CO-FOUNDER, ARBTECH.IO

Sophie Nappert

Arbitrator | Legal Tech Pioneer |
Thought Leader in the Future of Dispute Resolution

Sophie Nappert is an internationally recognised arbitrator and one of the leading voices exploring how technology is transforming arbitration, legal systems and the future of justice.

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About Sophie

Sophie Nappert is an arbitrator in independent practice, based in London. She is dual-qualified as an Avocat of the Bar of Quebec, Canada and as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. Before becoming a full-time arbitrator, she pursued a career as an advocate and was Head of International Arbitration at a global law firm. She is commended in legal directories as "most highly regarded" and a “leading light” in her field.

Sophie is highly sought-after in complex energy, technology and investment disputes. She is a pioneering practitioner at the intersection of arbitration and Legal Tech. In 2019, she completed the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School Programme on Blockchain Strategy. In 2021, she co-founded ArbTech, a knowledge-sharing platform fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue on technology, dispute resolution and the future of justice. In its first year of existence, ArbTech was shortlisted at the 2022 GAR Awards.

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Sophie is trained and has practised in both civil law and common law jurisdictions. She holds degrees in both common law and civil law from McGill University and a master’s degree in law from King’s College London. For over a decade she served as the peer-nominated Moderator of OGEMID, the online discussion forum on current issues of international investment law, economic law and arbitration. Since 2019, she co-chairs the ICC Task Force on Allegations of Corruption in International Arbitration, the largest ICC Task Force to date.

Sophie is an award-winning lecturer and the first female recipient of the Global Arbitration Review Award for Best Speech in 2016 for her Inaugural EFILA Lecture on the future of ISDS. She delivered the 2018 Proskauer Lecture on International Arbitration, ‘Disruption Is The New Black’, which was also shortlisted for Best Speech at the 2019 GAR Awards.

Sophie is the author of a Commentary on the 2010 UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. She is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars on issues of international arbitration, disruption and new technologies. She is a guest lecturer at Columbia Law School, Harvard Law School and McGill University Faculty of Law. She created the Nappert Prize in International Arbitration, open to young scholars and practitioners worldwide, administered under the auspices of McGill University.

At the intersection of arbitration, technology and trust

Sophie’s work explores how emerging technologies are reshaping dispute resolution, legal systems and the future of justice. Her thinking focuses on questions of trust, legitimacy, due process and how arbitration can adapt to the expectations of a digital age.

Areas of Focus

International Arbitration Investment Arbitration AI & Dispute Resolution Legal Technology Blockchain & Digital Assets Online Dispute Resolution Governance & Due Process Future of Justice Systems

Co-Founder of ArbTech.io

In 2021, Sophie co-founded ArbTech.io, a knowledge-sharing platform fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue on technology, dispute resolution and the future of justice.

Since then, ArbTech has grown into a global platform exploring AI in arbitration, digital assets, blockchain disputes, Web3 governance, online dispute resolution, legal AI ethics and the future of legal systems.

Recognition & Contributions

GAR Award Recognition

First female recipient of the Global Arbitration Review Award for Best Speech in 2016.

ICC Task Force

Co-chair of the ICC Task Force on Allegations of Corruption in International Arbitration.

Academic Contribution

Guest lecturer at Columbia Law School, Harvard Law School and McGill University Faculty of Law.

FAQ

What is Sophie Nappert known for?

Sophie is known for her work as an international arbitrator and her thought leadership on legal technology, AI, blockchain governance and the future of dispute resolution.

What is Sophie Nappert’s role at ArbTech.io?

Sophie is co-founder of ArbTech.io, a platform focused on the intersection of law, technology, arbitration and emerging systems of justice.

What topics does Sophie write and speak about?

Her work frequently explores AI in arbitration, blockchain dispute resolution, digital assets, online dispute resolution, due process, procedural fairness and trust in legal systems.

What is Sophie’s perspective on technology and arbitration?

Sophie’s work often considers how arbitration must adapt to changing technological realities while preserving legitimacy, fairness and trust.

Featured Thinking

Twenty-First Century Arbitration:
The Question of Trust

“International arbitration has historically depended on trust in arbitrators, institutions, and the integrity of the process.”

International arbitration has historically depended on trust in arbitrators, institutions, and the integrity of the process. Parties accept the outcome of arbitral decisions because they trust the chosen decision-makers and the fairness of the process.

Arbitration developed as a flexible, expert-driven method of resolving commercial disputes. Parties value procedural flexibility and the ability to select knowledgeable arbitrators. However, this traditional model is increasingly challenged by the realities of modern e-commerce: disputes are now often high-volume, low-value, cross-border, and demand rapid, inexpensive outcomes. Traditional arbitration, with its emphasis on time-laden due process, is too slow and costly for these disputes.

Changing social expectations—especially among younger, digitally native generations—are altering perceptions of trust. Online communities increasingly place confidence in peer-based systems, technological efficiency, and immediate outcomes rather than in institutional expertise or formal legal procedure. User satisfaction and speed are becoming key indicators of what is perceived as ‘fairness’.

A tangible expression of these important shifts is the steady emergence of blockchain-based dispute resolution platforms such as Kleros. These systems use anonymous online jurors selected through algorithms and economic incentives rather than legal expertise. Decisions are based on majority consensus and game theory principles. The appeal of these systems lies in their speed, accessibility, low cost, and alignment with the expectations of online communities.

A major theme is the shift from trust in procedural fairness toward confidence in technological outcomes. Traditional arbitration relies on carefully structured due process protections, while decentralized systems prioritize efficiency and user expectations. This evolution could fundamentally disrupt arbitration if traditional institutions fail to adapt.

International arbitration must rethink its understanding of procedural fairness and due process in order to remain legitimate and relevant in the digital age. While trust has historically been arbitration’s greatest strength, future success may depend on balancing fairness with the demand for speed, technological integration, and user-centered dispute resolution.