Posted on: 15 March 2021
London Maritime Arbitrators’ Association (LMAA), the world’s leading group of maritime arbitrators with over 800 full and supporting members, has announced that Daniella Horton is to step down from the position of the Honorary Secretary, she has held for five years, and to be replaced by James Clanchy, who will take over from her later this year.
James is a qualified solicitor, who has spent 20 years in private practice specialising in shipping matters with major firms, and 4 years at the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) as Registrar and Deputy Director-General. He currently assists LexisNexis on arbitration, including shipping arbitration matters.
LMAA President Bruce Harris, said: “For the past five years Daniella Horton has shown total dedication in the role of Honorary Secretary. Having been in that position myself in 1978-80 and President in 1991-93 I know how onerous that once-simple job has become.
“Daniella has worked tirelessly and flawlessly to ensure (along with our superb Executive Secretary Margareta Svigler) that the administration of the LMAA is impeccable. But she has also been brilliant in promoting London maritime arbitration and the Association around the world. I know that once she has handed over to James she wants to take a break from LMAA administrative matters, but I really hope it will not be a long one!
“We welcome James Clanchy warmly. Daniella’s is a hard act to follow but I am confident that in his own way James will excel in the role. His experience in the law and in arbitration will be invaluable to the LMAA, and we look forward very much indeed to working with him.”
Serving Honorary Secretary Daniella Horton said: “It has truly been an honour and a privilege to serve the LMAA as its Honorary Secretary since 2015. It is, quite simply, an unparalleled opportunity. I look forward to working with James as I hand over the Association’s secretariat mantle. I wish James well and hope he finds the role as rewarding as I have.
“Looking to the future, I shall be supporting individual LMAA projects, as well as serving the LMAA arbitral community with my ‘arbitrator hat’ on.”
James Clanchy, Honorary Secretary-Elect, said: “It is an immense honour to have been appointed Honorary Secretary-Elect of the LMAA. I am delighted that the Committee has given me this amazing opportunity to serve the Association’s members and users and to help to promote its Terms and Procedures. As my predecessors have done, I shall continue to practise as an arbitrator while carrying out my responsibilities. I look forward to learning the ropes from Daniella Horton over the coming weeks. These are challenging times but all of us who are involved with shipping and international commerce know that global crises come and go and that markets bounce back. The LMAA is in excellent health. It will continue to play a leading role in international commercial arbitration in London and worldwide.”
