Jacob Grierson is an English barrister and a French lawyer.
Having started his career in the Chambers of Lord Grabiner KC at One Essex Court in London,
Jacob has been based in Paris for the past 20 years and has become a French avocat while
remaining an English barrister.
Jacob has acted both as counsel and as arbitrator (sole arbitrator, president and co-arbitrator) in a
very large number of arbitrations subject to many different laws and seated in many different
places, although predominantly in London and Paris, the two cities between which he divides his
time.
He has a particular focus on disputes related to Africa (both Anglophone and Francophone) and
on certain sectors, including construction, energy, mining, pharma/biotechnology and transport.
Jacob is bilingual in English and French, and has conducted arbitrations in both of those languages.
He also has a working knowledge of German.
He has been recognised by Who’s Who Legal as one of the ten best regarded arbitration
practitioners in France and by Jeune Afrique as one of the most influential lawyers active in
Francophone Africa.
Jacob is the author (together with Annet van Hooft) of “Arbitrating under the 2012 ICC Rules: an
Introductory Users’ Guide”, which has been recognised as one of the leading guides to the ICC
Rules of Arbitration, on which Jacob is a leading authority.
Jacob is an Emeritus Council Member of the ICC Institute, President of the User’s’ Council of the
Casablanca International Mediation and Arbitration Centre (CIMAC) and a Member of the
Steering Committee of the Mauritius International Arbitration Centre (MIAC).