Nominet’s DRS Expert Panel brings together legally minded professionals to resolve disputes over domain names. In this interview, Nick Gardner – Chair of the Expert Panel – shares why it’s such an engaging role, what Experts do, and why now is a great time to apply.
When the internet first began to commercialise in the mid‑1990s, Nick Gardner, now Chair of Nominet’s Dispute Resolution Service (DRS) Expert Panel, was a partner at Herbert Smith in London, acting for Harrods. The department store had found out that someone else had registered harrods.com and was demanding a large sum of money to hand it over. With no DRS in place, Harrods took the matter to the High Court and won.
Nick Gardner
Chair of the panel of DRS experts
“As a result of that, I became reasonably well-known for understanding domain names,” he says. “When people started developing systems to deal with these kinds of disputes, I was asked to partake.”
Those systems included ICANN’s Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) and, later, Nominet’s own DRS. He’s been involved since its inception and took over as Chair of the Expert Panel in 2016.
Over the decades, Gardner has seen the domain name ecosystem transform. In the early days, disputes were largely straightforward: competitors pointing a name at a rival website, or individuals registering a brand or personal name and trying to sell it back at a premium. “All the things that happen now – the wider domain name ecosystem, the different ways people monetise domain names – just didn’t exist,” he adds. Today, complex monetisation strategies create complicated cases. “Being on the panel does keep you abreast of those developments,” he notes, “and I think people find that interesting and useful.”
For legal professionals and others in adjacent roles, Gardner believes serving as a DRS Expert on the panel offers a combination of credibility, intellectual challenge and community. “It’s a really valuable addition to your CV because it shows that an independent body trusts your judgment,” comments Nick. “It proves that you can handle complex, often contentious issues, stay on top of how the domain space is evolving, and explain your reasoning clearly. All of that is attractive to clients, employers and colleagues.”
The workload, he adds, is manageable – with Experts having up to 15 working days to complete a case. “Some are very easy to do, and they don’t take very long at all,” he says. “A few can be quite difficult and very time‑consuming, but that just goes with the territory.” Alongside the casework, there is a strong sense of teamwork. “It’s a very nice bunch of people, and we enjoy an annual conference and dinner together.”
You don’t have to be a lawyer to join the panel, though it can help. What matters most, Gardner suggests, is a good grasp of how domain names work within Nominet’s framework, the ability to go through large volumes of information, and the ability to spot gaps in the evidence. Most importantly, they must be able to write clear, policy‑based decisions. “You need to write a decision that tracks the DRS policy itself,” he says. “I always think the losing party needs to understand why they’ve lost.”
Experts are also supported by an Expert Review Group, which looks at every draft decision before it’s finalised, and by a database of past decisions to draw from.
For anyone curious about how the internet operates behind the scenes, keen to build recognised expertise, and interested in joining a friendly, engaged community, the DRS Expert Panel offers a unique opportunity to do exactly that.
Applications to join the DRS Expert Panel are open now and close on 24th September.
Please submit an expression of interest with your CV and details of how you meet the criteria below by the 24th September to DRS@nominet.uk
Criteria points to meet:
- Understanding of, and interest in, the internet
- Independence of thought and judgement
- Ability to communicate decisions clearly in writing
If shortlisted, you’ll complete a test DRS case before we make final decisions on panel appointments.
Back to all blogs