Donna Ross LL.M. FCIArb, is an international ADR practitioner qualified in both civil and common law and the principal of Donna Ross Dispute Resolution. She is admitted to practice in New York and Australia, holds a French civil law degree, is multilingual and multicultural and has worked in jurisdictions across the globe including the US, France, Australia and Singapore.
Ms Ross is specialised in corporate and commercial disputes and has a broad-based background in business and technology and extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution. She has acted in high-value and complex disputes relating to cross-border deals, private equity, IT, telecommunications, construction, partnership, shareholder, import, licensing and distribution agreements, retail leasing and the wine industry. Her focus is on helping parties resolve disputes in a cost-effective and commercial manner.
In addition to serving as a neutral, Donna is an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore, a lecturer at La Trobe Law School, a member of the CIArb faculty and a CPD Provider for Leo Cussen Centre for Law and Legalwise.
Donna is an IMI and SIMI Certified Mediator, an accredited mediator in New York and Australia and a Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist in Mediation Law. She has been recognised as a leading mediator by Doyle’s Guide since 2018, was named Australasian Arbitrator of the Year in 2020 and most Influential Lawyer in 2021, and was a finalist for the Australian Law Awards in 2023 as an arbitrator and mediator. She is a Fellow and Faculty Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a Fellow and graded arbitrator of Resolution Institute, a Fellow of ACICA and sits on the panels of a number of domestic and international institutions. She also provides ADR services to courts, including through ArbitrationVictoria, a new low-cost and expedited arbitration scheme of the County Court of Victoria.
Donna is an active supporter of ADR: she is a frequent speaker at ADR events, devotes time as a coach and judge in competitions and sits on a number of committees including Resolution Institute’s National Determinative and D&I Committees and ArbitralWomen’s advisory board.
