Inside the ICSID Secretariat
The ICSID Secretariat carries out the day-to-day functions of ICSID. Led by the Secretary-General, who is assisted by two Deputy Secretaries-General, the Secretariat comprises over 70 staff members—the majority based in Washington, D.C.
The Secretariat is highly diverse and possesses exceptional expertise in international investment law and dispute settlement. ICSID staff represent some 30 nationalities, are fluent in more than 25 languages, and have practiced law in numerous different legal systems and cultures.
The majority of staff are assigned to ICSID cases, either as counsel, paralegals, or legal assistants. Case management teams support parties and tribunals throughout the lifecycle of a case, together with dedicated finance, archive, and hearings teams. ICSID’s front office supports ICSID Member States, while also spearheading ICSID’s robust outreach, training, and publications program.
Meet our people
Hear directly from four of our staff members about their roles, backgrounds, and motivations.
"Financial management is planning, organizing, and controlling all transactions in an organization so that resources are utilized efficiently."
"The overarching goal of an ICSID legal counsel/tribunal secretary is to ensure that the case, from inception to conclusion, progresses smoothly, in accordance with the applicable procedural provisions."
"A large part of my role is working with colleagues to ensure that we are approaching matters consistently across the institution, which requires frequent communication and coordination to agree on uniform practices."
"An effective paralegal needs to be a bit ‘eagle-eyed’ and definitely attentive to detail. I am always on the lookout for little proofreading nits and inconsistencies so as to help a tribunal put out a high quality and polished final order or ruling."