News & Activities

Indonesia Mourns as International Arbitration Practitioner Karen Mills Passes Away

Aug 12, 2025
The Indonesian legal and arbitration community has lost one of its most prominent figures. Karen Mills, a senior practitioner and pioneer of international arbitration in the country, passed away on Monday (August 11) at 11:16 p.m. local time at Siloam Hospital TB Simatupang, Jakarta. She passed away at the age of 83.

“With deep sorrow, we share the sad news that Mrs. Karen Mills has passed away,” read a statement received by Hukumonline on Tuesday (August 12).

According to the statement, the mourning address is located at Jl. Golf Jagorawi, Gang Panzer No. 37, Bogor Regency. The funeral procession will be held in the afternoon.

Mills was widely known as the first international arbitration practitioner in Indonesia. She was often referred to as one of the most “sought-after” arbitrators in Asia. More than two decades ago, she founded the Indonesian Chapter of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), which remains an important platform for the development of arbitration in Indonesia, and she was also known as part of KarimSyah Law Firm.

“Karen Mills was the first—and remains the foremost—international arbitration practitioner in Indonesia. She founded the Indonesian Branch of CIArb more than 20 years ago and continued to serve as their principal advisor,” KarimSyah Law Firm wrote.

In addition to being a key figure in CIArb Indonesia, Mills was also recorded as one of the senior foreign advisors and arbitrators at the Indonesian National Arbitration Board (BANI). As a member of the New York Bar, she had been active in Indonesia for more than 35 years. Mills was a Chartered Arbitrator and a Fellow of CIArb, the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators, and the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators.

Her experience extended beyond national and international arbitration to various arbitration institutions across Asia and Europe. In her capacity as counsel, she successfully represented the Indonesian government in several investor-state arbitrations and assisted national, multinational, and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in international disputes.

Her contributions to the field of arbitration were widely recognized. She actively served on the boards of various international professional organizations, including the Executive Board of Arbitral Women, first appointing authority at the Chinese-European Arbitration Institution, member of the IBA/TMI Task Force on investor-state mediation, and the editorial board of the Journal of World Energy Law and Business.

Beyond her practice, Mills was also devoted to legal education in arbitration. She taught CIArb courses at various levels and other arbitration training programs throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Her areas of expertise included investor-state disputes, finance and restructuring, natural resources, insurance, transportation, hospitality, information technology, and cross-border transactions in general.

Throughout her career, she authored more than 150 articles and papers in various professional books and journals. Her insights have served as important references for practitioners, academics, and policymakers in the field of arbitration.

With her background as a licensed Foreign Legal Consultant from New York practicing in Indonesia, she combined an international legal perspective with a deep understanding of local context. Her reputation in Indonesia’s legal market was built not only on technical expertise but also on her integrity and consistent dedication.