John Beechey, the former president of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, and a member of the investment advisory panel at Woodsford Litigation Funding, has been appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, released on 10 June 2016 to coincide with her 90th birthday.

John was awarded a CBE in the Diplomatic and Overseas List, which recognises service overseas or service in the UK with a substantial international element. The list was compiled by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and submitted to HM Queen Elizabeth II for approval by prime minister David Cameron.

John Beechey is among the best known arbitrators in the world. He is a past President of the International Court of Arbitration of the ICC (2009-2015). His term of office is regarded as one, which brought about significant reform to, and the reinvigoration of, the ICC Court. He had previously served on the Executive Board of the AAA in New York and as a Vice-President and member of the Board of the LCIA.

John was the founding partner and Head of the highly-regarded International Arbitration Group of Clifford-Turner (subsequently, Clifford Chance LLP) (1983-2008). He is the President of the ICC UK’s Committee for Arbitration and ADR, the Chairman of the Board of the BVI International Arbitration Centre, a member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration, a Council member of the ICC Institute of World Business Law and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

John participated in the ground-breaking IBA working groups responsible for the Rules on the Taking of Evidence in International Commercial Arbitration and the Conflicts of Interest Guidelines. John was also an Observer (initially, for the AAA and latterly for the ICC) at the UNCITRAL Working Group. He contributed to the revision of the UNCITRAL Model Law and the UNCITRAL Rules of Arbitration.

Yves Bonavero, Chairman of Woodsford Litigation Funding, commented:

“On behalf of all the team at Woodsford, I extend my warmest congratulations to John for this richly deserved award.”