Mitchell Hayden – Cook

Mitchell is an England and Wales qualified barrister and an associate in the London office. He has experience in both international commercial and investment treaty disputes across a range of sectors. Mitchell has also been involved in proceedings under various institutional rules, including the ICC, LCIA and UNCITRAL rules, and before the English High Court.

His recent experience includes:

  • Advising a European oil & gas company in respect of various force majeure claims arising out of Russian sanctions
  • Advising an Asian media conglomerate in relation to the purported termination of a US$1.4bn sublicence of sports broadcasting rights
  • Advising a European oil & gas company in respect of an attempt to circumvent its pre-emption rights over another participant’s interest in a JVA
  • Acting for a global mining company in UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings against a Central Asian State in relation to tax and royalty disputes relating to one of the world’s largest gold-copper mines

Prior to coming to Three Crowns, Mitchell practised at leading commercial/chancery chambers in London for over five years, where he regularly appeared as sole counsel in various forums, including all three divisions of the High Court, and gained extensive experience as a trial advocate.

Mitchell graduated with first class honours in History from Durham University. He went on to complete his law conversion course at City, University of London with Distinction, where he was also awarded the Serle Court Chambers Equity and Trusts Prize. Mitchell was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn, having been awarded the Bedingfield Scholarship during his legal training, the Inn’s top merit-based award. He completed his studies at Cambridge University, obtaining a Masters in Commercial Law.

Bahaa Ezzelarab

Bahaa is an associate in the London office. He has experience with commercial disputes in the oil & gas, construction, infrastructure, and renewable energy industries in several regions, with a focus on Africa and the Middle East. Bahaa has worked on arbitrations governed by a range of applicable laws and institutional rules.

Bahaa’s recent experience includes:

  • Representing an oil supermajor in an LCIA arbitration concerning the dissolution of a joint venture in an African state
  • Representing a European contractor in a DIAC claim arising from the construction of a mega mall in the Middle East
  • Representing a European engineering and drilling company in an ICC arbitration concerning the expansion of an oil field in the Middle East
  • Representing an oil supermajor in an ad-hoc arbitration involving a joint venture in Western Africa
  • Representing a European shipbuilding company in a commercial arbitration arising out of a contract with a Middle Eastern navy

Bahaa also has experience in advising sovereign clients on legislative reform and has taught public international law at the American University in Cairo. Prior to his arbitration career, Bahaa worked as counsel in cases before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Maria Mazurenko

Maria is as a Paralegal in the London Office. She has experience in litigation and international arbitration across a range of sectors including energy/natural resources, construction, and shareholder disputes.

Maria’s experience involves supporting intricate, high value cases before the High Court and the Court of Appeal, in matters concerning shareholder disputes, fraud, insolvency claims and defamation. She has managed many e-discovery projects in civil litigation and employment law, catering to high net-worth clientele, and is regularly engaged in cases that require her linguistic proficiency, particularly in Russian.

Maria’s involvement extends to the firm’s pro bono practice, where she recently contributed to an application before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). This application focused on state violations of various ECHR Articles, such as the right to life and the prohibition of torture.

Rula Hidayah

Rula is a dual-qualified associate in the London office. She has experience in both commercial and investment treaty disputes and arbitrations, governed by a variety of procedural rules and instruments. Her experience covers a range of sectors including construction, large-scale real estate projects, and energy.

Rula’s recent experience includes:

  • Acting for a leading Middle Eastern aluminium manufacturer in several parallel construction arbitrations
  • Representing a group of investors in an investment treaty claim arising from an expropriation
  • Advising a bank on potential FET treaty breaches arising from measures taken in the banking sector of a country holding some of the bank’s investments

Prior to joining Three Crowns, Rula assisted a former judge of the International Court of Justice in several investor-state and international commercial arbitrations, administered by the PCA, ICSID and the ICC.

Rula completed her Bachelor of Laws at the University of Exeter. She also completed a Master of Laws with a specialisation in public international law from the London School of Economics and Political Science, as a joint Chevening and Saïd Foundation scholar.

Holly Pelham-Stewart

Holly is a Senior Paralegal in the London office. She has broad experience in a variety of international commercial arbitrations governed by a range of applicable laws and major institutional rules across various sectors, as well as in assisting State-owned entities in investor-State arbitrations.

Holly also has significant experience in providing legal support in high value and complex disputes before the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in the areas of white collar crime, regulatory and commercial law. She has extensive experience in large scale e-discovery projects and document production, international asset tracing, freezing and search orders and offshore trusts. Holly’s expertise lies in legal research, filing submissions and providing support during hearings, both virtually and in-person.

Nicole Geldenhuys

Nicole is an associate in the London office. She has experience acting in investment treaty and international commercial arbitrations conducted under the ICSID, UNCITRAL, LCIA and ICC institutional rules. She has advised clients in disputes relating to the energy, oil and gas, aviation, media, telecommunications, and financial services sectors.

