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29 March 2024 / Claudia Salomon
Issue: 8065 / Categories: Features , Profession
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Authenticity & over-sharing: a delicate balance

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Personal stories can engage, motivate & inspire. But it’s a fine line, says Claudia Salomon
  • As the first female president of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, Claudia uses her experiences to help build strong working relationships—whether that’s in written communications or face to face.

It is a truism that leaders are expected to be authentic, especially in the post-Covid era. Although technology enabled us to work remotely—and, for many people, more efficiently—it quickly became apparent that a blurry screen is not a real human connection.

I felt this most acutely in July 2021, when I became the first woman—and the first American—to serve as the president of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Court of Arbitration in its 100-year history. In this highly visible position, it was imperative to develop an authentic leadership style and voice. Yet I also questioned whether appearing too accessible—too human, that is—would pose problems. I quickly found myself negotiating the delicate balance between authenticity and over-sharing.

After my first two weeks as president,

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Cripps—Radius Law

Cripps—Radius Law

Commercial and technology practice boosted by team hire

Switalskis—Grimsby

Switalskis—Grimsby

Firm expands with new Grimsby office to serve North East Lincolnshire

Slater Heelis—Will Newman & Lucy Spilsbury

Slater Heelis—Will Newman & Lucy Spilsbury

Property team boosted by two solicitor appointments

NEWS
A High Court ruling involving the Longleat estate has exposed the fault line between modern family building and historic trust drafting. Writing in NLJ this week, Charlotte Coyle, director and family law expert at Freeths, examines Cator v Thynn [2026] EWHC 209 (Ch), where trustees sought approval to modernise trusts that retain pre-1970 definitions of ‘child’, ‘grandchild’ and ‘issue’
Fresh proposals to criminalise ‘nudification’ apps, prioritise cyberflashing and non-consensual intimate images, and even ban under-16s from social media have reignited debate over whether the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA 2023) is fit for purpose. Writing in NLJ this week, Alexander Brown, head of technology, media and telecommunications, and Alexandra Webster, managing associate, Simmons & Simmons, caution against reactive law-making that could undermine the Act’s ‘risk-based and outcomes-focused’ design
Recent allegations surrounding Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have reignited scrutiny of the ancient common law offence of misconduct in public office. Writing in NLJ this week, Simon Parsons, teaching fellow at Bath Spa University, asks whether their conduct could clear a notoriously high legal hurdle
A landmark ruling has reshaped child clinical negligence claims. Writing in NLJ this week, Jodi Newton, head of birth and paediatric negligence at Osbornes Law, explains how the Supreme Court in CCC v Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2026] UKSC 5 has overturned Croke v Wiseman, ending the long-standing bar on children recovering ‘lost years’ earnings
A Court of Appeal ruling has drawn a firm line under party autonomy in arbitration. Writing in NLJ this week, Masood Ahmed, associate professor at the University of Leicester, analyses Gluck v Endzweig [2026] EWCA Civ 145, where a clause allowing arbitrators to amend an award ‘at any time’ was held incompatible with the Arbitration Act 1996
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