MIAS Members Lead the Way: Barry Appleton and William K. Hill Spearhead TechCred for the ABA International Law Section
- MIAS
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 23 hours ago
The international arbitration community stands at a turning point. Disputes increasingly involve algorithms, digital assets, and AI-driven processes. Yet until now, there has been no independent, globally recognized credential to equip arbitrators and practitioners to meet these challenges head-on.
That is about to change.
TechCred, the first and only internationally accredited certification in AI, Digital Innovation, and Technology Dispute Resolution is the brainchild of two MIAS members, Barry Appleton and William Hill.
Both Appleton and Hill recognized that arbitration is no longer insulated from the digital world. From blockchain-based contracts and AI-generated evidence to cybersecurity and data sovereignty, technology is reshaping the disputes brought before international tribunals. For arbitrators, the challenge is not to become technologists, but to understand enough to navigate these disputes with competence, confidence, and credibility.
This is precisely why they spearheaded the TechCred initiative within the ABA International Law Section: to simplify complexity, provide structured knowledge, and set a global standard.
“As Miami becomes a supply chain, fintech and financial hub, our arbitration community must lead, not follow. TechCred ensures we remain indispensable to clients operating in the digital economy.”— William Hill
William K. Hill brings over three decades of experience as a seasoned business advocate, litigator, and trial lawyer. He is the first and only lawyer to be Florida Bar Board Certified in both Business Litigation and International Litigation & Arbitration. A Yale Law graduate and former clerk to Judge William Hoeveler, Hill has represented clients across industries from banking and healthcare to technology, aviation, and manufacturing in complex disputes, including class actions and international arbitrations. Known for distilling complicated issues into clear and persuasive arguments, Hill’s perspective ensures that TechCred’s curriculum makes advanced concepts accessible and actionable for practitioners worldwide.
“TechCred isn’t about becoming a technologist. It is about maintaining your credibility and effectiveness as digital transformation reshapes international commerce. Born in Miami, built for the world.”—Prof. Barry Appleton
Barry Appleton brings unmatched expertise in digital governance, investment treaty arbitration, and public international law. He is Co-Director and Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Center for International Law at New York Law School, where he also teaches international arbitration, public international law, and international business transactions. As Managing Partner of Appleton & Associates International Lawyers LP, he has acted as lead counsel in some of the most influential cases under ICSID and UNCITRAL rules. A longstanding ally of arbitration in Miami, and through his legal practice, scholarship, and widely read Clause & Effect Substack, Appleton is a leading global thought leader on how arbitration and technology reshape dispute resolution.
Together, Appleton and Hill designed TechCred for experienced arbitrators who already bring deep judgment to their work, but who now face disputes transformed by digital complexity. The program delivers clarity where the issues are opaque, turning cutting-edge concepts and emerging tech into practical understanding that can be applied directly in the hearing room. In doing so, it provides not only the confidence to manage these cases but also the means for arbitrators to lead the field in the algorithmic age.
As MIAS members, Appleton and Hill exemplify how Miami is shaping global standards and leading innovation in international arbitration. TechCred doesn’t just prepare arbitrators for the algorithmic age — it reaffirms the central role of international arbitration in governing our digital future.
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