Her recent experience includes:

  • Acting for an Asian NOC in an ICC arbitration arising from a force majeure declaration regarding a gas transportation agreement
  • Acting for a sovereign State in an UNCITRAL arbitration under a bilateral investment treaty and relating to the aviation industry
  • Acting for investors in the renewable energy sector in an ICSID arbitration under the Energy Charter Treaty
  • Acting for a financial services company in an LCIA arbitration relating to a dispute arising from a share purchase agreement
  • Acting for an investor in the media sector in an ICSID arbitration under a bilateral investment treaty
  • Acting for an investor in the telecommunications sector in an UNCITRAL arbitration under a national foreign investment law

Nicole is an English-qualified solicitor. She holds an LLM from Columbia Law School and received her undergraduate degree in law from Durham University.

Nusaybah Muti

Nusaybah is an associate in our London office. She has experience advising and representing companies and states in commercial and investment arbitrations across various sectors including oil and gas, construction and financial services. Nusaybah has been involved in proceedings under various institutional rules, including the ICC, LCIA, and ICSID rules.

Her recent experience includes:

  • Acting for a global energy major in UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings against a Middle Eastern State following the expiry of a production sharing contract
  • Acting for an Asian energy company in LCIA arbitration arising from post-acquisition claims for breach of indemnities under a share purchase agreement
  • Advising a global energy major on the impact of domestic court proceedings on potential claims under a share purchase agreement involving the largest gas field project in an Asian State

Prior to joining Three Crowns, Nusaybah was a judicial clerk at the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals of the Philippines. She also interned at ICSID and the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH).

Nusaybah is dual-qualified (England & Wales and the Philippines) and holds an LL.M. in Transnational Arbitration and Dispute Settlement from Sciences Po Paris, where she was awarded the Sciences Po LL.M. scholarship.

Briana Young

Briana is our Professional Support Counsel in the London office. She has over 20 years’ experience of international arbitration law and practice in the UK, Europe and Asia. She supports Three Crowns’ clients and colleagues on a broad range of legal and procedural issues relating to arbitration and international law, ensuring that our advice reflects latest developments and best practice. In addition to knowledge management, Briana is responsible for coordinating external publications, devising and delivering internal and external training, and working with the firm’s leadership team on business planning, strategy and pricing.

Briana is an active member of the international arbitration community. She serves as Vice Chair of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre and Chair of the HKIAC Proceedings and Rules Revision Committees. She is a member of Hong Kong’s Advisory Body on Outcome Related Fee Structures for Arbitration, in which capacity she was closely involved in introducing and drafting new legislation to permit success fees for arbitrations in the territory. Briana writes and coordinates content for numerous international arbitration publications and sits on Practical Law’s Editorial Board. She is a regular speaker at arbitration events, and has taught at Tsinghua University, Beijing and the Paris Arbitration Academy.

Briana graduated from Oxford University with a BA in Classics.

She is admitted to practice in England & Wales and speaks English and French.

Hannah Sperring

Hannah is a Senior Paralegal in the London office. She is experienced in litigation and international arbitration across a range of sectors including construction, oil & gas, technology and pharmaceuticals. She has also been involved in investor-state arbitration.

Hannah provides legal support throughout the lifecycle of a dispute. She has extensive experience in large scale e-discovery projects and document production, together with experience in legal research, filing submissions and providing support during hearings, both virtually and in-person.

Vee Vian Thien

Viv is a senior associate in the London office. She has acted on numerous high value and complex international disputes across a variety of sectors and regions, with a particular focus on energy, financial institutions and M&A disputes. Her arbitration practice includes cases governed by both common law and civil legal systems, under a variety of institutional rules (ICC, LCIA, SIAC, HKIAC, UNCITRAL, JCAA, DIFC-LCIA and ICSID) seated variously in London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Dubai and New York. She also has particular experience of litigation before the English, Indian and Singapore courts, including obtaining anti-suit injunctions and other interim relief in support of arbitration and enforcement of arbitral awards.

Viv’s recent experience includes:

  • Representing a Japanese oil & gas company in a mega ICC arbitration, including parallel Australian court proceedings and a separate ICC arbitration, against a consortium of contractors in relation to a LNG plant in Western Australia.
  • Acting for a European oil & gas company in LCIA arbitrations and ICC expert determinations against its joint venture partners over gas fields in the Middle East.
  • Representing a UAE oil & gas company in DIFC-LCIA proceedings against its joint venture partners over a bid for exploring potential oil fields in the Persian Gulf.
  • Acting for a Spanish/Canadian operator in disputes with a Southeast Asian nation regarding drilling operations in the South China Sea.
  • Advising an oil & gas major on its potential abandonment liability as operator of PRC oil fields.
  • Advising a Middle East oil & gas company on treaty structuring of its investments in Southeast Asia.
  • Representing Pakistan against Karkey in ICSID multibillion arbitration concerning a barge and ship rental power project.
  • Representing a Philippine energy company in connected disputes regarding geothermal power plant:  (i) ICC arbitration seated in Singapore against an English contractor under Philippine law (initiated emergency arbitrator proceedings); and (ii) against its European insurance providers (SIAC, Singapore seat).
  • Representing a major Japanese automobile manufacturer in (i) a JCAA arbitration seated in Tokyo against former Middle East distributor under Japanese and Saudi law; (ii) disputes with Indian former joint venture partner under Indian law; and (iii) disputes with its dealers, distributors and joint venture partners in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Viv is a member of the IBA’s Dispute Resolution International editorial committee. She is a Delos GAP reviewer and a co-curator of the GAP Headnote Series (A Case in Time).

