Doak Bishop is an independent arbitrator who has served as arbitrator or counsel in more than 200 arbitrations, including AAA, ICDR, ICC, LCIA, SIAC, ICSID, SCC, CRICA, CPR, and UNCITRAL Rules arbitrations. He has taught courses on international arbitration at the Universities of Texas, Oklahoma, Houston, and SMU, and has written and spoken extensively on the subjects of international arbitration, the psychology of decision-making and persuasion, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Doak founded King & Spalding’s highly-ranked International Arbitration Practice Group in 2000, and retired in 2025 to become a fulltime arbitrator.
He has handled arbitrations in all aspects of the energy industry, including technology, renewable energy, LNG, construction, and environmental cases. Extensive experience in foreign investment arbitrations, including a case involving allocation of the electromagnetic spectrum. Experience in disputes involving software, data processing, turbines and generators, and pharma clinical trials.
Served as Chair of the Institute of Transnational Arbitration and on the Boards of ICCA, AAA and ASIL, on the Courts of the LCIA and SIAC, and on the commercial, energy and construction panels of several arbitral institutions in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Advisor to ALI on the Restatement of the US Law of International Commercial and Investor-State Arbitration. Involved in arbitrations ranging up to $50 billion.
B.A. degree with High Honors and Departmental Distinction from Southern Methodist University (1973), and J.D. degree with Honors from the University of Texas Law School (1976), Research Editor of the Texas Law Review.
Internationally-accredited certification (TechCred) in AI, Digital Innovation and Technology Dispute Resolution (ABA International Law Section and NYU Law School).
R. Doak Bishop
