Global Disputes Forecast Webinar Series

Jennifer Ancona Semko focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation and internal investigations, with more than 20 years of experience litigating in state and federal courts across the United States. Jennifer represents clients in domestic and international disputes and has expertise in cross-border judicial processes. She also has guided clients through investigations by the US Department of Justice, SEC, EPA, NYSE, Senate Finance Committee, United Nations and other government agencies. She is currently the Chair of the Washington Office Litigation and Government Enforcement practice, as well as Co-Chair of the North American Commercial Litigation subgroup.

• Website

Ed Poulton is Managing Partner in Baker McKenzie’s London office and a member of the Dispute Resolution team. A key name in the arbitration community, Ed sits as an arbitrator in ICC and LCIA arbitrations, and is the consulting editor of a seminal text on the arbitration of M&A disputes. He also sits on the steering committee for the Firm’s Global International Arbitration Practice Group. Ed is recognised in the fields of international arbitration and public international law by Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.

Nandakumar (Kumar) Ponniya heads the Dispute Resolution Practice of Baker & McKenzie in the Asia-Pacific.
Kumar is listed as a leading international arbitration lawyer in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021 and was also named a Litigation Star in the Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific 2020. Chambers Asia Pacific 2021 quotes “the ‘well respected’ Nandakumar Ponniya for having led commercial and investment arbitrations and notes that he is especially recognised for his focus on construction and contractual issues. He has also been described by clients as being “intellectually sharp and street smart” (Legal 500) and "very savvy and well connected" (Chambers Global). Further, he has been recognised for being "sensitive to commercial realities” (Chambers Asia Pacific) and providing "practical, on the ground advice that clients need” (Legal 500).
Kumar is a member of the Expert Panel of the Centre for Cross-Border Commercial Law in Asia (CEBCLA) and is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He serves on statutory tribunals such as the Income Tax Review Board and the Law Society’s Inquiry Panel. In addition, Kumar also serves as an adjunct assistant professor at the National University of Singapore and the Singapore Management University, where he conducts the International Projects Practice and Law as well as the International Construction Law course.

• Website

Mini vandePol is the Head of Baker McKenzie's Asia Pacific Investigations, Compliance & Ethics Group, after successfully completing three years as the Global Chair. Mini focuses on anti-bribery and corruption, trade sanctions, fraud and other senior executive misconduct investigations across Asia but most particularly in Hong Kong, China and India. Mini has more than 30 years' experience and is the trusted advisor to the boards and audit committees of the Firm's most significant global clients — assisting them to establish and enhance their risk management programs, assess risks in transactional opportunities and credibly investigate transgressions to support a strong commitment to a culture of compliance. In her previous Global Chair role, she led a team of 900+ compliance and investigations practitioners in Asia Pacific, EMEA, Latin America and North America, which was ranked amongst the Top 10 global investigations firms by Global Investigations Review in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Mini herself has recently been awarded "Woman Lawyer of the Year" in The Macallan ALB Hong Kong Law Awards and "Best in White Collar Crime" Euromoney Asia Women in Business Law Awards in 2019. She is also named as one of the "Top 100 Women in Investigations" by Global Investigations Review. Mini is the Firm's representative assisting the World Economic Forum's Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI) and a member of the WEF's Global Future Council.

• Website

Peter Tomczak serves as Baker McKenzie's Co-Chair, Global Investigations, Compliance and Ethics. He is a member of the Steering Committee of the Firm's Global Dispute Resolution practice, and also serves on the Firm's Global Professional Responsibility and Practice Committee and Cross-Alliance Pricing Committee. Peter previously served as Chair of the Firm's North America Litigation and Government Enforcement Practice Group, and on the Steering Committee of the Firm's Global Industrials, Manufacturing and Transportation Industry Practice Group. Peter joined Baker McKenzie in 2003 after having served as a law clerk for the Delaware Court of Chancery.

• Website

Ashish is a Local Principal in Singapore's Dispute Resolution Practice Group. He is qualified to practice law in England & Wales, India, New York and Singapore. In July 2018, Ashish received the “Under-40 Rising Star” award at the annual India law awards ceremony in New Delhi. Recent clients commentary in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific states that "Ashish is 'very familiar with India law matters', 'offers commercially sensible advice and is a delight to work with', and 'grasps complex points quickly and is very persuasive' (2019) and describes Ashish as "truly impressive", "very incisive and a go-to lawyer in Singapore", who offers "advice that is sensible and commercially viable" (2018).

Teresa H. Michaud advises on all aspects of dispute resolution, primarily complex business disputes, class actions, intellectual property and international arbitration. She is the co-chair of the North American Class Action Subgroup and serves as a member of the Global Steering Committee of the Firm's Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) Industry Group. She is admitted to practice in California, Texas and New York, and qualified in England and Wales. She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US). Teresa is also one of the founding members of our Los Angeles office that opened in 2018.

Francesca Richmond is a partner in the Baker McKenzie Dispute Resolution team based in London. Francesca joined Baker McKenzie in 2004 and was admitted as a solicitor in September 2006. She attained higher rights of audience to act as a solicitor-advocate in 2009. Francesca has been seconded to Baker McKenzie's offices in Chicago, Washington and Sydney as well as to clients Barclays Bank PLC, the BBC Trust and O2. Francesca was a marshall at the Royal Courts of Justice in 1998 and in 2000 sitting with a High Court judge.

• Website

Barry is a partner in Baker McKenzie's Los Angeles office. For over 25 years, he has litigated and tried complex commercial and product liability cases in state and federal courts across the country. These include numerous "bet-the-company" cases and, more recently, contingency / partial contingency fee cases, where Baker takes a stake in the litigation. Barry has represented a variety of clients over the years from high net-worth entertainers to Fortune 100 pharmaceutical and consumer product companies. He is a member of the Firm's National Trial Team and the Litigation Chair for Baker's California Offices. Barry loves being in the courtroom and is entirely at ease in front of a jury. He never assumes a case will settle, which means his cases undergo an early case assessment (ECA) as well as development of a strategic plan, budget, and themes of the case. At every stage, Barry assesses how new and developing facts, witnesses and documents fit the strategic plan, budget and themes. He also works tirelessly to learn the strengths and weaknesses of his case, to stay ahead of his opponents, and to keep his clients well-informed and well-positioned to settle or try the case, depending on their goals and objectives.

Vanina Caniza is a partner in Baker McKenzie’s Buenos Aires office and the Global Chair of the Healthcare & Life Sciences Group. She advises a range of multinational, Latin America and Argentine clients in a variety of corporate and commercial law matters, with extensive experience in corporate compliance, commercial agreements, mergers & acquisitions and regulatory advice. Vanina has extensive knowledge in the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device sectors. She completed postgraduate courses on Biotechnology at Universidad Torcuato di Tella (Buenos Aires) and on Health Law at Universidad de Buenos Aires. She was previously the Latin America Leader of the Healthcare & Life Sciences Group and also sits on the Steering Committee of the Firm’s Latin America Corporate Compliance Group. She is currently a professor in the CEC Compliance & Ethics Certification (AAEC-UCEMA).