Viv is admitted to practise in England & Wales, is a New York attorney and is a Hong Kong solicitor. She holds an undergraduate degree in law from Cambridge University and a masters degree in law from Harvard Law School.

Daniel Holman

Daniel is an associate in the London office of Three Crowns. He has significant experience in international commercial arbitrations under LCIA and ICC rules with particular experience acting for clients in the power generation, oil and gas, automation, logistics, and construction sectors. He has also acted in the English High Court to obtain a pre-action worldwide freezing injunction in support of arbitration proceedings.

Daniel’s recent experience includes:

  • Acting for a multinational engineer and architect in an ICC arbitration concerning the construction and start-up of a gas power plant in the Middle East
  • Acting for a consortium of Asian design and construction contractors in two VIAC arbitrations arising out of a contract for the tunnelling and construction for a hydropower plant in Asia
  • Acting for a European automation engineer in an LCIA arbitration concerning the installation and commissioning of manufacturing machinery in Asia
  • Acting for a European infrastructure designer, builder, and operator in an ICC arbitration concerning construction and start-up of a liquified natural gas facility in Africa
  • Acting for a European designer and manufacturer of automated warehousing in an LCIA arbitration concerning installation and start-up of an automated warehouse system in Europe

Daniel studied Ancient History at University College London before completing an LLB with the University of Law in London. He has recently completed a Diploma in French Studies with the French Institute in London. He is also a member of the LCIA Young International Arbitration Group and the ICC Young Arbitrators Forum, and has acted in proceedings in the Employment Tribunal as a volunteer with the Free Representation Unit. Daniel has a working proficiency in French.

Joshua Coates

Joshua is based in the London office and focuses on all aspects of international arbitration. He has experience across a variety of institutional rules and industry sectors including energy, construction, aviation and transport, and life sciences and pharmaceuticals. He has also spent time on secondment with an energy supermajor’s downstream legal team.

Joshua’s recent experience includes:

  • Acting for India’s largest airline in relation to a multimillion-dollar LCIA dispute between shareholders concerning alleged breaches of a shareholders’ agreement. The dispute was seated in New Delhi and governed by Indian law
  • Representing an energy supermajor in an LCIA arbitration arising from US$1.2 billion sale of upstream assets in Northern Europe
  • Acting for an energy supermajor in LCIA arbitration proceedings arising out of the sale of upstream assets in Africa
  • Acting for Middle Eastern and European satellite operators in an ICC arbitration with a telecommunications provider concerning a transponder rights agreement
  • Representing a major pharmaceutical company in an LCIA dispute relating to the interruption of supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Acting for an award creditor in setting aside proceedings under section 67 of the Arbitration Act 1996

Joshua has been listed as a “key lawyer” by The Legal 500 for international arbitration.

Joshua has an LLB from the University of Bristol, including a year studying abroad at the University of Helsinki where Joshua won written advocacy awards as part of the Helsinki University Willem C. Vis Moot team.

Annette Scholten

Annette is an associate based in the London office. She has experience in international commercial and investment arbitrations under several institutional rules and across a range of sectors, including oil and gas, mining, banking, and agriculture. Annette has particular experience in advising sovereign States and State-owned entities. She has also represented States and private corporations in setting aside and enforcement proceedings. Prior to working in international arbitration, she advised companies in private M&A transactions.

Annette’s experience includes:

  • Counsel for a State-owned gas company in enforcement proceedings arising out of commercial arbitrations regarding gas transit and gas supply contracts
  • Counsel for a State-owned agricultural supply chain company in a commercial arbitration arising out of a post-M&A contractual dispute
  • Counsel for a sovereign State in a setting aside claim following an investor-State arbitration regarding a mining exploration project
  • Counsel for the former shareholders of a Dutch offshore engineering company against a US energy company regarding various warranty claims concerning offshore drilling rigs
  • Counsel for a State-owned bank in a setting aside claim following an investor-State arbitration regarding the expropriation of the bank

Annette holds an LL.M. in International Business Regulation, Litigation and Arbitration from New York University, where she was a Fulbright scholar and Convocation Student Speaker of the LL.M. class. She also holds an LL.M. in European Law from Leiden University (cum laude), where she was awarded several academic awards for her thesis. Annette holds a Diploma in Legal Studies from the University of Oxford (distinction) and an LL.B. from Leiden University (cum laude). Annette speaks English and Dutch and has a working knowledge of French and Italian. She is admitted to the bar in the Netherlands.

