Welcome to the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
North America Branch

Blanca del Carmen Martínez Mendoza MCIArb

Mexico City

Blanca is a lawyer with over 15 years of experience in international arbitration, trade and investment law, energy, and regulatory affairs. As part of Mexico’s legal teams, she participated in major investor-state arbitrations (B-Mex, LMC, Eutelsat, Alicia Grace) and contributed to the negotiation of key USMCA chapters, including investment and government procurement. She held senior legal positions at the Ministry of Economy and at the national hydrocarbons regulator (ASEA). After nearly a decade in the Mexican federal government, she recently founded Mendoza Vera Abogados, S.C., focusing her practice on dispute resolution and advisory services in administrative, regulatory, and public law across strategic sectors. Her professional work is complemented by academic activities: she teaches at UNAM, serves on the Board of CIArb North America, and frequently speaks on trade, energy, and arbitration. Blanca is fluent in Spanish, English and French, with working knowledge in German and Italian.

Jeff Senger

Maryland

Jeff Senger serves as an arbitrator and mediator at JAMS, with special expertise in life sciences, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and matters involving the government. He served as FDA's acting General Counsel and was a partner at Sidley Austin. He coordinated ADR for the entire federal government as Senior Counsel for Dispute Resolution at the U.S. Department of Justice. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a Distinguished Neutral with the CPR International Institute. He has arbitrated for the American Arbitration Association and mediated for the United States District Court. He is the author of the award-winning book, Federal Dispute Resolution (Wiley) and teaches negotiation at Columbia and Harvard Law Schools. He testified as an expert on ADR before the U.S. Congress and has spoken about dispute resolution on behalf of the U.S. government on five continents.

Lisa A. Powell FCIArb

Lisa A. Powell FCIArb is an experienced advocate and arbitrator with over 30 years’ experience at Am Law 200 firms. She is currently a partner at FisherBroyles, LLP, an international law firm. She has experience in nearly all facets of complex commercial litigation, with particularly deep experience in bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, franchise law, corporate governance, and energy. She is a member of the Commercial Panel of Neutrals of the AAA where she has served as an arbitrator in a wide variety of matters. She is a member of the Board of Directors of CIArb NAB and serves as the 2025 chair of the Southeast Chapter. She is a Sustaining Life Fellow of Texas and Houston Bar Foundations.

Simon J. Lawrence

Savannah, Georgia

Simon J. Lawrence is an arbitrator and aviation governance expert with over 38 years in international and domestic airline operations and regulatory compliance. A FINRA Public Arbitrator and member of the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Air Law Group, he has served in arbitration roles since 2012. As Managing Partner of Global Arbitration Group, LLC, Captain Lawrence has provided technical aviation insight and legal acumen to complex industry disputes. He has represented aviation professionals at ICAO, RTCA, and FAA panels, and advised NASA on flight operations research for 17 years. A former Chief Pilot and Fleet Manager, his leadership has supported commercial, freight, and startup carriers globally. Captain Lawrence is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and is a member and former Chairman of the Board of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots, NA. In addition to arbitration, he is a pilot instructor for an international cargo airline and an aviation advisor to the US State Department.