Ndanga Kamau | Arbitrator
Recognised as a Future Leader in Who’s Who Legal Global Guide 2022, 2023, 2024 in the category Arbitration Future Leaders – Partners
Ranked in Chambers & Partners Global: Dispute Resolution: Arbitrators – Africa-wide (2023, 2024)
Areas of expertise | international commercial arbitration, investor-state disputes, investment law, public international law, private international law, intersection of public international law and private international law
Nationalities | Kenyan, Dutch
Biography | Ndanga Kamau is an independent arbitrator
Ndanga sits as arbitrator in institutional and ad hoc arbitrations. She specialises in disputes at the intersection of public international law and private international law, such as those involving private investors and states or state entities, and commercial disputes between private parties. Ndanga works in a variety of sectors and industries and has considerable expertise in matters related to Africa. Bolstered by her background in economics, Ndanga is proficient in issues related to compensation, damages, costs, and interest.
Ndanga has substantial international experience. Prior to setting up her practice, she worked in the international arbitration practices of two international law firms and as registrar of an international arbitration institution. She also worked for government and international organisations. She has lived and worked in Cape Town, Geneva, Houston, London, Mauritius, Nairobi, and The Hague. Her clients have included private entities, states and state entities, and international organisations. For more information, see experience.
She regularly speaks, teaches, and writes on topics related to her areas of specialisation at forums around the world. She also lectures on these topics at various universities. She has had speaking engagements in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. Ndanga also writes on topics related to her areas of specialisation. See publications.
Ndanga holds several leadership positions. She is a member of the ICCA Governing Board, honorary senior fellow and trustee of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL), and council member of the ICC Institute of World Business Law. Ndanga also sits on the Advisory Board of the University of Cape Town Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Unit (ADRU). Ndanga served two terms as a vice president of the ICC International Court of Arbitration (2018-2024).
Ndanga is a member of the following boards, committees and working groups: UNIDROIT and ICC Institute Working Group on International Investment Contracts; editorial board of the African Journal of International and Comparative Law; Executive Committee of the Foundation for International Arbitration Advocacy (FIAA); and Global Advisory Board of the New York International Arbitration Centre (NYIAC). Ndanga is a PRIME Foundation Expert in Dispute Resolution and was the inaugural president of the ICC Africa Commission (2018-2021). She was a member of the International Law Association (ILA) Committee on Rule of Law and International Investment Law and attended UNCITRAL WG III on investor-State dispute settlement reform as an observer delegate (2018-2024).
Ndanga is listed on the panels of arbitrators of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), Shanghai Arbitration Commission (SHAC), the Kigali International Arbitration Centre (KIAC), the International Division of the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA International) and the initial panel of arbitrators of the Scottish Arbitration Centre. She has been selected for inclusion on the Global Arbitration Counsel List of the Office of the Ombudsman, United Nations Funds and Programmes.
Ndanga is available for appointment as arbitrator in contract and treaty disputes. She can also be engaged to help parties settle such disputes. For more information, and a CV, you can reach her at ndanga@ndangakamau.com.
Areas of interest for research and writing | intersection of public international law and private international law, investor-state dispute settlement, state/investment contracts, compensation and damages in international dispute settlement, international financial markets, tax disputes in investment arbitration, history of international law, history of international dispute settlement, treaty interpretation
Languages | English, French, Dutch, Kiswahili, Kikuyu (varying levels of proficiency)
Education | LLM in International Dispute Settlement, University of Geneva / Graduate Institute, postgraduate diplomas in law (City Law School / Inns of Court School of Law), Economics, University of Cape Town
Scholarships & grants | 2018, International Water Law (online), University of Geneva Law School; Tax Treaty Arbitration Conference, Institute for Austrian and International Tax Law Vienna
2009, Hans Wilsdorf Foundation Scholarship for the MIDS programme;
2008, Mona de Piro Prize, scholarship for the Bar Vocational Course; Oppenheimer Trust Travel Grant for the Hague Academy of International Law Summer Programme on Public International Law.
Bar Admission | Called to the Bar of England and Wales by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple (2010)
Contact | ndanga@ndangakamau.com