New Dispute Resolution Governing Body Chair announced

Mohamed Salah Abdel Wahab (Egypt), Founding Partner and Head of International Arbitration at Zulficar & Partners Law Firm has become Chair of ICC’s Governing Body for Dispute Resolution Services, he was elected Vice-Chair in 2022. Mr Abdel Wahab replaces Michael McIlwrath (United States), Founder and CEO at MDisputes and former Vice-President of Litigation at Baker Hughes, who has stepped down upon conclusion of two successful terms.  

Two new members to the 16-member Governing Body were also announced during a virtual meeting of the Governing Body on 12 March. Anne Marie Whitesell (United States) and Tom Clark (Philippines) began their respective terms in March 2024, replacing outgoing members Pierrick Le Goff (France) and Maria Varsellona (Italy). 

Anne Marie Whitesell is Professor at the LL.M. Programme and Faculty Director for the Programme on International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution, Georgetown University, Washington D.C. She has acted as arbitrator and counsel in numerous international arbitration cases. From 2001 to 2007, she served as Secretary General of the ICC International Court of Arbitration. Ms Whitesell received her A.B. from Smith College, her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and her Doctorate in Law from the Université de Paris I, Panthéon-Sorbonne. She is admitted to the New York State Bar, the District of Columbia Bar and the US District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. 

Tom Clark holds a Doctor of Laws degree from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Harvard University. He has over 30 years of experience in legal and government affairs practice, spanning the financial services, energy, and infrastructure sectors worldwide. Mr Clark worked for 22 years at the General Electric Company (GE), serving as General Counsel for GE’s largest Asian financial services arm and as Executive Counsel for Government Affairs and Policy. Currently, Mr Clark works as General Counsel at the Asian Development Bank, where he is responsible for driving legal strategy and engagement on regulatory and policy reforms. 

The ICC Governing Body for Dispute Resolution Services is a committee of the ICC Executive Board. Its mandate is to propose measures to ensure that ICC’s Dispute Resolution Services department achieves its principal activity and organisational objectives, including maintenance of a high-quality service to users, identification of areas for growth and preserving ICC’s reputation as the pre-eminent global institution for preventing and resolving disputes. More information is available here.