17 May, 2016
The Hong Kong International Arbitration Center (HKIAC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Sarah Grimmer as HKIAC’s Secretary General with effect from September 2016.
Commenting on her new appointment, Grimmer said, “I am honoured to be appointed Secretary General of the HKIAC. Building on what has been achieved to date, I am excited to lead the Center in its provision of dispute resolution services and to ensure its continued dynamism and excellence.”
Sarah has more than 14 years of experience in the field of international arbitration, spanning inter-State, investor-State and international commercial arbitration. Sarah brings a wealth of institutional expertise to the Center having worked at two major arbitral institutions.
Sarah most recently served as Senior Legal Counsel at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), which she joined in 2006. She has acted as registrar in three inter-State arbitrations under the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention and has been appointed tribunal secretary in multiple investor-State arbitrations and contract-based disputes. Sarah has extensive experience in appointing authority matters under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules 1976 and 2010 and other rules. Between 2002 and 2006, she was based in Paris, serving as Assistant Counsel at the ICC International Court of Arbitration and in the International Arbitration Group of Shearman & Sterling LLP. Sarah began her legal career in private practice in New Zealand in 1999. She is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Cambridge.
“Sarah is the ideal fit to lead HKIAC to the next stage of its growth. With her extensive experience in international arbitration, we are confident that HKIAC will continue to improve and bring the highest level of dispute resolution services to our users,” said the Chairman of the HKIAC, Teresa Cheng.
Brooks Daly, Deputy Secretary-General of the PCA said that, “it is with great pride and some sadness that the PCA bids farewell to Sarah. She has been instrumental to the PCA’s rapid growth and dynamism over the past ten years. The HKIAC is sure to flourish under her leadership. Through Sarah, the PCA looks forward to deepening its ties with Hong Kong.”
Grimmer will succeed Chiann Bao following Bao’s move to private practice. “Over the years, Chiann has inspired and brought to HKIAC an enthusiasm which has been infectious, motivating and engendering support from many. The recognition of the work of the team under her leadership is well deserved. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with her, always cheerful and positive. While I am sad she is leaving us, I am happy for her and wish her all the best,” said the Chairman of the HKIAC, Teresa Cheng.
