Your practice has been identified.
The designation
is earned.
Not applied for.
UNIONE™ Fellowship - AF.UNIONE™ · F.UNIONE™ · SF.UNIONE™ - is an institutional designation conferred on practitioners whose independence, practice record, and jurisdictional depth meet the standard. This page was sent to you because your practice warrants consideration.
500 Founding Fellowship places. Founding Fellows hold the USD 295 annual renewal rate permanently - locked for life. Currently open.
AF.UNIONE™
Associate Fellow
3–7 years · mentor-supported pathway
USD 495Founding: USD 395
F.UNIONE™
Fellow
7–15 years · appointment eligible
USD 595Founding: USD 495
SF.UNIONE™
Senior Fellow
15+ years · Standing Neutral eligible
USD 995Founding: USD 795
Annual renewal USD 295 - locked permanently for all 500 Founding Fellows, regardless of future standard rates.
329+
Designated Fellows
globally
globally
100+
Countries
represented
represented
40+
Sector
specialisms
specialisms
21
Days - EOI to
designation decision
designation decision
UNIONE™ does not recruit practitioners. It identifies professionals whose practice, independence, and institutional character meet the standard - and designates them.
UNIONE™ Founding Principles
Institutional integrity · independence first · designation over membership
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Not a membership. Not a subscription.
The annual renewal confirms continued alignment with UNIONE™ standards. It is a condition of designation - not a fee that buys a listing in a directory.
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The designation travels with your practice
AF.UNIONE™ · F.UNIONE™ · SF.UNIONE™ appears after your name in appointment communications, on DPC certificates where you serve as Standing Neutral, and on every ERR document you sign.
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Appointment, not referral
UNIONE™ appoints Fellows to cases - based on specialism, independence, and jurisdictional fit. There are no bidding lists, no self-nominations for cases, and no commission deducted from fees.
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Standing Neutral income before any case is filed
Senior F.UNIONE™ and SF.UNIONE™ Fellows are eligible for Standing Neutral appointments under the UNIONE™ DPC framework - generating quarterly retainer income independent of arbitration caseload.
Designation tiers
Three tiers. One framework.
Earned at every level.
Each tier is a distinct institutional designation with its own eligibility criteria, appointment rights, and Standing Neutral eligibility. Designation at one tier does not automatically upgrade to another.
AF.UNIONE™
Associate Fellow of UNIONE™
For emerging dispute resolution professionals who demonstrate the foundational practice, independence, and institutional alignment required for UNIONE™ designation. Mentor-supported pathway available.
Designation criteria
Annual designation fee
✓
3–7 years dispute resolution practice✓
Minimum 5 arbitrations as arbitrator or counsel✓
Recognised professional qualification✓
Unione Guidelines independence compliance✓
Three professional references
USD 495
per year
Founding rate: USD 395/yr - locked permanently
Submit Expression of Interest
F.UNIONE™
Fellow of UNIONE™
For established practitioners with a developed arbitration or dispute resolution practice. Full appointment eligibility and Standing Neutral eligibility for contracts below USD 50M.
Designation criteria
Annual designation fee
✓
7–15 years international dispute resolution practice✓
Minimum 20 arbitrations as arbitrator or senior counsel✓
Recognised specialism in one or more UNIONE™ sectors✓
Demonstrated independence - no material conflicts on file✓
Three senior professional references verified✓
ERR awareness confirmation completed
USD 595
per year
Founding rate: USD 495/yr - locked permanently
Submit Expression of Interest
SF.UNIONE™
Senior Fellow of UNIONE™
For the most senior practitioners - former judges, QC/SC, senior partners with an extensive international arbitration record. Full appointment eligibility including contracts above USD 50M.
Designation criteria
Annual designation fee
✓
15+ years at the senior level of international arbitration✓
Minimum 50 arbitrations as arbitrator✓
Publication record or recognised institutional contribution✓
Enhanced independence assessment - five references✓
UNIONE™ ERR Awareness Programme completed
USD 995
per year
Founding rate: USD 795/yr - locked permanently
Submit Expression of Interest
Annual renewal - USD 295 for all Founding Fellows. The USD 295 renewal rate is fixed permanently for all 500 Founding Fellows regardless of the standard renewal rate applicable at the time of renewal. ·
Designation does not guarantee appointment. Fellowship confers eligibility for appointment. UNIONE™ appoints based on specialism, independence, language, and jurisdictional fit for each case or DPC contract. ·
All tiers are subject to the full four-stage vetting process. There are no accelerated pathways for any tier.
What the designation provides
Six things that matter to your practice.