Hamid Abdulkareem

Hamid, counsel in the London office, is an experienced arbitration practitioner and litigator, having regularly advised multinational companies on an extensive range of disputes, particularly within the energy and natural resources sector. He has played a lead role in multiple disputes arising from Nigeria’s deep offshore production sharing contracts, resulting in successful outcomes for his clients.

Hamid’s experience includes:

  • Representing three ENI subsidiaries in an ICSID arbitration against the Federal Republic of Nigeria arising out the State’s refusal to grant an oil mining license to allow production to proceed in Nigeria’s deep offshore. The case involves allegations of corruption. US$2.5 billion is at stake
  • Representing a supermajor in an ICC arbitration against a Middle Eastern State-owned entity in relation to a dispute arising out of the supermajor’s assignment of its interest in a technical services contract
  • Acting for a consortium of oil and gas companies comprising ExxonMobil, Total, Chevron, and Nexen subsidiaries in a dispute relating to recovery of operating costs totalling US$1.5 billion
  • Representing Chevron and Equinor subsidiaries in a claim for damages for the overlifting of crude oil under a production sharing contract, resulting in a US$1 billion award for the oil companies
  • Advising contract parties under five deep offshore production contracts in disputes arising from the Nigerian government’s demand for multibillion-dollar payments in respect of alleged historical unpaid revenue
  • Representing Chevron and Equinor subsidiaries in Nigerian court proceedings resulting in the landmark decision that Nigerian courts have no jurisdiction to issue anti-arbitration injunctions

Hamid is a current Co-Chair of the International Bar Association’s Insolvency and International Arbitration Working Group, the Young Africa Chair for the Institute for Transnational Arbitration, and a member of the Lagos Court of Arbitration’s Young Arbitrators Network’s Advisory Board. He previously served as Co-Chair of the International Bar Association’s Arb40 subcommittee.

Hamid has been recognised in Who’s Who Legal: Future Leaders for Arbitration and as a National Leader for arbitration in Nigeria, having been described as “an exceptional advocate” who is “sharp as a tack” and “definitely one to watch”. Hamid is also recognised in The Legal 500 UK for international arbitration and public international law. He is qualified in Nigeria and was educated at the London School of Economics and Political Science and the University of Ilorin, Nigeria.

Himmy Lui

Himmy is an associate in our London office. He has experience in a range of international commercial and international investment treaty arbitrations across a number of sectors, including energy, mining, and construction.

Before joining Three Crowns, Himmy specialised in commercial dispute resolution, particularly involving matters of insurance, insolvency, and property, and made a number of appearances in the High Court. He was also previously a judge’s clerk at the High Court of Auckland, and has tutored the law of contract at the University of Auckland.

Himmy obtained his LLM from the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he graduated with Distinction. He has been a Senior Editor of the Auckland University Law Review, Notes Editor (Private Law) of the LSE Law Review, and an Editor of the Groningen Journal of International Law. He graduated from the University of Auckland in New Zealand with a BA/LLB (Hons), and is admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. He speaks English, Cantonese, Mandarin and French, and has a working knowledge of Spanish and Italian.

Alina Papanastasiou

Alina is an associate based in the London office. She has experience in public international law and international dispute resolution across a range of sectors, including banking & finance, energy and telecommunications. She has experience advising sovereign states, state-owned entities, private parties and international organisations before international courts and arbitral tribunals, as well as in non-contentious matters under public international law.

Her recent experience includes:

  • Advising the UN Environment Programme before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in proceedings concerning the Request for an Advisory Opinion submitted by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law
  • Representing multiple claimants in a pair of UNCITRAL/ad hoc arbitrations against a North African State under the Agreement on Promotion, Protection and Guarantee of Investments amongst the Member States of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC Agreement) and a Bilateral Investment Treaty
  • Representing a European gambling operator in two LCIA arbitrations arising from multiple concession agreements
  • Working with REDRESS on a pro bono project promoting balanced gender representation in UN mechanisms and bodies

Alina has previously worked at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, advising on matters relating to international economic organisations. Alina holds an LLM in international law with distinction from the University of Cambridge, where she was awarded the McAulay Scholarship and the Jacovides Prize for excellence in academic performance. She also holds an LLB (First Class Honours) from the University of Athens and a Minor in Finance from the American College of Greece. She has also studied international business at Harvard University, international commercial litigation and arbitration at the London School of Economics (LSE), and attended the International Academy for Arbitration Law in Paris, where she was awarded the Laureate of the Academy Prize. She speaks Greek, English, French, and has a working knowledge of Spanish.

