“She has presence and excellent analytical skills and is always well-informed.”

Global Arbitration Review

Jennifer Kirby

Before becoming a full-time arbitrator, Jennifer was the head of her own boutique arbitration practice 

— Kirby — where she both represented clients and served as arbitrator for over a decade.

 

She founded her own practice after being a partner at Herbert Smith in its international arbitration group, which she joined after leaving her position as Deputy Secretary General of the ICC International Court of Arbitration.  

 

Before moving to Paris to work for the ICC, Jennifer was an associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York, where she represented clients in both international arbitrations and complex commercial litigations, with a particular focus on securities, insurance, mergers and acquisitions and white-collar criminal cases. 

Jennifer Kirby

A former Deputy Secretary General of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, Jennifer has been working exclusively in international arbitration for over 20 years.

Curriculum Vitae


Founder, Kirby 2010-2023



Partner, Herbert Smith 2008-2010



Deputy Secretary General, ICC International Court of Arbitration 2005-2007



Counsel, ICC International Court of Arbitration 2002-2004



Associate, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett 1998-2001



Associate, Proskauer Rose 1995-1998


Admission


New York


Nationalities


United Kingdom



United States


“I would say [she] has become one of the most powerful women on the international arbitration scene.”

Global Arbitration Review

Selected Speaking Engagements

CEE Reflections on a Century of ICC Arbitration

Prague Arbitration Day 2023

 

 

 

Ideas to Improve the Written Phase of the International Arbitration Process

38th ICC SIA QMUL Annual Joint Symposium of Arbitrators, Paris 2023

 

 

Rethinking Document Disclosure in International Arbitration

California International Arbitration Week, Los Angeles 2023

 

 

In International Arbitration, There Are No Tribes

Arbitration Committee of the Mexican Bar Association, Mexico City 2023

 

 

 

The Use and Abuse of Factual Witnesses

ICC Institute, Paris 2021

 

 

 

Must Justice Be a Goal for the Arbitrator?

Sciences Po Mayer Brown Arbitration Lecture, Paris 2020

 

 

 

“Fast and Furious”—Urgent and Expedited Relief

SCAI Innovation Conference, Zurich 2020

 

 

 

Restatement of the US Law of International Commercial and Investor-State Arbitration

New York Arbitration Week 2019

 

 

 

What Is an Award, Anyway?, International Federation of Commercial Arbitration Institutions

Helsinki 2019

 

 

 

  • “She is a class act.”

    Global Arbitration Review