Arbitration services business Arbitra has added international arbitrator Veijo Heiskanen to its independent roster of arbitrators from Swiss firm LALIVE.

Heiskanen brings with him extensive arbitration experience built up over three decades of international dispute resolution work. Recent highlights include leading on a $6.7bn mining project arbitration in Eastern Europe and two parallel ICC energy dispute arbitrations with a combined value of $30bn. He also acted as lead counsel in a €2bn ICSID tax regulations-related arbitration and a $10bn ICSID annulment proceeding related to the termination of electric utility concessions.

Owen Lawrence, CEO and founder of Arbitra, said: “Veijo sits at the top of many law firms’ lists as a go-to arbitrator. His distinguished reputation in the community and his hunger and energy to embark on the next chapter of his career as an independent arbitrator are commendable. Veijo’s addition bolsters our commitment to providing exceptional arbitral options globally.”

Heiskanen joins after 22 years at LALIVE, part of an illustrious career that has also seen him serve as legal adviser at the Iran-US Claims Tribunal, deputy chief of the legal service of the United Nations Compensation Commission and secretary general of the Claims Resolution Tribunal in Zurich.

He said: “I am excited to join Arbitra and start a new chapter in my professional life. This is very much the start of a new venture. At the same time, I know that serving as an arbitrator is not a job. It is a privilege. You cannot expect that appointments will come or keep coming; you must earn them, case by case, decision by decision. There can be no expectation of a pipeline of appointments, but if they do come, there can be no better base for serving the parties than Arbitra.”

Domitille Baizeau, managing partner of LALIVE, thanked Heiskanen for his contribution over the past two decades, praising his “extraordinary analytical mind, judgement, drafting skills and work ethic to the most complex international disputes”.

Arbitra was founded in 2021 and provides management services to independent arbitrators to support their practices, as well as helping law firms appoint a suitable neutral. The firm currently has more than 30 members including arbitrators and mediators.