After a successful maritime legal, commercial and academic career, Aleka has practised as a Commercial and Maritime Arbitrator since 2007.

Over the last 13 years she has built a varied arbitration practice with over 250 references, including: charter party disputes; complex maritime and commercial agreement disputes, S&P; shipbuilding and offshore structures, commodities and bill of lading disputes. Appointed as a sole arbitrator, panel member, or chairman under the LMAA Terms or the LCIA Rules.

Aleka has been working in shipping for over 40 years, gaining experience in most areas of shipping disputes throughout time spent in positions as claims executive with marine brokers, the Britannia P & I Club, and as a solicitor in litigation and arbitration with HFW (1979-1993); dealing with complex claims arising from total loss of ships, other accidents, insurance disputes, partnership and financial disputes, sale of goods and bills of lading litigation, management agreements, MOA sale and purchase and shipbuilding disputes.

As Head of the shipping law courses at University College London (1993-2006), she pioneered education in marine risk management and loss prevention - delivered through in-house seminars to shipping operators, promoting “quality in shipping” – and, as a result, further gained industry knowledge of commercial and technical operations.
Aleka has taught Maritime Law, Marine Insurance, and Carriage of Goods by Sea at UCL and served as a Professor of Maritime law until 2011.

She has authored: “Modern Maritime Law and Risk Management” 2 volumes (3rd edn. 2013) Informa law; Contributing chapters to other books (incl. Marine Insurance and Shipbuilding); published many articles covering a variety of Maritime Law subjects – see publications at www.alekasheppard.com.

Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), member of the LCIA and the Baltic Exchange.