Paul B. Hannon

 International Commercial Arbitrator

Paul B. Hannon is a London-based international commercial arbitrator. He is an Irish national with American & French legal qualifications, and extensive experience in international business both as a practicing lawyer and as a business executive.

His Curriculum Vitae follows:

Address Office
47/E Lennox Gardens
London 
SW1X ODF
ENGLAND

Tel:  (020) 7584 4519
Fax:  (020) 7823 7442
E-mail: info@paulbhannon.com

Home
Flat 21
169 Queen's Gate
London  SW7 5HE
ENGLAND

Tel:  (020) 7584 3910

 

Date of Birth

 

29 August 1935

  
Present Professional Activities

International Commercial Arbitrator
Member of the Court of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
Member (Former Chairman), Board of Trustees, American University in Cairo
Member, the International Council for Global Health Progress
Chairman, Beltone MENA Equity Fund Limited (a Mutual Fund investing in securities of issuers in the Middle East and North Africa regions)

   

Arbitration Experience 

Service as chairman, sole arbitrator, party appointed arbitrator and advocate in more than twenty-five arbitrations conducted under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, the American Arbitration Association, the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and in ad hoc arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Rules after appointment by the Secretary General of ICSID. 

Disputes have involved, inter alia, motion picture distribution contracts, construction contracts, turnkey communication systems projects, equipment supply arrangements, industrial property license agreements, customer complaints against stockbrokers, and general commercial contracts.

Business and Professional Experience

1984-1996           Director/Shareholder Representative, Duty Free Shoppers Group (Sales US$3 Billion)
1982-1993           Director, Vice President and General Counsel, General Atlantic Group Limited
1984-1997           Director, Camus Overseas Limited (Cognac Distribution Company)

The General Atlantic Group is a private investment company headed by Charles F. Feeney, one of the founders of Duty Free Shoppers Group, the world's largest retailer to the traveling public.  In addition to its interest in Duty Free Shoppers, the General Atlantic Group had major investments in computer software companies, speciality retailers, oil and gas enterprises, hotels, commercial and residential property developments and health and fitness clubs in the United States, Europe and the Pacific Basin.

Responsibilities were of both a business and legal nature.  Examples include:

  • Represented the General Atlantic interest in all aspects of the Duty Free business, including related investments in real property and liquor distribution; negotiations and dispute resolution with other investors; decisions on major concession bids; supervision of CEOs and their removal and replacement when necessary; formulation of competitive strategies and approaches to governmental officials; conception of political campaigns to enhance voter education in areas of importance to the company;  general monitoring and control of these markedly successful businesses.
     

  • Took the lead for General Atlantic in relations with its US investment arm – General Atlantic Partners, in negotiating a new, long-term relationship; day-to-day supervision and, if necessary, liquidation of troubled investments; as a board member and executive, supervision and monitoring of its over-all investment portfolio.
     

  • General administration of head office; supervision of Company's financial functions; tax planning; liaison with banks; supervising in-house and outside counsel and structuring investments to enhance tax efficiency and control.

1993-1994           Director, Scrivner Inc., a $6 billion (sales) US food wholesaler and retailer.  (In 1994 Scrivner merged with its major competitor.)

1980-1991           Advisory Director and Voting Trustee for certain interests of the Haniel Corporation, the American holding company for what is reputedly Germany's richest family.

1962-1982           Lawyer, O'Melveny & Myers, one of America's largest law firms.  Partner from 1969. Eight years in the firm's Paris office and 12 in Los Angeles.  Concentrated in international commercial transactions.

Specialities included negotiation of multinational joint ventures in the defense, construction, entertainment and high technology industries; international claims and arbitration involving private parties, Governments and International Organisations; contracting with foreign and US government and international organisations; trade disputes; cross border investments; in addition to practice of general commercial and business law for domestic clients, Japanese trading and manufacturing companies and other foreign investors.

          Examples include: 

  • Claim for negotiation on behalf of multinational consortium against the Government of Iran for US$150+ million in respect of communications and public works project.  

  • Representation of US Defense Contractor in formation of six nation defense company consortium to bid for Nato contract to build air defense/radar system; representation of the successful consortium in negotiation with NATO and nine host nations; six years of project implementation; successful claim against NATO for costs of project overrun. 

  • Representation of Japanese trading company against claim by US importer for contractually determined prices which could have involved anti-dumping risks under US law; eventually settled through arbitration.

Education
  • Yale University Law School, J.D.
  • The American University in Cairo, Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa)
  • Harvard Business School, Advanced Management Program
  • Universidad Central de Venezuela (US Government Scholarship)
  • Columbia University, Summer Program, Parker School of Foreign and Comparative Law
  • University of Colorado, B.A. (Cum Laude)
Professional Qualifications
  • Avocat Honoraire a la Cour de Paris
  • Member of the Bar of California (Retired)
  • Member of the Bar of the District of Columbia
  • Fellow of the Institute of Directors (United Kingdom)
  • Member of the Panel of International Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association
  • Member of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
  • Member of the Panel of Arbitrators of Asia/Pacific Center for the Resolution of International Business Disputes
  • Member of the Swiss Arbitration Association
  • Member, International Arbitration Institute - Paris
  • Member of the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration
  • Associate, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Other Associations
  • Foreign Associate, Royal Institute of International Affairs
  • Franco-British Lawyers Society
  • Lecturer and writer on various business and legal subjects
  • American Bar Association
  • British-Egypt Society
  • Confrerie des Chevaliers du Taste Vin
  • Union Club of New York City
  • Royal Bermuda Yacht Club
  • Yale Club of London
  • Harvard Business School Association (London)
  • Harvard Club of London
  • Phi Beta Kappa
Languages English, French and Spanish
Leisure Activities Skiing, swimming, walking, traveling and reading