Senior Advocate Gourab Banerji has been appointed to the Expert Group on the Future Development of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) to help shape its strategic vision.
NEW DELHI : To mark the 125th anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) and to ensure its continued relevance in the evolving field of international dispute resolution, the institution has established an Expert Group on the Future Development of the PCA.
Among the distinguished individuals chosen for this initiative is Senior Advocate Gourab Banerji, who currently serves as the President of the Arbitration Bar of India.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, is an intergovernmental organization established in 1899 under the Hague Convention to facilitate the resolution of disputes involving states, international organizations, and private parties.
Unlike conventional courts, it does not have permanent judges; instead, it maintains a panel of arbitrators from which disputing parties can select. With 124 contracting parties, the PCA provides services in arbitration, mediation, and other dispute resolution mechanisms, particularly in matters relating to territorial, investment, and commercial conflicts.
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Recognizing the dynamic nature of international law and arbitration, the Administrative Council of the PCA directed the Secretary-General to constitute this Expert Group. Its primary mandate is to evaluate the PCA’s historical contributions, assess its present role, and formulate a strategic vision for its future development.
The Expert Group comprises 15 internationally renowned legal experts, including judges, arbitrators, legal practitioners, and academics, who are serving in their personal capacities. The group is co-chaired by Professor Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler and Sir Daniel Bethlehem KC. In addition to Gourab Banerji, the members of the group include:
- Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab
- Dapo Akande
- Nadia de Araujo
- Judge Joan E. Donoghue
- Sarah Grimmer
- Shotaro Hamamoto
- Bing Bing Jia
- Dyalá Jiménez
- Roman A. Kolodkin
- Ambassador Rena Lee
- Salim Moollan KC
- Phoebe Okowa
- Mónica Pinto
- Danilo Türk
The inaugural meeting of the Expert Group took place on March 20-21, 2025, at the Peace Palace in The Hague, with some members joining virtually. During this session, the group officially launched its mandate and began discussions on the PCA’s significance in international dispute resolution.
The International Bureau of the PCA will provide research and administrative support to the Expert Group as it conducts a comprehensive analysis of the PCA’s contributions to international arbitration and law. The group is expected to present its recommendations to the Secretary-General and the Administrative Council in 2026.
Gourab Banerji’s Expanding Role in International Arbitration
Banerji’s appointment to the Expert Group further solidifies his standing as a leading figure in international arbitration. His expertise has been recognized on multiple occasions, including his appointment in October 2024 as the nominee arbitrator in the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) arbitration case of CTF Holdings SA v. Ukraine.
His inclusion in the PCA’s Expert Group places him among the most influential voices shaping the future of global dispute resolution mechanisms.
This development highlights India’s growing presence in the international arbitration landscape and underscores the importance of expert-driven initiatives in strengthening the framework for resolving international disputes.
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