International arbitration legal advice

Our core service is advising on high-value complex commercial disputes, and we are particularly strong in energy, telecoms, financial services and construction sectors. Recently we have, for example:

• Acted for a Middle Eastern telecoms company in a multi-million-dollar arbitration under International Chamber of Commerce rules, and involving three substantive bodies of law.

• Represented various partner oil companies in respect of a threatened take-over of a highly valuable and strategic pipeline in North Africa, which gave rise to potential commercial and investment arbitrations, as well as potential English court proceedings.

• Acted for a Russian oil major in relation to two arbitrations at the London Court of International Arbitration against an Eastern European national oil company, for the non-delivery of $500m worth of fuel oil.

Our team also has an outstanding reputation in investment treaty arbitrations, successfully representing both States and investors. We have recently:

• Represented foreign investors against a Southeast Asian State in two separate high value disputes in the energy/gas sector.

• Represented a Middle Eastern State defending an investment treaty claim brought by a large telecoms company, in relation to a billion dollar mobile telecoms licence.

• Advised an oil major on its rights under a series of investment treaties, and how best to safeguard its multi-billion dollar investment in off-shore oil production facilities in Africa.

• We act for Malaysia’s Minister of Finance (Incorporated) and 1Malaysia Development Berhad against International Petroleum Investment Company and Aabar Investments PJS, in a matter relating to the well-publicised “1MDB Scandal” whereby billions of dollars were misappropriated from the Malaysian people by, amongst others, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia.

• We represent National Iranian Oil Company as respondent in one of the world’s largest oil & gas arbitrations in relation to the supply of Iranian gas to the UAE under a long-term gas sales agreement. Following a jurisdiction and liability award in 2014, we now represent NIOC in the damages phase of the arbitration, in which Crescent Petroleum sought damages of over $15 billion. Whilst the case remains ongoing, the Tribunal issued a Partial Award on remedies during 2021.