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A Tradition of Excellence: The ASA Advocacy Prize Winner 2026
The international arbitration community came together in Geneva to celebrate the 2026 ASA Advocacy Prize, awarded to Ng Jern-Fei KC (Temple Chambers & Duxton Hill Chambers, Singapore) during the Gala Dinner of the Swiss Arbitration Summit 2026.
Now in its ninth edition, this prestigious biennial prize, presented by the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA), recognises counsel with exceptional advocacy skills who make a tangible impact in resolving international commercial disputes through arbitration. Since its inception in 2010, the ASA Advocacy Prize has consistently celebrated the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and respect in international arbitration.
Opening the evening, ASA President Andrea Meier (Walder Wyss) reflected on the significance of the award. She emphasised that the prize honours advocates who embody the principles of the ASA Charter of Advocacy, including respect for the dignity of all parties, witnesses, and experts. “In today’s world, where basic human decency and respect are under attack every day, we cannot overstate the importance of this fundamental principle of human interaction, and we are proud to award a prize that stands for this value,” she said.
ASA Vice-President Noradèle Radjai (LALIVE), who chairs the Selection Committee, shared insight into the rigorous process behind the selection of the 2026 laureate. In the summer of 2025, ASA members submitted 37 nominations from 25 jurisdictions. The Committee, comprising Professor Pierre Tercier (Arbitration Office Tercier & Peter & Kim), Professor Nayla Comair-Obeid (Obeid & Partners), Chiann Bao (ArbBoutique), Niuscha Bassiri (ArbBoutique), and Bernhard Berger (Kellerhals Carrard), carefully reviewed each candidate and sought confidential feedback from approximately 20 arbitrators. A shortlist of ten candidates was then presented to the 2025 ASA Executive Committee, composed ofAndrea Meier (Walder Wyss), Noradèle Radjai (LALIVE), Felix Dasser (Homburger), Bernhard Berger (Kellerhals Carrard), Christoph Müller (UNINE) and Dorothee Schramm (SwissArbitrator), who ultimately selected Ng Jern-Fei as the laureate.
The award was presented by Andrea Meier, followed by the traditional laudation from the 2024 laureate, Rahim Moloo (Gibson Dunn, New York), who praised Ng Jern-Fei for his advocacy skills, collaborative approach, and contributions to the international arbitration community. He welcomed Ng Jern-Fei into the distinguished ranks of past recipients, emphasising that the prize recognises not only individual excellence but also a spirit of service to the wider community.
In his acceptance speech, Ng Jern-Fei reflected warmly on the moment and on the journey that brought him to international arbitration. He described the honour of succeeding Rahim Moloo and spoke candidly about what he enjoys most as an advocate: the opportunity to work with diverse teams across jurisdictions and to learn the many ways advocates persuade their tribunals. He noted that, for all the differences in style and legal culture, the fundamentals of advocacy remain constant: identify the real issues, marshal the facts effectively, and present a principled path to a just outcome. “When we are faithful to those fundamentals, differences in legal culture enrich rather than divide our community,” he observed.
For the next generation of arbitration advocates, Ng Jern-Fei’s message was clear: “You do not need to sound like anyone else to be persuasive. Be fearless in your curiosity and do not be afraid of searching for unconventional answers to even the most complex problems. We serve clients, of course, but we also serve the integrity of the process and the public’s trust in fair and principled decision-making.” His words capture the essence of the ASA Advocacy Prize, highlighting the combination of skill, principle, and dedication that defines the work the Association seeks to celebrate.
The ASA Advocacy Prize has been awarded since 2010, with past laureates:
- Franz T. Schwarz (2010)
- Philippe Pinsolle (2012)
- Raëd Fathallah (2014)
- Melissa Magliana (2016)
- Mohamed S. Abdel Wahab (2018)
- Christopher Boog (2020)
- Nadia Darwazeh (2022)
- Rahim Moloo (2024)
With Jern-Fei joining these distinguished names, ASA is proud to continue this tradition of excellence, recognising advocates whose work exemplifies skill, integrity, and principled advocacy in international arbitration. We encourage our community to participate actively, nominate deserving peers, and contribute to the dialogue and practice that will strengthen the field for years to come.