Ara CHO is a Senior Prosecutor and Director at the Korean Ministry of Justice, bringing nearly two decades of distinguished legal experience. A Harvard Law School graduate (LL.M.), she is an intellectual property expert who pioneered a nationwide special mediation system for criminal copyright cases.

Furthermore, Ms. Cho directed South Korea’s recent successive legal victories in landmark investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) cases, including the Lone Star ICSID annulment, the Elliott partial set-aside ruling, and the Schindler case. As a member of the Korean delegation, she actively participates in UNCITRAL Working Group III and international forums on ISDS reform.

Chuan Wee Meng is an experienced lawyer of more than 30 years and currently leading SIMC to promote mediation to resolve commercial cross-border disputes in the Asia Pacific region. Prior to joining SIMC, he served as General Counsel of IBM Greater China and Nortel Networks Asia Pacific for about 20 years.

Wee Meng is an accredited mediator of the Singapore International Mediation Institute. He holds a law degree from the National University of Singapore and a Master of Laws from the University of Hong Kong. He is called to the Singapore Bar and Hong Kong’s Roll of Solicitors.

Frauke Nitschke serves as Secretary of ICSID tribunals and conciliation commissions. She also leads ICSID mediation activities and drafted the 2022 ICSID Mediation Rules and amendments to ICSID’s conciliation frameworks. 

Prior to joining ICSID, Frauke served in the World Bank’s Legal Vice Presidency and the Inspection Panel. She is a fellow of the Weinstein JAMS International Fellowship Program and an accredited mediator. 

She is admitted to the D.C. and New York State Bars and holds a law degree from the Freie Universität Berlin, an LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center, and a master’s degree in psychology from the FernUniversität Hagen.

Congratulatory Remark Speaker

Professor Hong-Sik Chung is a leading expert in international law and international arbitration. He recently served as Deputy Minister for International Legal Affairs at Korea's Ministry of Justice (2024-2026), where he oversaw international matters of legal policy and affairs.

Professor Chung is the Founding President of the Korean Society on International Construction & Energy Law. He also serves as a Panel Arbitrator for SIAC, HKIAC, and KCAB INTERNATIONAL, and as a Panel Conciliator for ICSID, bringing extensive experience in international dispute resolution. His expertise spans complex cross-border disputes, construction law, energy law, and international investment disputes.

Professor Jaemin Lee served as President of the Korean Society of International Economic Law (2020-2021). He also served as Chairman of the Korea Trade Commission (2022-2024). Most recently, he headed the School of Law as Dean (2024-2026). Since 2012, he has participated in UNCITRAL Working Groups as a delegate of the Republic of Korea.

Professor Lee has authored articles and book chapters on various topics in international law, international economic law, and international dispute settlement. He obtained his LL.B., LL.M., and Ph.D. from Seoul National University; an LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center; and J.D. from Boston College Law School.

Framing Presentation

Junyeul (Alex) Yang is a public prosecutor and team leader at the International Dispute Settlement Division of Korea's Ministry of Justice, where he manages Korea's investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) cases at the working level. He has led Korea's defence in proceedings involving claims exceeding USD 6 billion - including the Lone Star annulment, the Schindler arbitration and Min v. Korea - each concluded in Korea's favour.

He also represents Korea at UNCITRAL Working Group III and in investment treaty negotiations. He holds an LL.M. from Georgetown, is admitted in Korea and New York, and has published on investor-State mediation.

Professor N Jansen Calamita is a scholar and practitioner specializing in international investment law and arbitration. He has held positions at the University of Oxford, the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, Office of Legal Adviser of the US Department of State, UN Office of Legal Affairs, and Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP.

He is a member of ICSID Panel of Arbitrators and has worked extensively as a practitioner and consultant on matters relating to foreign investment, investor-state disputes, treaty negotiations, and commercial arbitration. He has published widely on topics related to foreign investment and public international law.

Sheila Ahuja KC co-heads A&O Shearman’s Asia-Pacific Arbitration practice and is joint chair of the firm’s India Group. She was appointed King’s Counsel in 2025, the only solicitor-advocate among that year’s KC appointments.

Sheila advises clients on complex international commercial arbitration and investor-State disputes across the Asia-Pacific region, with experience spanning energy and infrastructure projects, joint ventures, distributorship arrangements and complex financial products.

She regularly sits as an arbitrator, including as presiding arbitrator, and serves as a Deputy High Court Judge in Hong Kong. Sheila is the highest-ranked female arbitration counsel in Singapore by Chambers Asia-Pacific 2026.

Sophia von Dewall specialises in investment treaty arbitration and public international law, representing investors and states in disputes arising under investment treaties, including in proceedings conducted under the ICSID and UNCITRAL rules. She also acts as counsel in enforcement and set-aside proceedings.

Sophia has broad experience handling international commercial and construction arbitrations under the rules of leading institutions. She serves as a board member of the Dutch Arbitration Association and as a member of the Advisory Board of the Netherlands Arbitration Institute. She is also a member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR for the Netherlands.