+44 (0)207 936 7070 
+44 (0)207 936 7070
Arbitrator
Nationality: Canadian
Languages: English
David Haigh KC is recognised nationally and internationally as a leader in the field of international arbitration. A King's Counsel with decades of experience as counsel and arbitrator, David has practised as a commercial litigation advocate before the Canadian courts and as counsel and arbitrator in complex international commercial and investor-state disputes worldwide.
David has served as arbitrator, presiding arbitrator and tribunal chair in numerous international commercial arbitration and investor-state matters. He has extensive experience applying a wide range of governing laws, including English law, having sat on and presided over numerous arbitrations in which English law governed the substantive dispute. He has also acted as counsel in ad hoc, institutional, private, and investor-state arbitrations across a broad range of sectors, including construction, engineering and infrastructure, commercial disputes, energy, oil and gas, investment treaty disputes, technology, mining, and telecommunications.
His many achievements are consistently recognised by leading global directories and industry awards. He was honoured by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators with the Distinguished Service in Canadian Arbitration Award, one of the highest honours available to Canadian arbitrators, in recognition of his exceptional contribution as both advocate and arbitrator and his longstanding commitment to the advancement of arbitration practice in Canada.
David is a Chartered Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America and a member of both the Trial Law Institute and Diversity Law Institute. He is also a Fellow and Chartered Arbitrator of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb). He served for several years as National Chair of the Canadian ICC Committee and for over a decade as a Director of the American Arbitration Association (AAA). David is also a Founding Member of the Western Canada Commercial Arbitration Society (WCCAS).
David has worked on corporate finance and complex commercial transactions; and numerous other contractual, and corporate/commercial disputes including such subject matters as coal, potash, and gold mining, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, intellectual property, and construction.
David has served as arbitrator in disputes relating to exploration, production, marketing, storage, pipelines, and pricing disputes.
David has represented both Claimants and states in various investor-state matters.
David was Called to the Bar of Alberta in 1965. He then took Silk in 1984 and has appeared several times in the Supreme Court of Canada.
David is a panelist member with numerous well-recognised international arbitration centers including conducting arbitrations in recent years among a large variety of nationals and state entities. He served as the national chairman of ICC Canada for six years and as a director of the American Arbitration Association for 12 years. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a founding member of the Western Canada Commercial Arbitration Society and is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Panel memberships include:-
David is frequently referred to in publications as a leading practitioner in this field.
Chambers Global Guide to the World’s Leading Lawyers for Business:-
“[he is] well respected in the international sphere” and is endorsed as “one of the pioneers of international arbitration”.
“He is a highly qualified and very diligent arbitrator.”
David has recently been ranked in Who's Who Legal - Arbitration Thought Leaders 2025
David has most recently been recognised by Lexology – Arbitration Global Elite Thought Leaders 2026
To acquire availability, check conflicts and discuss appointments, please call +44 (0)207 936 7070 or email info@arbitra.co.uk
“He is a highly qualified and very diligent arbitrator.”
Chambers Global Guide“[he is] well respected in the international sphere” and is endorsed as “one of the pioneers of international arbitration”.
Chambers Global Guide"One of the godfathers of arbitration in Canada."
Chambers Global Guide"One of the greats in Canada."
Chambers Global Guide
