Full Name
John Beechey CBE
Job Title
Arbitrator and Chairman of the Board
Company
Arbitration Chambers, BVI International Arbitration Centre
Speaker Bio
John Beechey CBE is among the best-known arbitrators in the world. A UK citizen, he has served as chairman, party-appointed arbitrator, or sole arbitrator on international arbitral tribunals in both ad hoc (including UNCITRAL) and institutional arbitrations under the Rules of all major arbitral institutions including, inter alia, Association of Arbitrators South Africa, DIS (German Arbitration Association), DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre), the European Development Fund, ICC, ICDR/AAA, HKIAC, ICSID, LCIA, OHADA Common Court of Justice and Arbitration, PCA (Permanent Court of Arbitration), SCAI (the Swiss Chambers’ Arbitration Institution), SIAC and SCC (Stockholm Chamber) on more than 100 occasions.
John is a past President of the International Court of Arbitration of the ICC (2009-2015). His term of office at the ICC is regarded as one which brought about significant reform to, and the reinvigoration of, the ICC Court. He had previously served on the Executive Committee of the Board of the AAA in New York and as a Vice-President and member of the Board of the LCIA. He is the current Chairman of the Board of the BVI International Arbitration Centre. In March 2022, John was re-elected to serve a second four-year term on the Governing Board of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA). Before his retirement from private practice in the City of London, he was the founding partner and Head of the highly regarded International Arbitration Group of Clifford-Turner (subsequently, Clifford Chance LLP) (1983-2008). In June 2016, John was appointed CBE for services to international arbitration.
He is consistently highly ranked by legal directories, including being currently listed in Band 1 of the Chambers Most in Demand Arbitrators, Global 2026, Band 1 of Chambers Leading International Arbitrators in the UK Guide 2026, and Band 1 of Leading Arbitrators in Legal 500 London Bar, and is one of a small group of arbitration practitioners worldwide to appear in Lexology Index’s Thought Leaders Global Elite 2026 (formerly Who’s Who Legal).
John is a past President of the International Court of Arbitration of the ICC (2009-2015). His term of office at the ICC is regarded as one which brought about significant reform to, and the reinvigoration of, the ICC Court. He had previously served on the Executive Committee of the Board of the AAA in New York and as a Vice-President and member of the Board of the LCIA. He is the current Chairman of the Board of the BVI International Arbitration Centre. In March 2022, John was re-elected to serve a second four-year term on the Governing Board of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA). Before his retirement from private practice in the City of London, he was the founding partner and Head of the highly regarded International Arbitration Group of Clifford-Turner (subsequently, Clifford Chance LLP) (1983-2008). In June 2016, John was appointed CBE for services to international arbitration.
He is consistently highly ranked by legal directories, including being currently listed in Band 1 of the Chambers Most in Demand Arbitrators, Global 2026, Band 1 of Chambers Leading International Arbitrators in the UK Guide 2026, and Band 1 of Leading Arbitrators in Legal 500 London Bar, and is one of a small group of arbitration practitioners worldwide to appear in Lexology Index’s Thought Leaders Global Elite 2026 (formerly Who’s Who Legal).
Speaking At
