Ann Ryan Robertson '77, '05 LL.M.
Aug. 10, 2020 - Ann Ryan Robertson, a 1977 alumna of the University of Houston Law Center, was recently elected as president of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators for 2021. Her term will officially begin in January, and she currently serves as the organization’s deputy president.
Being first woman president from North America elected, Robertson said she will provide experience, diversity and ideas she believes will grow the organization, which is partly what motivated her to pursue the role.
“One of my personal goals is to make the Chartered institute of Arbitrators more widely known in North America,” Robertson said. “To give you an example, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators has over 16,000 members worldwide and one of the largest branches happens to be in East Asia, which has well over 1,000 members. North America, New York, which is a separate branch, and Canada, have smaller memberships.
“I’ve been involved in the organization for a number of years. I ran for president because I believe my experience, first as a member, then as a chair of the North America branch, then as a trustee gives me the necessary background to be an effective president. I also bring both gender and geographical diversity to the role.”
After receiving her undergraduate education at University of Houston, Robertson followed up with a legal education at the Law Center. In 2005, she earned an LL.M. from the Law Center.
“When I was applying to law school, I was married and my husband had a job here,” Robertson said. “I had attended UH for my undergraduate degree. I also knew people who had attended the UHLC and spoke very highly of it, so that’s what governed my decision.”
Robertson works as an International Partner at Locke Lord LLP's Houston office, acting as both advocate and arbitrator in international arbitrations. She also serves an adjunct professor at the Law Center and has coached international arbitration moot court teams for the past 18 years.
“Getting to work with the students from their very first oral argument, which is typically pretty awful, to having them win all sorts of awards in the end has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career,” she said.
