Ndanga Kamau | Arbitrator
Areas of expertise | international commercial arbitration, investor-State dispute resolution, investment law, public international law, Africa-related disputes, damages, interest, costs
Nationalities | Kenyan, Dutch
Biography | Ndanga Kamau is an independent arbitrator
Ndanga sits as chair, sole arbitrator, and co-arbitrator in institutional and ad hoc arbitrations. She has more than 15 years’ experience in disputes involving private entities, states, state entities, and international organisations; common law and civil law legal systems; private and public international law; a variety of sectors, including energy, oil & gas, mining, finance, technology, and construction. See experience.
Her academic background in economics reinforces her proficiency in issues related to compensation, damages, interest, tax, and costs.
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 arbitral institution. During her career, she has lived and worked in Cape Town, Geneva, Grenoble, Houston, London, Mauritius, Nairobi, and The Hague.
Ndanga regularly speaks and writes on topics related to her areas of expertise. She has spoken at events in six continents – Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.
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 a council member of the ICC Institute of World Business Law.
She is a member of the editorial board of the African Journal of International and Comparative Law, advisory board of the University of Cape Town Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Unit, and Executive Committee of the Foundation for International Arbitration Advocacy (FIAA).
Ndanga served two terms as a vice president of the ICC International Court of Arbitration (2018-2024). She was a member of the International Law Association (ILA) Committee on Rule of Law and International Investment Law, the of the UNIDROIT-ICC Institute Working Group on International Investment Contracts, and attended UNCITRAL WG III on investor-State dispute settlement reform as an observer delegate for the African Association of International Law (2018-2024). Ndanga also served as a vice chair of the IBA Arbitration Committee and co-chair of the IBA Arbitration Committee’s Africa Group.
She is listed on the panels of arbitrators of institutions in Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Ndanga is available for appointment as arbitrator in contract and treaty disputes.
Ranked in Chambers & Partners Global: Dispute Resolution: Arbitrators – Africa-wide. Spotlight: Dispute Resolution: Arbitrators (2023, 2024, 2025)
Rankings & Recognitions | Recognised as a Future Leader in Who’s Who Legal Global Guide 2022, 2023, 2024, and Lexology Index 2025 in the category Arbitration Future Leaders – Partners
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