Dr. Nayla Comair-Obeid, a pioneering figure in international arbitration, discusses the professional journey and the obstacles she overcame to establish herself in the Middle East.
She describes her determination to pursue legal studies despite gender biases and the dangers of the Lebanese Civil War, eventually becoming a "private judge" and specialised educator. She reflects on her commitment to diversity and inclusion, and on the work of opening doors for subsequent generations of practitioners in the Arab region.
Comair-Obeid also looks back at her leadership roles in global organisations, where she focused on bridging the gaps between civil, common and Islamic law. She closes by encouraging young lawyers to develop a comparative law background, so that international justice remains predictable and fair across different cultures.
Recorded at Paris Arbitration Week 2026, in conversation with Hala T. Riad, Associate at Kosheri, Rashed & Riad.