Oscar Collins

Oscar is an associate in the London office. He has experience in a number of significant investment treaty and commercial arbitrations conducted under a range of institutional rules, including ICC, LCIA, and ICSID. His experience spans a broad range of industry sectors, including oil and gas, construction, transport, and financial services. Oscar has acted on matters covering diverse geographic regions, including Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

His recent experience includes:

  • Acting for a European energy company in an LCIA arbitration regarding an oil and gas JVA in the Middle East
  • Acting for an Eastern European State in relation to a number of treaty claims
  • Advising a Russian transport company regarding possible claims under a JVA for the development and production of locomotives
  • Acting for a European construction company in a Belarusian-law governed ICC arbitration arising from a delayed urban development project
  • Acting for a private equity company in an LCIA arbitration relating to a post-M&A dispute
  • Acting for a telecoms company in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration relating to a post-M&A dispute

Oscar is admitted in England & Wales. He holds a first-class honours degree in English from University College London, and completed his legal studies at the College of Law, BPP, and the University of London.

Leilah Bruton

Leilah is a partner in our London office. She has extensive experience representing corporations on the resolution of complex disputes involving investment treaties and contractual relationships, with a particular focus on disputes in the oil & gas, mining, and telecoms sectors.

Leilah’s recent experience includes:

  • Representing an energy major in LCIA arbitration proceedings arising out of allegations of breach of a Farmout Agreement governed by English law
  • Representing a mining company in UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings against a Central Asian State arising out of tax assessments issued in breach of an Investment Agreement
  • Representing an energy major in UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings against a Middle Eastern State following the expiry of a production sharing contract
  • Obtaining a successful award on behalf of a consortium of energy companies that saw the dismissal of $800 million claims following the expiry of a production sharing contract
  • Representing an energy major in ICC arbitration proceedings in Paris relating to cost recovery disputes and claims of environmental damage arising out of the early relinquishment of a production sharing contract with a Middle Eastern State
  • Representing a subsidiary of Malaysia’s national oil and gas company, PETRONAS, in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Sudan under the Malaysia-Sudan BIT in relation to a real estate project
  • Representing a group of ExxonMobil subsidiaries in an ICSID arbitration against Venezuela, arising from Venezuela’s expropriation of ExxonMobil’s projects in the country

Leilah has been named a Who’s Who Legal: Future Leader for 2018-2023, in which peers and clients described her as “one of the most efficient practitioners” and as having “outstanding leadership skills”. Leilah has also been recognised as a Next Generation Partner for both international arbitration and public international law in The Legal 500 UK 2023, and a Rising Star in The Legal 500’s International Arbitration Powerlist 2019 for the UK.

She was educated at the University of Cambridge, is qualified in England and Wales, and speaks English and French.

Ridhi Kabra

Ridhi is a senior associate in the London office. Her experience includes advising clients in investment treaty and commercial arbitrations relating to taxation, oil and gas, infrastructure, and joint venture disputes. She has acted in several arbitrations under the ICSID, ICC, LCIA and UNCITRAL Rules.

Her recent experience includes:

  • Acting for Eni in its ICSID investment treaty claim against Nigeria
  • Acting for an Asian NOC in an ICC arbitration arising from a force majeure declaration regarding a gas transportation agreement
  • Acting for Sacyr in its investment treaty claim against Panama
  • Acting for an international energy company in an ad hoc UNCITRAL arbitration relating to a power purchase agreement
  • Advising an international energy company on tax stabilisation matters
  • Acting for a real estate company in an ICC arbitration relating to a joint venture dispute
  • Acting for an Asian NOC in an LCIA arbitration relating to a gas pricing dispute
  • Advising the ICC as intervener before the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in the case of Halliburton Company v Chubb Bermuda Insurance Ltd

Ridhi is recognised as a recommended lawyer in The Legal 500 UK’s 2023 and 2024 guides for international arbitration and public international law.

Ridhi holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge, and received her undergraduate degree in law from the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad, India. Ridhi has previously taught law at the University of Bristol, and held visiting positions at King’s College London (2017) and the Max Planck Institute Luxembourg for International, European and Regulatory Procedural Law (2018).

Ahmed El Far

Ahmed, an associate in our London office, has represented companies, States, and State-owned entities in investment treaty and commercial arbitrations under the Rules of the ICC, ICSID, UNCITRAL, and CRCICA, with a particular focus on arbitrations in the energy and construction sectors.

Ahmed’s recent experience includes:

  • Representing an oil & gas major in an ad hoc arbitration relating to contractual claims against a South East Asian State under two concession agreements
  • Acting for a global financial institution in an LCIA arbitration arising from a Middle East joint venture dispute governed by New York law
  • Successfully representing a Ghanaian energy company in an UNCITRAL arbitration in London against the government of Ghana arising out of an emergency power purchase agreement governed by Ghanaian law
  • Representing a leading Egyptian real estate and development company in two parallel CRCICA arbitration proceedings, valued at US$1.6 billion, against a Lebanese developer arising out of a real estate development agreement governed by Egyptian law

Ahmed is the Associate Editor of the International Journal of Arbitration, Mediation and Dispute Management, published by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. His recent publications include the monograph on Abuse of Rights in International Arbitration (Oxford University Press, 2020). He is an Officer of the International Bar Association’s (IBA) Arab Regional Forum Committee.

Ahmed holds a PhD from Queen Mary University of London, an LLM from New York University, and an LLB from Cairo University. He is an Egyptian qualified lawyer and speaks English and Arabic.