1
Institutional appointment eligibility
Appointments to arbitration cases, structured resolution panels, Standing Neutral roles, and ERR reviews are made from the UNIONE™ Fellows body. Appointment is institutional - not self-nominated.
2
Standing Neutral retainer income
Eligible Fellows receive quarterly retainer fees as Standing Neutrals under UNIONE™ DPC contracts - income that begins before any arbitration is filed and continues for the life of the contract.
3
Verified Fellows Directory profile
Your profile - verified specialism, jurisdiction, languages, and designation tier - is publicly searchable by parties, GCs, and counsel across 170+ jurisdictions. UNIONE™ vetted badge included.
4
ERR appointment eligibility
The Enforcement Readiness Review - conducted before every UNIONE™ award - is carried out by designated Fellows. ERR appointments carry a separate institutional fee, paid directly by UNIONE™.
5
Direct fees - no deductions
All appointment fees are governed by UNIONE™ Rules v3.0 Article 53 and paid directly by UNIONE™ within 30 days of each hearing or activation. No agency fee. No commission. No deduction of any kind.
6
UNBOUNDED™ institutional events
Designated Fellows receive invitations to UNBOUNDED™ - UNIONE™'s invitation-only institutional gatherings. The inaugural UNBOUNDED™ Barcelona 2026 is the first. Founding Fellows are prioritised.
Your UNIONE™ Fellows Directory profile
UNIONE™ Fellows Directory · Verified Profile
DesignationSF.UNIONE™
NameDr. Adaora N. Okafor
LocationLagos · Nigeria
Experience22 years · 80+ arbitrations
LanguagesEnglish · French
Standing NeutralEligible · DPC Standard–Complex
ERR rolesEligible
The vetting process
Four stages. The same for every tier. No shortcuts.
01
Expression of Interest reviewed
CV, practice record, and supporting materials assessed against the designation criteria for the tier expressed. Initial response within 5 business days.
5 business days
02
Professional reference verification
Three professional references contacted and verified directly by UNIONE™. SF.UNIONE™ requires five. References must confirm practice experience, independence, and professional standing.
10–14 days
03
Independence assessment
Unione Guidelines-aligned conflicts review. UNIONE™ maintains an independence register for all designated Fellows. Disclosed conflicts are assessed - not automatically disqualifying.
5–7 days
04
Designation confirmed
Formal designation letter issued. Fellows Directory profile activated. Founding Fellows rate locked in the letter permanently.
Day 21 from submission
Vetting principles
The process is the product.
It is what makes the designation worth something.
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Uniform standard across all jurisdictions
The vetting process is the same in Lagos, Singapore, London, and Mumbai. No jurisdictional allowances. No automatic pathways. The designation means the same thing everywhere because the process is the same everywhere.
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UNIONE™ decides - not the applicant
UNIONE™ may designate at a different tier than the one expressed, request additional information, or decline. There is no automatic right to designation at any tier. The institution decides. Not the market.
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Every EOI receives a response
Every Expression of Interest receives a formal written response from UNIONE™ within 5 business days - either confirming the review timeline or explaining what is missing.
Specialism tracks
40+ specialisms.
Every major cross-border sector.
Energy & Climate
510+ Fellows designated
Construction & Infrastructure
620+ Fellows designated
Technology & AI
390+ Fellows designated
Financial Services
440+ Fellows designated
Investment Treaty
290+ Fellows designated
Maritime & Shipping
280+ Fellows designated
M&A & Corporate / JV
360+ Fellows designated
ESG & Climate Finance
180+ Fellows designated
Submit your expression of interest
If your practice warrants designation,
UNIONE™ will tell you so.
Select the designation tier that reflects your practice. Submit your Expression of Interest. UNIONE™ responds formally within 5 business days to every submission.
AF.UNIONE™
Associate Fellow
3–7 years · Emerging practitioners · Mentor-supported pathway
USD 495
Founding: USD 395/yr - locked permanently
Submit EOI - AF.UNIONE™
F.UNIONE™
Fellow
7–15 years · Established practitioners · Full appointment eligibility
USD 595
Founding: USD 495/yr - locked permanently
Submit EOI - F.UNIONE™
SF.UNIONE™
Senior Fellow
15+ years · Senior arbitrators, judges, silk · Standing Neutral eligible
USD 995
Founding: USD 795/yr - locked permanently
Submit EOI - SF.UNIONE™
500 Founding Fellowship places - currently open. Founding Fellows hold the USD 295 annual renewal rate permanently, regardless of future standard rate increases. The Founding rate is confirmed in your designation letter and locked for life.
Questions about designation? fellowship@theunione.org