SCCA Welcomes New Members to the SCCA Court

With a Rapidly Growing Caseload

The SCCA's caseload has grown significantly over the past years. Alone the amount of newly registered arbitrations in 2024 increased by 59% compared to the previous year. This increase was reflected in the SCCA Court’s workload, which now has issued over 500 decisions since its inception in May of 2023.

This expansion of the SCCA Court is part of the SCCA’s enduring commitment to build permanent trust and reliance on first-class services while enriching its various bodies with diverse, specialized international expertise. The new SCCA Court members come from various geographic regions and cultural backgrounds—a manifestation of the SCCA's international reputation within the ADR community at both local and international level. The eight new members of the SCCA Court are:

• H.E. Dr. Salaheddin Al-Bashir, founder and senior partner at International Business Legal Associates (IBLAW) (Jordanian);
• Dr. Adli Hammad, senior partner at Hammad Almehdar Meysan (Saudi);
• Mr. Shreyas Jayasimha, co-founder of Aarna Law and international arbitrator and mediator (Indian);
• Mr. Ahmed Ouerfelli, founder of Ouerfelli Attorneys & Counsel (Tunisian);
• Ms. Noradèle Ghubril Radjai, partner at LALIVE (Lebanese, Swiss, British);
• Mr. Mohamed Shelbaya, founding partner at Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes (Egyptian, French);
• Ms. Wang Weijun, Secretary-General at Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (Shanghai International Arbitration Center) (Chinese); and
• Mr. Roland Ziadé, global co-head of international arbitration at Linklaters (French, Lebanese, Ecuadorian).

The SCCA Court consists of a select group of international arbitrators, former leaders of international arbitration centers, retired appellate judges, partners in leading international law firms, as well as law professors from renowned universities around the world. The President of the SCCA Court is Prof. Jan Paulsson, international arbitrator and legal counsel. Mr. James Hosking, founding partner of Chaffetz Lindsey LLP, and Dr. Ziad Al-Sudairy, principal of Ziad Al-Sudairy Law Firm, are the vice presidents. With the new additions, the SCCA Court now counts 23 members with 18 nationalities, all of whom are distinguished figures recognized in international circles.

The Internal Rules of the SCCA Court authorizes its members to perform a series of key administrative determinations pertaining to arbitration, including motions to consolidation, the determination of disputes concerning the number of arbitrators, the direct appointment of arbitrators, the determination of arbitrator challenges, the fixing of advance deposits and final fees, and the review of awards.

In accordance with the Internal Rules, the SCCA Court acts autonomously and independently of the SCCA Board of Directors, committees, and staff. Court members are appointed for a three-year term. They are eligible for reappointment, provided that no member serves more than two consecutive full terms. Except where the SCCA Arbitration Rules state otherwise, the decisions of the SCCA Court are final and binding.

Commenting on the new SCCA Court members, SCCA Chairman Dr. Walid Abanumay said: “Through its various bodies, the SCCA continues to strengthen institutional governance in its operations by expanding the SCCA Court and appointing a select group of new, international members, which will help ensure the consistency of administrative decisions related to SCCA-managed arbitrations.”

For his part, SCCA CEO Dr. Hamed Merah said: “The SCCA is diversifying its international brain trust in response to its growing caseload and the increasing number of nationalities involved in those cases, which total close to 30 nationalities to date. This will ultimately enhance the quality of services provided by the SCCA, including necessary technical support for the arbitrations it manages.”

Chief of ADR and General Counsel Christian P. Alberti added: “The SCCA Court stands for consistency and continuity. It operates autonomously and free of any internal and external influences, making the SCCA a dedicated, reliable, and trusted partner for both sides in dispute—from micro claims to bet-the-company disputes across all industry sectors.”