The London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) has appointed Jacomijn van Haersolte-van Hof (pictured) as its new director general, succeeding Adrian Winstanley who is retiring after seventeen years in the post.

Winstanley will retire at the end of June to pursue a career as an arbitrator, mediator and consultant.

Van Haersolte-van Hof was admitted to the Rotterdam bar in 1992, working with the law firm Loeff Claeys Verbeke. Following this she joined De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek in The Hague, before joining Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Amsterdam as counsel in the International Arbitration Group.

Van Haersolte-van Hof has advised and represented multinational companies and states, on a number of high profile commercial and investment disputes. She has set up her own boutique arbitration firm – HaersolteHof – and conducts cases in both Dutch and English.

She was selected from a shortlist of candidates by a succession-planning committee made up of members of the LCIA Board and Court, including Judith Gill QC, Paula Hodges QC, president of LCIA Court William Park, LCIA board chairman William Rowley QC, deputy chairman Christopher Style QC, vice president of the LCIA Court V V Veeder QC and Adrian Winstanley.

Commenting on the new appointment, William Rowley said: "The fact that the LCIA has become one of the few truly global arbitral institutions is due in very large part to Adrian's tremendous leadership. Jackie has exactly what it takes to lead the LCIA through the next stage of its development. She is a self-starter, with drive, responsiveness, proven organisational abilities, collegiality, and, vitally, a true understanding and feel for all aspects of international arbitration."

Outgoing LCIA Director General, Adrian Winstanley, commented: "Jackie will be working from solid foundations, but will need to face the not-inconsiderable challenges of continuing to excel in an increasingly competitive market, as she works to consolidate London's leading role within the industry, and to expand the LCIA's services globally through the LCIA's overseas ventures."

Van Haersolte-van Hof added: "The LCIA is unique among the leading arbitral institutions in providing the highest quality and reliability of service, while often being first to identify new needs and trends and responding effectively to these. It also manages to combine a truly international perspective with a solid English basis."