Barry Leon

The Honourable Barry Leon, a full-time independent arbitrator and mediator, was the Presiding Judge of the British Virgin Islands Commercial Court from 2015 to 2018. He is a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb), an International Mediation Institute (IMI) Certified Mediator, and a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

As Presiding Judge of the BVI Commercial Court, Barry presided over a range of international commercial disputes involving parties from around the world, including shareholder and corporate disputes, insolvency matters, contractual disputes, fraud and asset recovery proceedings, judgment enforcement and arbitration assistance and arbitral award enforcement. 

Prior to his judicial appointment, Barry was a Partner and Head of the International Arbitration Group at Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP, a leading international arbitration law firm based in Ottawa, Canada. Until 2009 he was a Partner with the Torys LLP in its Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice in Toronto, Canada, and for many years served as Coordinator of the Practice. While doing primary counsel work at both firms, Barry also served as an arbitrator and mediator for several years prior to his appointment to the BVI Commercial Court. He continued to do so occasionally while serving on the Court. 

Barry is experienced in arbitrating and mediating corporate and commercial, contract, shareholder and business breakup, joint venture, employment, insurance, intellectual property, technology, expropriation, natural resources, and construction disputes.

He is a past Chair of the Arbitration Committee of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, ICC Canada (Canadian National Committee of the ICC). 

Barry has received numerous professional recognitions in international arbitration and other related areas. In 2022, he was shortlisted by Global Arbitration Review (GAR) for its award for the “best prepared” arbitrator. GAR 100 called him “one of Canada’s most high-profile arbitration practitioners” and Chambers Global referred to him as “an accommodating, instructive and personable practitioner who provides clear advice and opinions.” His recognitions include Global Arbitration Review’s GAR 100; Chambers Global; Lexpert/American Lawyer’s Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada; PLC Which Lawyer?; The International Who’s Who of Commercial Arbitration; The Best Lawyers in Canada; Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory; Guide to the World’s Leading Experts in Commercial Arbitration; Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers in Canada; and Who’s Who Legal – Canada. 

The International Mediation Institute (IMI) reports that lawyers who used Barry as a mediator were satisfied with his work. They said that he is open and approachable; skilled; well prepared; able to understand legal issues quickly; deals well with parties “animosities; and listens to both sides” concerns to try to assist them to resolve their disputes. All lawyers were satisfied with the work Barry did, would likely use him again and would recommend him to others. 

Barry is a recipient of the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Diversity in ADR from the CPR International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR). 

He is an Arbitrator and Mediator with Arbitration Place (in Canada), with 33 Bedford Row Chambers (in London), and with Caribbean Arbitrators (in the British Virgin Islands). 

Barry was admitted to Bar in Ontario, Canada (now a non-practicing member of the Law Society of Ontario). He holds a law degree from University of Toronto, an MBA degree from Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University, and a BA (Political Science; Economics) from University of Alberta.