Arbitrator Profile

Marina Akchurina is an international and domestic arbitrator with 13 years of experience at Cleary Gottlieb, where she represented clients in commercial and investment disputes across various industries and institutional frameworks. In her independent practice, she has served as an arbitrator in both domestic and international matters.

Marina is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and qualified to practice law in three jurisdictions: Ontario, New York, and Russia. Fluent in both English and Russian, she works across common law and civil law systems. Based in Canada, she handles cross-border disputes involving parties from different legal traditions.

Sector Expertise

Marina brings particular depth in:

1. Energy and Natural Resources
2. Infrastructure and Construction
3. Technology and Innovation
4. Cross-Border Commercial Contracts
5. State Entity and Regulatory Matters

Appointments as Arbitrator

Marina serves as sole arbitrator, presiding arbitrator, and party-appointed arbitrator across a diverse spectrum of commercial matters. Her appointments include:

Complex Commercial Disputes

1. Party-appointed arbitrator in proceedings concerning penalties under an international cargo transportation agreement
2. Sole arbitrator in proceedings concerning penalty interest and termination of a goods supply agreement
3. Sole arbitrator in 2 parallel proceedings concerning penalty interest under contractor agreements
4. Sole arbitrator in proceedings concerning recovery of principal debt and penalty interest under a service agreement
5. Sole arbitrator in proceedings concerning the recovery of unjust enrichment

Construction, Infrastructure & Technology

1. Presiding arbitrator in proceedings concerning the recovery of debt and penalty interest under a research and development contract
2. Party-appointed arbitrator in proceedings concerning the recovery of penalty interest due to the delay in performance of works under a construction and installation contract

Arbitrator Philosophy

Marina’s approach to arbitration is built on three fundamental pillars:

Procedural Excellence

1. Maintains unwavering commitment to procedural fairness while avoiding “due process paranoia”
2. Implements efficient case management techniques that reduce costs without compromising quality
3. Ensures equal treatment of parties while maintaining forward momentum in proceedings

Commercial Pragmatism

1. Delivers decisions that account for business realities and commercial context
2. Focuses on practical, enforceable outcomes
3. Maintains careful balance between legal precision and commercial workability

Cross-Cultural Fluency

1. Leverages deep understanding of business practices across North America, Europe, and CIS
2. Navigates complex cross-cultural dynamics with natural ease
3. Ensures effective communication across different legal traditions and business cultures

Procedural Preferences

Marina’s procedural approach emphasizes transparency, efficiency, and flexibility:

Pre-Arbitration

1. Welcomes pre-appointment interviews within appropriate ethical boundaries
2. Provides comprehensive conflict disclosures aligned with IBA Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest
3. Ensures early clarity on procedural expectations and timeline

Written Submissions

1. Welcomes memorial-style written submissions while remaining flexible to party preferences
2. Adheres to IBA Rules on Evidence as the default framework
3. Open to applying the Prague Rules when parties prefer a more streamlined approach

Hearings Management

1. Provides flexible hearing structures adapted to case requirements
2. Welcomes use of technology to enhance presentation clarity
3. Ensures efficient time management while maintaining procedural fairness

For arbitrator appointments:

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