Farouk El-Hosseny

Farouk, a senior associate in our London office, advises clients on arbitrations governed by the ICC, ICSID, LCIA, and UNCITRAL rules, with a focus on complex commercial and investor-State disputes in the oil and gas and telecommunications sectors. He is often called upon by clients to provide strategic advice in respect to disputes raising matters of force majeure, taxation, international sanctions, and claims by competing governments.

Farouk’s most recent experience includes:

  • Representing an oil and gas major in an arbitration against a CIS State
  • Advising an oil and gas major regarding its rights and obligations under LNG share and purchase agreements and charterparty agreements relating to the sale and transport of LNG from a CIS state
  • Advising an oil and gas major in relation to the occurrence of a force majeure event affecting its investments in a Sub-Saharan African State
  • Representing a concessionaire in an LCIA arbitration under a concession agreement against a European State
  • Advising an oil and gas major in relation to its investments in a Latin American State, including its rights under relevant bilateral investment treaties and concession agreements

In addition, Farouk has acted as arbitrator in proceedings under the auspices of the ICC and PCA. He is a member of the ICC Bulletin Editorial Board. Farouk has just returned to Three Crowns following a secondment at TotalEnergies’ legal department in Paris.

Farouk was recognised by Who’s Who Legal as an Arbitration Future Leader for 2023 as “one of the strongest arbitration intellectuals in the London market” and in 2022 as “a brilliant lawyer who combines academic chops with common sense”. He has been listed as a recommended lawyer for international arbitration and a “Rising Star” in public international law in The Legal 500 UK’s 2023 guide and recognised in The Legal 500 UK’s 2022 Arbitration Powerlist.

Prior to joining Three Crowns, Farouk was an international arbitration associate in the London office of a leading global firm, working as well in Riyadh and Dubai as a member of the firm’s Corporate and M&A teams. While in London, he was part of the firm’s Global Business and Human Rights and Global Sanctions Teams. Farouk was previously a legal counsel at the PCA in The Hague, where he administered appointing authority requests, investor-State, and commercial arbitrations. He was also the Court’s acting representative in Mauritius, where he focused on promoting the Court’s activities and casework in Africa. In addition, Farouk has litigation experience before Quebec courts. Prior to qualifying in Quebec in 2010, Farouk trained at the legal departments of Bombardier in Montreal and Société Générale in Paris.

He is a Visiting Assistant Professor of International Law at Leiden University’s Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies.

Farouk holds a PhD degree in public international law from Leiden University and was a visiting scholar at the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law at the University of Cambridge. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in civil law from the University of Ottawa and an LLM from the University of Montreal.

Farouk regularly publishes on commercial and international law matters. His peer-reviewed publications include Contributory Fault under International Law, ICSID Review, Oxford University Press (2020), Non-Compensatory Damages in Civil and Common Law Jurisdictions: Requirements and Underlying Principles, Global Arbitration Review Guide to Damages (2016, 2020), Civil Society in Investment Treaty Arbitration, Brill Njihoff (2018), and State-Owned Enterprises as Claimants before ICSID: Is the Broches Test on the Ebb?, BCDR International Arbitration Review, Kluwer Law International (2017).

Farouk is a native Arabic and French speaker, also speaking Spanish and Italian fluently. He is a member of the Quebec and Paris Bars.

YiKang Zhang

YiKang is an associate in the London office. He has experience in both international commercial and investment treaty disputes across a range of sectors including energy, joint venture disputes, and financial services. YiKang has also been involved in proceedings under various institutional rules, including the ICC, LCIA, ICSID and UNCITRAL rules, and before the High Court.

His experience includes:

  • Representing Elliott Advisors LP in its $700 million claim against the Republic of Korea under the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement
  • Representing the Sultanate of Oman in an ICSID treaty claim brought against it dispute in relation to a US$850 million oil and gas and construction contract, including in the annulment proceedings
  • Representing an ultra-high-net-worth individual in disputes arising out of the repudiation of an option agreement and other agreements, including proceedings before the High Court relating to a challenge under s.68(2)(i) of the Arbitration Act
  • Representing an African company in an LCIA arbitration against a port operator in a dispute arising from the termination of a joint venture agreement, and in proceedings before the High Court
  • Securing a full dismissal of claims made against an Asian NOC in an ICC arbitration arising from the client’s withdrawal from a production sharing contract in Central Asia
  • Representing a subsidiary of an Asian NOC in an ICC arbitration arising under a production sharing contract relating to the reimbursement of taxes, levies, and royalties

YiKang has interned with Judge Ronnie Abrams on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and assisted with the representation of low-income individuals in the Bronx at The Bronx Defenders. His work on the termination of intra-EU BITs been published in the American Review of International Arbitration.

YiKang obtained his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was a James Kent and Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and was awarded the Whitney North Seymour Medal for excellence in trial advocacy. He also holds an LL.B with First Class Honours from King’s College London, where he finished top of his class in consecutive years.

