Interview Dr. Maxi Scherer

Dr. Maxi Scherer joined the SIA on 1 January 2012 as a lecturer. She will combine her research and teaching activities at Queen Mary with a role as Special Counsel at the London office of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP as well as a number of other teaching assignments within Europe and beyond. Despite this impressive agenda, AFSIA managed to get a few moments of her time for a short interview. Introducing Maxi Scherer, an established arbitration practitioner and teacher who is the newest addition to the teaching staff at the SIA.

Who is Dr. Maxi Scherer? Could you briefly introduce yourself?

I am a French and English qualified lawyer and a German national: I guess I would describe myself as a convinced European citizen.  I have worked in private practice for more than 10 years, doing mainly international litigation and arbitration, and, in parallel, taught at many law schools and universities around the globe (including University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Georgetown Center of Transnational Legal Studies, University of Melbourne, Pepperdine Law School, SciencesPo Law School Paris, Business School ESCP-EAP Europe, University of Basel, University of Fribourg, University of Versailles and University of Paris 10 Nanterre.)

I studied at the University of Cologne and at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, where I also earned my PhD in private international law (too) many years ago.  I started working in Paris but in 2005 I moved to London to join the international dispute resolution team at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP – where I am still today, as a Special Cousel.  My initial plan was to stay in London for 6 months but somehow I fell in love with the great weather and food on this island.

What will be your role at the SIA?

My teaching and research activities at Queen Mary will focus on International Arbitration and Energy Law.  I hope to be able to offer a new class on this topic as from next year.  I am also involved in putting together a new Queen Mary LLM program which will be based in Paris.  The LLM will be very similar to the options and specializations Queen Mary offers in London, and it will be taught in English by Queen Mary faculty – except that it will be based in a rather amazing building in Paris overlooking the Invalides towards the Seine….

What made you choose Queen Mary?

I obviously chose the Center for Commercial Law Studies and its School of International Arbitration at Queen Mary for its excellent reputation both in the areas of teaching and academic research.  I find the atmosphere very collegial, dynamic and forward-thinking.  The student body is also very good and so international - I have rarely seen this in other places.  So far it has been a truly enjoyable experience !

We referred to your impressive cv and schedule above. What made you combine your practice as a lawyer with academics?

For me, practicing as a lawyer and teaching law goes hand-in-hand.  I believe (rightly or wrongly) that I am a better lawyer thanks to my teaching and, conversely, a better teacher based on my practical experience.  The same is true for doing academic research: many of the ever so theoretical aspects of international arbitration become fully clear only if one is aware of how “it works” in practice.  Therefore, I truly believe in the beneficial synergies of both aspects of my activity.  This being said, in terms of my schedule, it sometimes becomes very busy… but that is also part of the fun !

Don't let us keep you any longer. Thanks a lot for your time, and good luck!