David has 30 years’ experience of dispute resolution using litigation,  mediation, arbitration and expert determination and remains in private practice. His practice has encompassed a broad range of contract and commercial disputes but with an emphasis on shareholder disputes and minority shareholder protection claims; corporate governance and directors’ misfeasance; and breach of trust/fiduciary duty claims. He advises his clients on negotiating and settlement strategies and tactics and drafts contractual dispute resolution procedures. In addition to his private litigation practice, he is also Legal Counsel for the Hume Institute for Postgraduate Studies at Lausanne and programme director for its PhD  in International Law and Dispute Resolution.

James Watt is a former diplomat and qualified mediator, and since 2014 a Partner in the Ambassador Partnership LLP, a political risk advisory firm founded to resolve disputes amicably between investors and governments.  Based in London and working with his colleagues and a wide network of legal and advisory firms, he handles cases that typically involve parties from the Middle East and North Africa.  His experience as a diplomat, and notably as British Ambassador to Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt, give him regional expertise as well as knowledge of both bilateral and multilateral negotiation.  His role as Senior Adviser to Westminster Mediation enables him to bring an international  and political perspective to the solution of complex disputes.

Dr Amit Anand is our Senior Advisor with focus on global policies, specializing in peacebuilding, intercultural communication, and negotiations. He holds a Ph.D. in Law from Lancaster University, U.K., and an LL.M in Human Rights from the University of Reading, U.K. With a strong international presence, he has presented at the United Nations on topics ranging from disability rights to women’s representation. Dr. Anand’s research centers on International Human Rights Law, focusing on gender-based violence and caste discrimination.

Dr Amer Al Sabaileh is a Jordanian university professor and geopolitical and security expert. He is a leading columnist in national, regional, and international media. Al Sabaileh received his PhD from the University of Pisa, Italy in 2006 in intercultural conflict management, and Master’s degree from the University of Rome III in Education for Peace, Conflict Management, International Co-operation, Human Rights and Politics of the European Union. Al Sabaileh is a recognized expert on terrorism, de-radicalization and security studies. 

Dilara Nihal Tunc brings a wealth of expertise to her role as Special Advisor at the Westminster Centre for Mediation and Arbitration, drawing from a rich background in business, corporate, and contract law. With an impressive tenure at both ABCOO and GUDEN International Law Firms in Istanbul and London, Dilara has handled a plethora of commercial agreements, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance matters, skillfully navigating complex legal landscapes across different jurisdictions. Her academic prowess is equally notable, currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Contract Law at the University of Manchester, where she focuses on the intersection of theory and practice in relational contracts.

Dr David B Roberts is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) at King’s College London where he leads the twin-track Arabic and English Master of Research (MRes) programme in the School of Security Studies. Additionally, David is Adjunct Faculty at Science Po’s Paris School of International Affairs, a Non-Resident Fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute Washington and the Middle East Policy Council, and a founder and commissioning editor for Cambridge University Press’s book series Elements in Middle East Politics. In 2023, Columbia University Press published his book Security Politics in the Gulf Monarchies. Previously, David taught for King’s at the Qatar Defence Academy, and he was the Director of the Gulf office of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security studies think-tank (RUSI Qatar). He obtained his PhD from Durham University.

Professor Abdel-Haq is a Professor in Banking and a Director of the Centre for Islamic Finance at the University of Bolton. He is also Executive Director of the Centre for Opposition Studies and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Postgraduate Developments at the University of Bolton. Mohammed worked in major financial institutions such as Citi Bank, Deutsche Bank, ABN AMRO and HSBC. He is also the CEO of Oakstone Merchant Bank. He was a member of the Council of the Royal Institute for International Affairs (Chatham House). Mohammed is currently an Associate Fellow, IDEAS, London School of Economics and an Affiliated Professor at Kings College, London.