Arbitration and Mediation Center Geneva
34, chemin des Colombettes
P.O. Box 18
1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
T +4122 338 8247 or +41 800 888 549 (Free line within Switzerland)
F +4122 740 3700 or +41 800 888 550 (Free line within Switzerland)
Arbitration and Mediation Center Singapore
Maxwell Chambers Suites
28 Maxwell Road #02-14
Singapore 069120
T +65 6225 2129
General queries: arbiter.mail@wipo.int
Meetings and workshops: arbiter.meetings@wipo.int
Department Contacts
Erik Wilbers
Center Director
Languages: Dutch, English, French, German
Following studies in the United States and The Netherlands, Erik Wilbers was a research fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property Law in Munich. Before joining WIPO in 1996, he practiced with the law firm of Clifford Chance in Amsterdam, worked for one of the Chamber Chairmen of the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal in The Hague, and headed a division of the United Nations Compensation Commission dealing with claims arising from the Gulf War (1991). Erik Wilbers is a national of The Netherlands.
Ignacio de Castro
Director - IP Disputes and External Relations Division
Languages: Spanish, English, French
Ignacio de Castro is a Spanish lawyer and an English solicitor. Ignacio holds an LL.M. degree from King's College London. Before joining WIPO in 2002, he practiced with the law firms Baker & McKenzie, London and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, London in the areas of international arbitration and litigation. Ignacio is a national of Spain.
Brian Beckham
Head - Internet Dispute Resolution Section
Language: English
Brian Beckham, a national of the United States of America, holds a J.D. and LL.M. in Information Technology from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to joining WIPO, Brian was employed in private practice at a DC area law firm representing clients in trademark, telecommunications, and non-profit matters. After a number of years with the Arbitration and Mediation Center, he worked as a consultant providing strategic advice and legal implementation in relation to New gTLD applications.
Adam Rattray
Head - Information and External Relations Section
Language: English
Adam Rattray, a national of the United States of America, holds a J.D. degree from American University’s Washington College of Law. Before joining WIPO he worked at the Geneva office of the law firm White & Case as a member of the WTO and international trade law practice. Prior to that, he was on the legal staff at the United Nations Compensation Commission where he led the review of instalments of corporate and individual claims arising from the Gulf War (1991).
Heike Wollgast
Head - IP Disputes Section
Languages: German, English, French
Heike Wollgast, a national of Germany, holds a Ph.D. in European Community Law from the University of Cologne. She was a research fellow at the Institute for International Law in Cologne and practiced in the Berlin office of the law firm Luther in the areas of trade and intellectual property law. Before joining the Arbitration and Mediation Center, Heike specialized in legal and policy aspects of intellectual property enforcement at WIPO’s Building Respect for IP Division.
Leena Ballard
Senior Legal Officer - Internet Dispute Resolution Section
Languages: Finnish, English, French and Swedish
Leena Ballard, a national of Finland, holds a Master of Laws from the University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland. She obtained qualification as a judge following training with the District Court of Tampere. Before joining WIPO in 2001 she worked at the Court of Justice of the European Communities in Luxembourg.
Francisco Ríos
Senior Legal Officer - Internet Dispute Resolution Section
Languages: Spanish and English
Following studies in law at the Universidad Central de Chile, Francisco Ríos was admitted as an attorney by the Supreme Court of Chile in 1999. Before joining WIPO he worked in the private sector in his home country, where he trained as a trademark attorney in contentious and non-contentious matters. Francisco Ríos is a Chilean national.
Leandro Emilio Toscano
Head - Business Development Unit
Languages: Spanish and English
Leandro Toscano, a national of Argentina, holds a law degree from the University of Buenos Aires and an LL.M. in International Dispute Resolution from the University of London. Before joining WIPO in 2008, he was in private practice in intellectual property and information technology law. Leandro was the Center's representative at Maxwell Chambers in Singapore from 2011 until mid-2014.
Charlotte Spencer
Legal Officer - Internet Dispute Resolution Section
Languages: French, English, Italian
Charlotte Spencer holds a Master of Laws from the University of Panthéon-Assas in International and European Law. She qualified as a member of the Paris Bar in 2006. Before joining WIPO in 2007, she worked in a Milan-based law firm in intellectual property and contract law. Charlotte Spencer is a national of France and the United Kingdom.
Chiara Accornero
Legal Officer - IP Disputes Section and Representative
Languages: Italian and English
Chiara Accornero, a national of Italy, holds a Master of Laws from the University of Turin and a Certificate in Transnational Law from the University of Geneva. Before joining the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center in Geneva in 2016, she worked in a Turin-based law firm in the areas of intellectual property and contract law. Chiara was the Center's representative at Maxwell Chambers in Singapore from 2017 until mid-2021. In her role, Chiara is responsible for the management of cross-border intellectual property and technology related disputes and promotion of WIPO Alternative Dispute Resolution services globally.
Andrzej Gadkowski
Associate Legal Officer - IP Disputes Section
Languages: Polish, English, French
Andrzej Gadkowski, a national of Poland, holds a Ph.D. in Law from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and the University of Geneva. Before joining WIPO, he gained professional experience working with international organizations, academic institutions, Polish Diplomatic and Consular Service, and law firms in Poland. He is a member of the Poznań Bar.
Qiyao Dong
Associate Legal Officer - IP Disputes Section and Representative, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center’s office in Singapore
Languages: Chinese, English
Qiyao Dong, a national of China, holds a Ph.D in Law from Queen Mary University of London and a Master of Laws with honor from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Before joining WIPO, she accumulated professional experience in intellectual property law through working with academic institution and law firms. Qiyao is currently the representative of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center Singapore Office.
Annick Regard
Assistant Program Officer - Information and External Relations Section
Languages: French, English, German, Spanish
Annick Regard, a national of France, holds a Master of Sciences (Business Administration) from the University of Geneva. Before joining WIPO in 1996, she worked in various organizations of the United Nations System in Geneva.