America's Cup arbitration panel for Auckland 2021 named

TEAM NEW ZEALAND

A concept drawing of the foiling monohull to compete in the next America's Cup. Released on November 21, 2017.

Team New Zealand and America's Cup Challenger of Record Luna Rossa have announced the make-up of the three-person arbitration panel for Auckland 2021.

The arbitration panel is tasked with resolving off-the-water disputes and is responsible for the interpretation of the protocol and rules as established by Cup-holder Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa.

The three person panel announced on Saturday was made up of three lawyers and included one Kiwi, an Australian and a Swiss. They were: David Tillett (AUS), Dr Henry Peter (SUI) and Graham McKenzie (NZL).

Tillett was named chairperson of the group who all have experience in America's Cup dispute adjudication. He was a Member of the Order of Australia and was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for Services to Yachting in 2000.

Tillett has a long history in sailing governance, including three times being chairman of the Olympic Games Jury and serving on the Volvo Ocean Race juries.

He has been involved as an umpire and member of the Jury at six previous America's Cups, twice as Jury Chairman. A member of the World Sailing Council and Constitution Committee, he is also a previous Chairman of the Racing Rules Committee.  

The Kiwi on the panel, Graham McKenzie, is a long-standing member of the New Zealand legal and corporate governance fraternity. 

He has previously served as a member of the America's Cup Arbitration Panel and the America's Cup Jury (three times) and was on the independent panel advising the New York Supreme Court during the litigation leading up to the 2010 America's Cup Deed of Gift Match.

McKenzie is a member of the World Sailing Constitution Committee and their Ethics Commission.

Rounding out the panel is Swiss lawyer Dr Henry Peter. He is a partner in a large Swiss law firm and a professor at the University of Geneva. He specialises in corporate and sports law, fields in which he is an academic author and often acts as an arbitrator.

Vice-chairman of the Swiss disciplinary chamber of the Swiss Olympic Association in charge of doping cases, Peter is also on the board of the Swiss Arbitration Association and the Sanction Commission of the Swiss Stock Exchange.

He has previously served on an America's Cup Jury and twice been a member of the America's Cup Arbitration Panel.