International Arbitration

Instructed on a £150 million arbitration joint venture dispute involving hedge fund obligations to develop AI-driven securities finance analytics.

Acting in an arbitration of a complex shareholders’ dispute, concerning a Cypriot holding company ultimately owning one of the largest open cast coal mines in Siberia.

Instructed on a concession dispute in Asia Pacific. The dispute value amounts to US$50 million.

Represented AS PNB Banka (a Latvian retail bank) and its majority shareholders in a multi- hundred-million-dollar investor-state arbitration against the Republic of Latvia, alleging breaches of the FET standard in the Latvia-UK bilateral investment treaty. The case involved allegations of corruption and attempted extortion against the then Governor of the Central Bank of Latvia and the prudential regulator and allegations of unfair regulatory treatment.

Represented a large US private equity firm in an arbitration against the majority shareholder of a portfolio company, seeking declarations as to the construction of an emergency funding mechanism in a shareholders' agreement, which was purportedly invoked due to Covid-19.

Represented Belenergia SA, a renewable energy producer, in an investor-state arbitration against Italy, alleging breaches of the FET standard of the Energy Charter Treaty as a result of measures that reduced the incentives available to investments in the photovoltaic sector.

Represented an energy company in an arbitration brought by its joint venture partner over the ownership of a petroleum exploration permit following the termination of the joint venture.

Acting in a series of six international arbitration disputes between the shareholders in a large Russian retail bank, concerning a large number of complex issues centred around the exercise of a call option over a controlling stake. Case described in The Moscow Times as a “high-profile case which rocked Russia’s business community and spooked both foreign and Russian investors alike” and as “the most high-profile business dispute of recent years”. (which rules, seat?)

Instructed in a US$275 million oil and gas construction dispute in Asia Pacific.

Instructed in an investment arbitration to advise on the expropriation of gold mining assets in an Asia Pacific country. Dispute value of US$1 billion.

Represented Petrochemical Holding GmbH, an Austrian petrochemicals investor, in multi-hundred million dollar investor-state arbitration against Romania, alleging breaches of the FET standard of the Energy Charter Treaty due to regulatory measures adopted over a ten-year period which culminated in the insolvency and forced sale of the RAFO refinery – then one of the largest refineries in Eastern Europe.

Represented the Ministry of Economic Development of Montenegro and two state-owned entities in a high-value commercial arbitration commenced by the tenant of the Aman Sveti Stefan (a world-renowned luxury hotel resort) concerning alleged breaches of covenants in commercial leases for the hotel and Montenegrin law.

Represented an international audit and advisory firm in defending complex and high-value audit negligence claims in a commercial arbitration brought by the joint official liquidators of a collapsed hedge fund that had over US$1 bn in assets under management.

Represented a charterer in an arbitration brought by a shipowner over the termination of a charterparty agreement. The case concerned the construction of a termination clause and mitigation and quantum points.

Represented Fonterra Ltd, the dairy processor and exporter, in an arbitration commenced by Danone arising out of its recall of infant formula due to a false positive result for botulism. Danone pursued a claim for deceit and breach of contract, seeking to recover lost profits and recall costs.

Acting for the respondent in an ad hoc arbitration seated in Mauritius, on an application to the Supreme Court of Mauritius to challenge the arbitral award on several bases provided for in the Model Law.