Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Appointment definition

What does Appointment mean? In legal practice, an appointment is the contract by which a client/employer engages a professional consultant (for example an architect, engineer, quantity surveyor or project manager) and sets the services, fee basis and allocation of risk. The term is descriptive and used across multiple contexts; it is not generally defined by legislation, though particular regulations refer to specific appointments (for example, construction safety roles). An appointment may be executed as a deed or as a simple contract, including by a letter of appointment. In England & Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland this distinction affects limitation (typically around 12 years...

Conflicts of interest in international arbitration: challenges to appointments, disclosure obligations, repeat appointments, dual roles and professional links with counsel and experts

Published by a LexisNexis Arbitration expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note examines conflict of interest objections to arbitral appointments in international arbitration proceedings. It should be read alongside Practice Note: Conflicts of interest in arbitration—applicable principles.

What are the main types of conflict of interest that pose a challenge in arbitration proceedings?

Advocates and arbitrators from the same barristers’ chambers or law firm

It is relatively common for advocates and arbitrators affiliated with the same barristers’ chambers and/or law firms to appear in a single matter, which can prompt a conflict of interest challenge.

The International Bar Association Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest in International Arbitration (the IBA Guidelines, 2024 para 3.) include an ‘Orange List’ addressing the ‘Relationship between an arbitrator and another arbitrator or counsel'.

Orange List items must be disclosed to the parties, as they may give rise to justifiable doubts about an arbitrator’s impartiality and independence; however, they do not, of themselves, automatically disqualify the arbitrator.

Although English barristers are often called ‘counsel’, the term ‘counsel’ in the IBA Guidelines denotes a party’s lawyer and therefore covers both barristers and solicitors.

Such situations may, depending on the circumstances, prompt scrutiny of relationships between tribunal members and party representatives to assess potential conflicts properly.

Examples...

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Peter A. Halprin

Haynes Boone

Peter A. Halprin is a partner in the Insurance Recovery Practice Group in Haynes Boone’s New York office. Peter is a Chambers USA-ranked attorney described as having “a standout reputation for his expertise in policyholder representation,” with one source noting he “goes above and beyond for his clients and is a force for good in the industry.” (Chambers USA, Chambers and Partners, 2023).Peter is well-known for his work with high-value claims concerning issues such as business interruption, cybersecurity, and wrongful death suits.Over the course of his career, Peter has arbitrated, litigated, and mediated claims recovering hundreds of millions of dollars in insurance proceeds involving a broad range of insurance policies including Boiler & Machinery, Builder’s Risk, Cast Insurance, Commercial Crime, Cyber, Directors & Officers (D&O), Employment Practices Liability (EPL), Errors & Omissions (E&O), Event Cancellation, Fidelity, General Liability (GL), Inland Marine, Kidnap & Ransom...

Amanda Laurel Gayer

Haynes Boone

Amanda Laurel Gayer is an attorney in the Business Litigation Practice Group in Haynes Boone’s New York office.Amanda advises clients through all phases of litigation, arbitration and mediation, and works closely with clients to align dispute resolution strategy with broader business goals. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation in federal and state court, and before arbitral bodies, including renewable energy disputes, contract and business disputes, distressed debt, real estate and commercial foreclosures, and securities matters.Amanda maintains an active pro-bono practice, with an emphasis upon constitutional civil rights matters such as race and gender discrimination, searches and seizures, freedom of religion, and prisoners’ rights. Amanda has also represented individuals navigating U.S. citizenship and naturalization processes. Amanda’s commitment to civil rights also is a focus of her civil practice, where she has worked with clients to promote equality and address workplace...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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