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Thomas Knaak
FICM COI Checked CPD Current Oil, Gas, Energy & Natural Resources Bench

Thomas Knaak

Arbitrator & Mediator

Duchelsdorf, Germany · Europe
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Bench: Oil, Gas, Energy & Natural Resources Bench Practice: mediation arbitration Sectors: Banking and Finance Information Communications and Technology
Professional Biography
Positions
  • Since 2015 Member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration, Task force on the Revision of the Rules of ICC as Appointing Authority in UNCITRAL or other ad hoc Arbitration Proceedings
  • Since 2002 Member of the Mexican Group of Countries for Arbitrators at the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris
  • Since 2000 Consultant lawyer of the Embassy of the Republic of Mexico in Germany
  • Since 1999 Since 1998 Partner of the law firm Nehm & Coll. Rechtsanwälte Nehm Knaak, Duesseldorf, GermanyHonorary Consul of the Republic of Guatemala in North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse
  • 1996 - 1998 Associate lawyer with the law firm Schlotke & Nehm, Duesseldorf, Germany, legal consultants of Price Waterhouse
  • 1992 - 1995 Associate lawyer with the law firm Ehle, Schiller & Partner, Cologne, Germany
Memberships
  • Bar Association in Duesseldorf, Germany, admitted at all Local Courts, District Courts and Courts of Appeal
  • ICC Germany
  • Arbitration Chapter of the ICC Mexico
  • German Institution for Arbitration (DIS)
  • Asociación Mexicano-Alemana de Juristas
  • Camexa Mexican-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Guatemalan-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Club del Arbitraje Español (CEA)
  • Spanish-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Latin-American Association (LAV)
Overview
Arbitrator in institutional international arbitration, ICC and DIS cases in relation to Mexico, Guatemala, Germany, France, Netherlands and Spain, commercial arbitration (finance, commerce, insurance and distribution, m&a), nominations by the parties and by the Mexican National Committee Counsel in international ad hoc arbitration Arbitrator in domestic arbitration Mediator in domestic mediation Counsel either in institutional domestic arbitration (DIS) or domestic
Qualifications & Education
  • 1995 PhD in law at the University of Hamburg, Germany
  • 1991 2nd law degree in Hannover, Germany
  • 1988 1st law degree in Hamburg, Germany
  • 1986 Advanced legal education in international private law at the Hague Academy of International Law (summer academy), The Hague, Netherlands
  • 1984 - 1985 Studies of jurisprudence and French at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland
  • 1985 - 1988/ 1982 - 1984 Studies of jurisprudence and economics at the University of Hamburg, Germany
  • 1970 - 1981 School education in Guatemala and Germany
Global Bench
Oil, Gas, Energy & Natural Resources Bench

Oil and gas, power, renewables, mining, utilities, environment, and resource-management disputes.

Services & Capabilities
Arbitration Expert Determination Standing Neutral
Who this Neutral Serves
Ombuds program for companies For Global Corporations For Lawyers & Legal Fraternity
Industry Experience
Financial Services Consumer Business Professional Services
INDS™ Qualified

Thomas Knaak is listed on the TheNeutrals.ORG™ Global Bench and is qualified under the INDS™ Neutral Evaluation methodology. Every engagement follows the six-stage INDS™ process: Intake, Information Gathering, Behavioural Assessment, Risk Analysis, Strategy & Settlement Feasibility, and Final Report. All four sub-frameworks (INDS-BF™, INDS-RG™, INDS-SFM™, INDS-SF™) apply to every evaluation engagement.

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World Neutrals Summit 2026
Barcelona.
August 2026.
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