Alumnus Edmund Bao wins Permanent Court of Arbitration Fellowship
Edmund Bao

2018 Permanent Court of Arbitration Fellowship recipient, Edmund Bao, is an ANU Law alumnus who formerly received the ANU Law World Bank Fellowship in Washington DC.

I am grateful to the ANU academics including Associate Professor Kath Hall and senior international arbitration practitioners for their support and the faith they have shown in my ability.

ANU Law alumnus Edmund Bao will head to the Peace Palace at The Hague after receiving the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Fellowship to work as an associate to the top international Court’s judges. Edmund will be supported by the ANU College of Law Frohlich Scholarship.

The Sydney-based lawyer will be tasked with assisting the judges in their day-to-day working tasks, including carrying out research, preparing case files and drafting judgments.

“I am grateful to ANU academics including Associate Professor Kath Hall and senior international arbitration practitioners for their support and the faith they have shown in my ability," the Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Laws (Hons I) ‘15 alumnus said.

“I hope to use the knowledge I gain working at the PCA to contribute towards legal practice, policy and research in the international arbitration space,” Edmund said.

“I also intend to contribute to the institutional work of the PCA’s International Bureau as a centre for procedural innovations and international law scholarship.”

Edmund, a former recipient of the ANU World Bank Integrity Vice Presidency Scholarship, said his motivations for applying were twofold.

“The PCA is the preeminent international arbitral forum for the peaceful settlement of disputes among nation states and private parties,” he explained.

“I believe in the merits of international arbitration as a neutral forum that is able to reconcile complex international disputes while striking an appropriate balance between competing factors, for example, between state sovereignty and investor protection.

“This fellowship will allow me to gain first hand insight into the evaluation of case strategy and legal arguments by PCA tribunals, and to learn from the Court’s assessment of the arguments presented.”

Since completing his studies at ANU, Edmund has been working a solicitor in the International Arbitration practice at King & Wood Mallesons in Sydney.

He has written or co-authored commentaries on international arbitration law and practice, including corruption in international investment arbitration, the use of international arbitration in derivative instruments, and emergency arbitration procedures; and published journal articles in the Australian Year Book of International Law and World Arbitration Reporter.