Virtual hearings – the psychological aspects of virtual hearings 

The ICC Commission Report ‘The Accuracy of Fact Witness Memory in International Arbitration’ can be accessed here.

About the contributors

Dr Ula Cartwright-Finch

Dr Ula Cartwright-Finch is Managing Director of Cortex Capital, a consultancy that uses psychology and neuroscience to solve challenges in business and law. Her work spans sectors and continents. Ula trains and advises lawyers, arbitrators and experts on topics including virtual hearings, witness memory & interviewing, negotiation and decision-making. She also works with a range of corporate and banking clients on leadership, diversity & inclusion and wellbeing programmes.

Ula’s professional background and experience are unique. Her commercial knowledge stems from 12 years as an international lawyer specialising in international arbitration, based in London, Hong Kong and Madrid. She also has first-hand experience in regulatory, risk and compliance in investment bank and telecoms firms. This experience is framed by a deep understanding of psychology and the science of human behaviour. She holds a MA in Psychology from the University of St Andrews and a PhD in Cognitive Psychology from University College London. She is an Honorary Research Fellow at Warwick University where she conducts original research which informs her training and consultancy with the most cutting-edge ideas. 

Ula served as Scientific Advisor to the ICC Task Force on the Accuracy of Fact Testimony in International Arbitration. She is also a Visiting Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London and Humboldt University of Berlin, and she speaks regularly at international conferences.

Click here to read the miniseries ‘Justice Rebooted’ which examines the psychological side of virtual hearings: https://www.cortexcapital.org/justicerebooted

Anna Masser

Anna Masser is a partner in our Frankfurt office and leads the international arbitration practice in Germany. A recognised leader in international arbitration, Anna acts as lead counsel in international commercial arbitrations and advises on disputes under long-term contracts. Anna was previously qualified in Switzerland and advises on Swiss law issues as well as German law. She has experience conducting arbitrations under a wide range of rules including ICC, SCAI, DIS, LCIA, SCC, as well as in ad hoc arbitrations under UNCITRAL rules. In addition to representing clients in arbitration cases, Anna deals with issues relating to the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards and judgments. She is also regularly appointed as an arbitrator.

Dr Ula Cartwright-Finch, left, and Anna Masser