Personal bio
Bertha’s practice focuses on all areas of international commercial arbitration and mediation. She is the Managing Partner of Rousseau & Cooper Law Firm of The Bahamas. Bertha studied French at the Sorbonne in Paris, France. She obtained her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in International Relations at L’Institut Libre d’Etude des Relations Internationales (ILERI) in Paris, France. Bertha undertook further studies in Maritime Law at L’Université de Bretagne Occidentale in Brest, France. She is a graduate of the University of London, where she obtained her Bachelor of Laws (Hons.). Bertha was called to the Bar of England & Wales and The Bahamas Bar. She is a Door Tenant at 3 Hare Court Chambers in London, and is Master of the Bench at The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. Bertha has also been appointed to several ICSID ad hoc Annulment Committees. She presently serves as Honorary Consul for the Republic of Botswana to The Bahamas. PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators - Fellow (FCIArb) The Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators - Fellow (FMIArb) Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School - Negotiation Master Class Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution - CEDR Mediator (Investor-State Disputes) Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School - Mediating Disputes International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) - Masterclass for Arbitrators Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) - Series 7 PANEL LISTINGS The Panels of Conciliators and Arbitrators of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) by The Bahamas CARIFORUM-EU Panel of Arbitrators by the Council of Ministers of the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union. Panel of Arbitrators for the British Virgin Islands International Arbitration Centre, (BVI IAC). Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) Panel for Senior Arbitrators & Emergency Arbitrators NOTABLE EXPERIENCE Former Consultant to the Ministry of Financial Services on matters regarding the legislative and institutional development of international arbitration in The Bahamas. Former Director of The Bahamas Maritime Authority. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) - Council Member for the Caribbean Hub The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators - Founding Chair of The Bahamas Branch International Bar Association (IBA) International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) Women's International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA),The Bahamas Chapter - Vice President