Shobana Iyer

Trustee

Shobana, born and educated in UK by Indian origin medics, is a practicing barrister and arbitrator based in London UK with broad experience in commercial and corporate laws including climate and international (private and public) laws. She specialises in complex cross-border cases, frequently involving issues in international, corporate, intellectual property (IP), technology and data protection laws. She has experience in a wide variety of industry sectors including renewable energy, finance, retail, international trade, arts/creative, healthcare, sports, creative, technology, media (including marketing and advertising) and telecommunications (TMT) sectors.

As Co-Vicechair of the Legal Services Committee of the Bar Council of England and Wales, (Bar Council) she deals with issues involving the delivery of legal services, administration of justice and civil court reform. She contributes to the Bar Council’s IT and ADR Panels providing guidance and dealing with the uses of emerging technologies. Having a strong interest in the ethical development and deployment of emerging technologies, Shobana is often involved in leading advisory working groups, such as the European Commission funded SHERPA EU Project where she was on the advisory stakeholder board to develop ethical ecosystems for the use of artificial intelligence.

Shobana is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and sits on the CIArb London Committee as well as other professional committees. She has been appointed on the European Commission’s approved list of chairpersons for arbitrations for EU trade agreements with third countries. Judges, colleagues and clients value her exceptional combination of intellect, pragmatism, efficiency, creativity and resilience as well as her high emotional intelligence.

Shobana frequently assists on climate related governance and finance projects and has a strong interest in Indian arts, music, culture, history and architecture.