5 May 2026

ArbBoutique is pleased to announce the promotion of Emily Hay and Dr Ole Jensen to partner, effective 1 May 2026. Hay and Jensen were part of the original founding team of ArbBoutique in 2024, and act as arbitrator and counsel in international disputes.

Ms Hay, an Australian-qualified lawyer based in Brussels, has 12 years of experience.  She acts as counsel and arbitrator, having served as sole, presiding and co-arbitrator in disputes administered under the DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, ICC, LCIA and SIAC Rules. She is Chair of the ICC Australia Steering Committee and Co-Chair of the ICC Commission Task Force on Artificial Intelligence in Dispute Resolution, as well as serving on the ACICA Rules Committee. Hay is ranked by Lexology Index as a Global Elite Thought Leader (Future Leader) and is among the EMEA’s most highly regarded practitioners. She has been described as “analytical in her approach and commercially-mindedin decision-making – one of the leading arbitrators of the future”, “sharp, diligent and a pleasure to work with; she has all the hallmarks of a future star”, and “very meticulous and brilliantly impressive”. Hay regularly writes, speaks and teaches on issues related to international arbitration, in particular on new technology, ESG and renewable energy.

Prior to joining ArbBoutique, Hay spent a decade at Hanotiau & van den Berg, where in addition to counsel work, she acted as tribunal secretary and assistant in dozens of high stakes and complex disputes, both ad hoc and under all the major commercial and investment arbitration institutional rules. She works in English as well as bilingual Spanish and French proceedings. Hay has worked on cases under Belgian, Cambodian, English, French, Greek, Hong Kong, Indian, Korean, New York, Nigerian, Peruvian, Swiss, and Turkish law. Her cases span various industry sectors, including construction, cryptocurrency, energy, medical devices, oil and gas, real estate, renewables, satellites, semiconductors and shipping. She also previously practiced in data protection law.

Dr Jensen acts as counsel and arbitrator in international arbitrations, with a particular focus on technically complex and innovation-driven industries. A German-qualified lawyer (Rechtsanwalt) based in ArbBoutique’s Berlin office, he is equally at home in civil law and common law proceedings. As arbitrator, he has conducted proceedings governed by English, German, Singapore, Swedish, Austrian and Italian law as well as the UNIDROIT Principles. Peers describe him as “a definitive rising star”, “precise, accurate, strategic and efficient” and “consistently well-prepared and thoughtful as an arbitrator”.

Jensen has sat as arbitrator under the DIS, ICC, LCIA, SCC, SIAC, UNCITRAL and VIAC Rules across the pharmaceutical, energy, technology, cryptocurrency, construction, hospitality, insurance and financial services sectors. As counsel, he has represented clients in billion-dollar arbitrations, including a patent royalties dispute between a European and a Japanese pharmaceutical company governed by Japanese law, a mining dispute under Guinean law, long-term iron ore supply contracts governed by English law and a dispute between high-net worth individuals under Kuwaiti law. Before joining ArbBoutique, Jensen spent five years at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP in London. Lexology, Leaders League, Best Lawyers and Handelsblatt rank him for his work in international arbitration and contentious matters relating to artificial intelligence. He is ICC YAAF Representative for Europe and Central Asia, sits on the Editorial Board of the Journal of International Arbitration, and regularly teaches, writes and speaks on international commercial law and arbitral procedure.

Hay and Jensen comment: “ArbBoutique has given us the platform to build arbitrator practices alongside three of the most renowned names in the field. Chiann, Niuscha and Maxi are an absolute joy to work with and we are excited to see the ArbBoutique team go from strength to strength every day. As partners, we will continue to grow our arbitrator practices, while also representing clients in select matters.”

With offices in Berlin, Brussels, London, Paris and Singapore, ArbBoutique has a global vision, credited with challenging outdated business models while upholding excellence.  For Bao, Bassiri and Scherer, three highly sought after arbitrators in the most complex and high stakes international disputes, “the success of ArbBoutique models the future of the profession: one that is inclusive, forward-thinking and driven by top talent”.

Bao, Bassiri and Scherer say that they “are delighted to have Emily and Ole join us as partners in ArbBoutique. It is no surprise that their trajectory as arbitrators has been most impressive, and we look forward to their continued path in the field.” Noting that “one of the main aims when creating this innovative set up was to allow the next generation of top-level arbitrators to thrive”, Bao, Bassiri and Scherer “are proud that this goal was achieved in less than 2 years of existence of ArbBoutique.”

Comments on Emily Hay’s promotion

On Hay’s promotion, Professor Albert Jan van den Berg says “Emily is one of our best and brightest. I can attest to her sharp intellect, diligence and expertise in handling all kinds of legal and procedural complexities. She is an emerging international arbitrator of the highest calibre.”

Melanie Van Leeuwen, founding partner of Vanguard International Dispute Resolution and Chair of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, says: “Emily's elevation to the partnership of ArbBoutique is timely and perfectly natural. Already one of the most accomplished arbitration lawyers of her generation, Emily will - without a doubt - soon be leading the profession. Emily is intellectually rigorous, superbly bright and great interpersonal skills. As the co-chair of the AI task force of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, she is shaping the thinking of the arbitration community as to the appropriate use of AI and how it will transform our field.”

Judith Levine, independent arbitrator and President of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA), says: “Emily is a star of the Australian international arbitration diaspora. She has demonstrated her thought leadership as a valuable member of the ACICA Rules Committee, contributor to the ACICA Review and speaker at ACICA conferences. Emily has been a true force for mobilising Australian practitioners around the world and sharing her insights at the cutting edge of new fields of dispute resolution, including via her role with ICC Australia. Emily's promotion to partner of ArbBoutique is well-deserved recognition of her expertise and experience and we are excited for this next chapter in her career.”

Comments on Dr Ole Jensen’s promotion

Gary Born, chair of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP’s International Arbitration Practice Group, says that “Ole was a valued part of our practice, and his elevation to partner at ArbBoutique comes as no surprise.  It seems the natural next step in what promises to be a long and successful career.”

Franz Schwarz, vice chair of the same group and President of VIAC, adds that he “really enjoyed working with Ole on some very difficult matters – he combines great intellectual curiosity and analytical rigor with good instincts for what matters in a case – all qualities that mark him out both as counsel and as arbitrator.”

Professor Anselmo Reyes SC “congratulate[s] Dr. Jensen on his promotion to partner.  Having worked with him in arbitration, I know that Dr. Jensen brings to bear a wealth of knowledge, and expertise, drawn from his experience in the civil law and common law, to the practical resolution of transnational disputes. I wish him every continued success.”

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