Bennett Jones is pleased to announce that Jonathan Fried and Valerie Hughes of the firm’s International Trade and Investment Group have been appointed by the European Commission to its “List of Candidates Suitable for Appointment as Chairpersons for Arbitrations” in international trade disputes under trade agreements to which the EU is a party. The Commission will draw on the list to make proposals for the appointment of arbitrators in specific cases or for pre-agreed lists (rosters) under the relevant bilateral agreements with third countries.

A selection panel of experienced international judges and academics examined candidates to confirm their suitability for appointment.

Prior to joining Bennett Jones, Jonathan served as personal representative of Canada's Prime Minister for the G20 and the Coordinator for International Economic Relations with Global Affairs Canada from 2017 to 2020. He was Canada’s World Trade Organization (WTO) Ambassador from 2012 to 2017, where he played a key role in multilateral trade negotiations, including as Chair of the WTO’s General Council in 2014 and chair of the Dispute Settlement Body in 2013.

Valerie served as counsel for the Government of Canada before WTO panels and the organization’s Appellate Body, as an adjudicator in WTO disputes, and as the only person to have served as both Director of the WTO’s Legal Affairs Division (2010-16) and Director of its Appellate Body Secretariat (2001-05). Valerie also served in senior counsel and leadership positions in her 22 years with the Government of Canada including at Global Affairs Canada, Finance Canada, and Justice Canada.

The full List of Candidates is available here.