Arbitration Panel appointed for 36th America’s Cup

(May 11, 2018) – The appointment of the Arbitration Panel for the 36th America’s Cup presented by Prada has been announced today by the Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand and Challenger of Record, Luna Rossa Challenge in accordance with the requirements of the Protocol governing the event.

As in previous editions of the America’s Cup, the role of the Arbitration Panel will be to resolve off-the-water disputes, whilst being responsible for the interpretation of the Protocol and other specific areas of rule compliance.

The three person panel consists of:
• David Tillett (AUS) – Chairman
• Dr. Henry Peter (SUI)
• Graham McKenzie (NZL)

All three are respected lawyers who have experience working with previous America’s Cup adjudication bodies and bring considerable acumen to their roles as panel members.

Background:

David Tillett – Chairman
David is a Member of the Order of Australia and was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for Services to Yachting in 2000. He has a long list of governance roles in sailing, including three times being chairman of the Olympic Games Jury and serving on the Volvo Ocean Race juries (twice as Chairman). He has been involved as an umpire and member of the Jury at six previous America’s Cups, twice as Jury Chairman. A member of the World Sailing Council and Constitution Committee, he is also a previous Chairman of the Racing Rules Committee.

Dr. Henry Peter
A partner in a large Swiss law firm and a professor at the University of Geneva, he specializes in corporate and sports law, fields in which he is an academic author and often acts as an arbitrator. Vice-chairman of the Swiss disciplinary chamber of the Swiss Olympic Association in charge of doping cases, he is also on the board of the Swiss Arbitration Association and the Sanction Commission of the Swiss Stock Exchange. He has previously served on an America’s Cup Jury and twice been a member of the America’s Cup Arbitration Panel (once as Chairman).

Graham McKenzie
A long-standing member of the New Zealand legal and corporate governance fraternity, he has previously served as a member of the America’s Cup Arbitration Panel and the America’s Cup Jury (three times) and was on the independent panel advising the New York Supreme Court during the litigation leading up to the 2010 America’s Cup Deed of Gift Match. Currently a member of the World Sailing Constitution Committee and their Ethics Commission.

Key dates:
✔ September 28, 2017: 36th America’s Cup Protocol released
✔ November 30, 2017: AC75 Class concepts released to key stakeholders
✔ January 1, 2018: Entries for Challengers open
✔ March 31, 2018: AC75 Class Rule published
June 30, 2018: Entries for Challengers close
August 31, 2018: Location of the America’s Cup Match and The PRADA Cup confirmed
August 31, 2018: Specific race course area confirmed
December 31, 2018: Late entries deadline
March 31, 2019: Boat 1 can be launched
2nd half of 2019: 2 x America’s Cup World Series Preliminary Events
February 1, 2020: Boat 2 can be launched
During 2020: 3 x America’s Cup World Series Preliminary Events
December 10-20, 2020: America’s Cup Christmas Race
January and February 2021: The PRADA Cup Challenger Selection Series
March 2021: The America’s Cup Match

Protocol of the 36th America’s Cup
Key Points of the Protocol
Deed of Gift
AC75 Class Rule (v1.0)

Source: Challenger of Record – America’s Cup 36