Family Feuds, Public Trials and Forever Chemicals

Who Speaks for Arbitration? Part 2: In discussion with Artem Doudko FCIArb and Peter Ashford

In Part 2 of this conversation, Byfield Founder Gus Sellitto continues the discussion with Peter Ashford, Chair of London Arbitration Week and independent arbitrator, and Artem Doudko, partner in Osborne Clarke’s Dispute Resolution practice. Building on Who Speaks for Arbitration? — Byfield’s strategic report — they explore how arbitration is understood beyond the legal sphere, and the role the media plays in shaping that perception. The conversation looks at how international arbitration is covered by major publications such as the Financial Times, The Times, Reuters and Bloomberg, and considers how the industry can further strengthen understanding of the complex, high-value issues arbitration helps to resolve. They discuss the opportunity for clearer, more consistent communication — and who is best placed to lead that narrative. They also examine the role of industry platforms such as London Arbitration Week (LAW) and London International Disputes Week (LIDW), and what they set out to achieve in elevating the profile of disputes and arbitration globally. Finally, the discussion turns to the future pipeline of talent — considering how arbitration can be more effectively introduced to students, trainees and those at the start of their legal careers. A clear message emerges: arbitration plays a vital role in global business, and there is a real opportunity to tell that story more clearly — across media, markets and the next generation. Thank you for listening!

Who Speaks for Arbitration? Part 1: In discussion with Artem Doudko FCIArb and Peter Ashford

In Part 1 of this conversation, Byfield Founder Gus Sellitto speaks to Peter Ashford, independent arbitrator, mediator and consultant and Chair of London Arbitration Week, and Artem Doudko, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and partner in Osborne Clarke’s Dispute Resolution practice. Drawing on Who Speaks for Arbitration? — a strategic report by Byfield — they explore how international arbitration is perceived beyond the legal community, and who is shaping its public narrative. The discussion examines the gap between arbitration’s global importance and its limited visibility among businesses, and considers what the arbitration community can do to communicate its value more clearly, credibly and consistently. Read the full report here: https://byfieldconsultancy.com/who-speaks-for-arbitration/ [https://byfieldconsultancy.com/who-speaks-for-arbitration/] Thank you for listening!

Why winning in court is no longer enough: A Conversation with Hugh Evans

In this episode of A Matter of Reputation, Gus Sellitto speaks to Hugh Evans, former disputes partner at DLA Piper and now a senior adviser to Byfield’s Disputes and Investigations team, about how reputation has moved from the margins to the centre of litigation strategy. Thank you for listening!

Family Feuds, Public Trials and Forever Chemicals

Gus and Dina explore how disputes increasingly unfold in public long before and sometimes without legal resolution, from the Beckham family’s very public estrangement to Prince Harry’s landmark High Court battle with the British press. They examine how narratives evolve when there is no clear legal endpoint, how litigation timelines interact with media pressure, and what happens when court documents themselves become part of the public conversation under the Transparency Pilot Scheme. The discussion also turns to Byfield Consultancy’s latest report on PFAS forever chemicals, asking how rising public awareness of complex environmental and health risks is reshaping the legal and reputational landscape for companies, and why communications strategy is now inseparable from both private disputes and major litigation. Thank you for listening!

Persephone Bridgman Baker on Managing Reputation Risk in High-Stakes Disputes

In this week’s episode, Michael is joined by Persephone Bridgman Baker, Partner at Carter-Ruck, to explore how reputational risk intersects with disputes and investigations, often long before issues become public, and to reflect on her path into media and reputation management and how she advises clients in crises where legal, media and commercial pressures collide. The discussion examines how reputational risk is assessed alongside legal risk, the dangers of early missteps, the balance between silence and engagement, working effectively with PR advisers, advising boards and senior executives under scrutiny, and how the role of reputation in disputes is evolving, with practical takeaways for organisations preparing for the next crisis.  Thank you for listening!