presiding, party-nominated, sole and emergency arbitrator.
“I’m excited about starting my new life as an independent arbitrator," he said. "It’s something I’ve wanted to do for many years, having qualified as a Chartered Arbitrator back in 2015 and having accepted arbitrator appointments alongside my law firm practice for almost two decades now.
“There’s a great opportunity for me to launch my arbitrator practice by joining Newmans Row, which has expanded significantly in recent months with the addition of arbitrators in many different parts of the world.”
He added that the set provided “the perfect mix of independent practice and administrative support”.
The set’s founder, Rachel Newman, said: “Ben being managed by Newmans Row reinforces the sector versatility supported by deep knowledge across highly technical fields that it manages and its unique focus since opening in April 2024.”
After joining Fox Williams in 2020, Giaretta said in a LinkedIn post that the firm provided him with an environment where he “did not encounter the conflicts of interest that have prevented me from taking on work at other firms”.
Alongside his counsel work, Giaretta was appointed as an arbitrator in many cases, working alongside former colleague Peter Ashford, who is now a fellow arbitrator and the founding chair of London Arbitration Week.
His caseload was heard mainly under the ICC, LCIA and SIAC Rules – arguably the three principal arbitral institutions of choice – and included a broad range of cases, including investment treaty, energy, technology, commodity and construction disputes, as well as business law claims such as M&A and shareholder disputes.
Giaretta’s geographic reach is also notable, spanning projects and transactions in Saudi Arabia, China, Singapore, Malawi, Hungary, Mexico, and India, building on Asian experience he gained while at Ashurst, where he spent more than 18 years of his career.
While at Ashurst, where he became a partner in 2009, he spent seven years in Singapore, leading its international arbitration team. The role saw him help oversee Ashurst's integration with Australian firm Blake Dawson, following their merger in 2012.
An important adjunct to his legal work has been his support for arbitration as a discipline. Giaretta was chair of the London branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) before joining the board of trustees, where he is currently chair.
During his tenure, the board has overseen CIArb’s growth as both an educational and networking institution, while adding value to the benefits of being a member.
Alongside his other interests, which include teaching and lecturing, he helped launch London International Disputes Week as a founding member of the board, continuing as a board member until December 2025, when he stepped down.
He is also a member of the Court of the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators and the International Committee of the Law Society, as well as advising the London Chamber of Mediation and Arbitration.
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