Christopher Campbell

International Lawyer, Consultant and Legal Institution Builder

Biography

Mr. Christopher Campbell-Holt OBE is an international lawyer, consultant and legal institution builder with more than 20 years of international legal experience. He has lived and worked in the United Kingdom, United States, Middle East and Central Asia.

He has advised more than 15 countries at the highest political level on the creation and development of new financial centres, common law systems and international dispute resolution institutions across the Middle East, Asia, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa and South America.

In 2017, he designed and managed the establishment of the AIFC Court and International Arbitration Centre (IAC) in Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan, from the initial concept stage. The AIFC Court and IAC are now recognised as leading international dispute resolution institutions in Eurasia.

Since 1 January 2018, he has served as the Registrar and Chief Executive of the AIFC Court and IAC, as well as Enforcement Judge of the AIFC Court. His responsibilities include the day-to-day management and administration of the institutions, case management of litigation and alternative dispute resolution, and the issuance of execution orders for AIFC Court judgments.

He serves on numerous international advisory bodies and committees, including as an Expert Advisor to the Council of Europe and the Asian Development Bank. He is also a member of the Supreme Court of the People’s Republic of China’s Expert Committee on International Commercial Litigation and Diversified Dispute Resolution, contributing to judicial policy, international commercial litigation and the development of international arbitration in China.

His other professional and institutional roles include membership of the AIFC Legal Advisory Council, the International Council of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the AIFC Legal Services Board. He has also served as a member of the Working Group on Judicial and Legal Reforms under the Supreme Council of Reforms of the Office of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

He is an Honorary or Adjunct Professor at five universities, including universities in China and Kazakhstan, and has lectured extensively at universities across the United Kingdom, Middle East, Asia and Central Asia. As an Adjunct Professor in Beijing, China, he teaches his own International Commercial Dispute Resolution course to Master of Laws and PhD students.

Prior to his current role, he served as Registrar at an international financial centre commercial court and alternative dispute resolution centre in Qatar under the Presidency of Lord Woolf. He also worked at Norton Rose Fulbright in London and at a Middle East law firm partnered with Covington & Burling LLP in Doha.

For his service to the rule of law and the English common law, Mr. Campbell-Holt was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2025 Birthday Honours by HM King Charles III.

The Republic of Kazakhstan has also recognised his contribution to the rule of law and international cooperation with nine medals of honour. These include The Order of Friendship (Dostyq ordeni), awarded in 2022, the Jubilee Medal awarded in 2020, and the Medal of the Chief Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan awarded in 2021.

Areas of Interest

Publications

Mr. Campbell-Holt’s publications include:
Lord Woolf: A Vision of the AIFC Court (2018) — Editor
Ethical Business Conduct in BAE Systems Plc – The Way Forward (2008) — Contributing Author
Gore-Browne on Companies (Jordans, 2007–2010) — Author of two chapters on corporate insolvency
The Pursuit of Justice by Lord Woolf (Oxford University Press, 2008) — Editor
Current Legal Problems (Oxford University Press, 2005–2009) — Assistant Editor
Numerous articles and publications on common law courts, international dispute resolution and corporate governance.

Courses

An Introduction to International Commercial Dispute Resolution
An Introduction to English Common Law
An Introduction to the GMC Common Law System
English Contract Law
English Trusts Law

Education History

Education
Mr. Campbell-Holt was educated at University College London, where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in Law.
Professional Qualifications and Memberships
He is:
Admitted to the Bar of New York State.
An accredited mediator with the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), with extensive mediation experience.
A Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and holder of the Fellowship Diploma with Distinction.
A lifetime member of the Chartered Institute of Directors.
Academic and Governance Roles
He is an Honorary or Adjunct Professor at five universities, including three universities in China and two universities in Kazakhstan.
He also serves as Chairman and Board Member of various institutions, including on the Boards of Governors and Trustees of four universities, comprising two British universities and two Kazakh universities.
Professional Experience
His international legal career spans more than two decades and includes professional experience in the United Kingdom, United States, Middle East and Central Asia.
His previous and current professional experience includes:
Registrar and Chief Executive of the AIFC Court and International Arbitration Centre (IAC).
Enforcement Judge of the AIFC Court.
Registrar at an international financial centre commercial court and alternative dispute resolution centre in Qatar.
Legal practice with Norton Rose Fulbright in London, United Kingdom.
Legal practice with a Middle East law firm partnered with Covington & Burling LLP in Doha, Qatar.
International legal consultancy and advisory work for more than 15 countries on common law systems, financial centres, judicial reform and dispute resolution institutions.
Academic teaching and lecturing at universities across the United Kingdom, Middle East, Asia and Central Asia.