Nathaniel Burnett

Nathaniel is an associate in the London office. He has experience acting in international commercial and investment treaty arbitrations conducted under the institutional rules of the LCIA, ICC, and ICSID, as well as in arbitration-related litigation before the English courts. He has acted primarily on behalf of clients in the construction, gambling, and oil & gas sectors.

His recent experience includes:

  • Acting for Eni in its ICSID investment treaty claim against Nigeria
  • Representing a European investment firm in an LCIA arbitration arising from a post-SPA dispute, in which the client obtained an award in its favour
  • Acting for a European gambling operator in an LCIA arbitration arising from multiple concession agreements
  • Representing an oil & gas major in an ICC arbitration relating to a production sharing contract
  • Defending the United Arab Emirates in an ICSID investment treaty claim for denial of justice and breach of the effective means standard
  • Representing a Jordanian construction company in successfully obtaining an anti-suit injunction and defending a challenge to an award brought under ss. 67 & 68

Nathaniel also maintains a pro bono practice in which he acts in human rights cases. His pro bono work has included acting for Redress in representing Ms Mariam Yahia Ibraheem and her family in their claim against Sudan before the Africa Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Nathaniel read Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Warwick University.

Jeff Yiu

Jeff is a senior associate in the London office. He has represented governments, state-owned enterprises, and multinational corporations in investment treaty and commercial disputes under all major arbitral rules, with particular expertise in the energy and natural resources, technology, and financial services sectors.

His recent experience includes:

  • Acting for a Middle Eastern State in ICC arbitration proceedings against an international oil company in relation to cost recovery, decommissioning and other operational disputes following the expiry of a long-term petroleum production sharing agreement
  • Acting for a global mining company in UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings against a Central Asian State in relation to tax and royalty disputes relating to one of the world’s largest gold-copper mines
  • Acting for a consortium of oil and gas companies in ICC arbitration proceedings against a Middle Eastern State in relation to cost recovery and accounting disputes arising under a long-term petroleum production sharing agreement
  • Acting for a “supermajor” oil company in LCIA arbitration proceedings in relation to disputes concerning the assignment of concession interests under a farmout agreement
  • Acting for a global sportswear company in HKIAC arbitration proceedings in relation to certain shareholder disputes in the Asia region
  • Advising a major oil and gas company on force majeure and sanction-related matters relating to the sale and transport of LNG from a CIS state
  • Advising a “supermajor” oil company on tax stabilisation matters and potential ICSID proceedings against an Asian State
  • Advising a leading technology-focused venture capital fund on potential investor-related disputes

Jeff also has experience in commercial litigation, having represented clients in high value and complex disputes in the English and Hong Kong courts.

Jeff obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from King’s College London and his Postgraduate Certificate in Laws from the University of Hong Kong.  He is qualified as a solicitor-advocate in England & Wales and a solicitor in Hong Kong.

Reza Mohtashami KC

Reza is a partner in the London office. He has represented clients as counsel and advocate in more than 90 arbitrations conducted under a variety of arbitration rules in many different jurisdictions. Reza has particular expertise in disputes arising in emerging markets with a focus on the telecoms, energy, and infrastructure sectors.

Reza’s experience includes:

  • securing a $1.98 billion award on behalf of Crescent Petroleum and Dana Gas in an LCIA arbitration and ancillary English court proceedings brought against the Kurdistan Regional Government;
  • obtaining a successful settlement on behalf of Beijing Urban Construction in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Yemen following a landmark decision on jurisdiction;
  • obtaining a favourable award on behalf of CNOOC, Occidental Petroleum and Consolidated Contractors Company in an ICC arbitration against the government of Yemen in relation to environmental, handover and cost recovery claims following the expiration of a long-term petroleum agreement;
  • representing an oil major in an UNCITRAL arbitration against the government of a Middle Eastern country in relation to various operational and handover claims following the expiry of a long-term petroleum agreement;
  • representing a group of investors in two parallel UNCITRAL arbitrations against the State of Libya arising under the France-Libya BIT and the Investment Agreement of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in relation to claims arising out of investments in the real estate sector;
  • obtaining a favourable award for a leading European energy company in an ICC arbitration seated in London arising out of an insurer’s failure to pay on demand under a performance guarantee governed by English law; and
  • representing a multinational telecoms operator in an LCIA arbitration arising under a sale and purchase agreement for the sale of its African business.

Reza regularly acts as arbitrator and has been appointed as party-nominated arbitrator, Chair or Sole Arbitrator in more than 20 arbitrations conducted under the ICC, LCIA, ICDR-AAA, SIAC, DIAC, DIFC-LCIA Rules.

Reza is a trustee of the Bahrain Chamber of Dispute Resolution, a member of the LCIA Court, and an editorial board member of Global Arbitration Review. He is a former Vice-Chair of the IBA Arbitration Committee, a past president of the LCIA Arab Users’ Council, a member of the LCIA Court, a trustee of the DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Centre, and a member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR.

Reza is a qualified English solicitor-advocate and was appointed King’s Counsel in recognition of his advocacy skills in 2018. He is recognised as a Global Elite Thought Leader in Arbitration by Who Who’s Legal, noting that he is “extremely highly regarded” and Chambers describes him as giving “clear and authoritative advice on matters of strategy and case development”, with a source praising him as “a fantastic lawyer” and “a market leader”. Reza is also ranked in The Legal 500. He speaks English, French, and Farsi.

Julia Sherman

Julia, an associate in the firm’s London office, has significant experience in public international law, including acting for States before the International Court of Justice and other international arbitral tribunals. She has also represented clients in commercial and investment arbitrations in a range of sectors, including energy, technology, and financial services.

Julia’s recent experience includes:

  • Acting for Elliott Associates, LP in a high-profile dispute under the Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement in which the Republic of Korea was found to have breached the minimum standard of treatment
  • Advising the UN Environment Programme before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in proceedings concerning the Request for an Advisory Opinion submitted by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law
  • Acting for Boeing before the Supreme Court of the United States in a case concerning the availability of U.S. discovery under 28 U.S.C. § 1782 (Section 1782) for private, contract-based arbitrations
  • Acting for Chevron in a long-running UNCITRAL arbitration against the Republic of Ecuador
  • Acting for a leading technology company in an ICC arbitration regarding a long-term supply agreement
  • Acting for an oil major in a SIAC arbitration (seated in Brisbane) relating to a dispute under an agreement for the sale of interests in certain upstream assets
  • Acting for the Kingdom of Bahrain in disputes before the International Court of Justice, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the Universal Postal Union

Prior to joining Three Crowns, Julia was a Judicial Fellow to Judge Joan E. Donoghue at the International Court of Justice. She also has previous experience at a Permanent Mission to the United Nations and in a Trial Chamber at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

Julia holds a JD from Columbia Law School in New York where she was a James Kent and Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and received the David M. Berger Memorial Prize in International Law. At Columbia, Julia served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Columbia Human Rights Law Review. She also has a first class honours degree in Political Science from McGill University in Montreal and a Master of Philosophy in Politics from the University of Cambridge.

Richard Trinick

Richard, counsel in our London office, has acted on many large and complex arbitrations across a variety of sectors and regions, with a particular focus on energy, M&A, finance, and life sciences disputes.

Richard’s recent experience includes:

  • acting for an American lifestyle company in an LCIA arbitration and parallel expert determinations relating to the buy-out of an Indian joint venture
  • representing Naturgy in its billion-dollar investment treaty claim against Colombia relating to the regulatory framework for the supply of electricity
  • advising an international pharmaceutical company on post-acquisition claims and supply agreement claims
  • acting for a telecommunications company in an ICC arbitration relating to an earn-out payment following the acquisition of an African telecommunications business
  • representing a power company in a dispute over the termination of a power plant project in Eastern Europe
  • acting for an Asian national energy company in an LNG pricing dispute relating to a project in Australia
  • acting for a consortium of international oil and gas companies in defending cost recovery claims brought by a Middle-Eastern state entity in an ICC arbitration
  • representing an Asian national energy company in an ICC arbitration relating to issues of force majeure regarding the quantity of gas reserves in a field Indonesia
  • acting for a European bank in post-acquisition claims relating to a Spanish credit card business
  • defending the shareholders of several banks against claims brought by another shareholder across five consolidated LCIA arbitrations

Richard is recognised as a recommended lawyer for international arbitration in The Legal 500 UK’s 2023 and 2024 guides.

Richard has also been appointed as sole arbitrator under the ICC Rules in relation to a financial services dispute.  Prior to joining Three Crowns, Richard spent 12 months on secondment to the M&A team at SABMiller, then the second-largest brewing company in the world.

Richard is an English-qualified solicitor-advocate (Higher Courts Civil) who holds a degree in Jurisprudence from Oxford University.

Jonathan Fernandes

Jonathan, an English-qualified solicitor advocate and Counsel based in the London office, has extensive experience acting as counsel in complex, high-value international commercial and investment treaty arbitrations across a wide range of sectors (including energy, aerospace, commodity trading, mining, finance, construction, and insurance) under all major arbitration rules. His most recent representative matters include:

  • Representing a US aerospace multinational in a billion-dollar ICDR arbitration, seated in New York, against a Latin American aerospace company arising out of the termination of agreements to establish and operate joint ventures in the commercial and defence aviation sectors
  • Representing a leading oil and gas major in a billion-dollar Stockholm-seated UNCITRAL arbitration against a former Soviet State arising from breaches of a profits tax stabilisation clause in a production sharing agreement resulting in the overpayment of taxes
  • Representing two consortiums of leading oil and gas investors in several distinct Stockholm-seated UNCITRAL arbitrations against a Central Asian State relating to the division of profits, the recovery of costs, and the State’s use of its tax audit and other regulatory powers
  • Representing mining investors in a Singapore-seated UNCITRAL/PCA arbitration against an African State under the Investment Protocol of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Treaty in relation to the confiscation of mining rights and a subsequent international denial of justice
  • Representing a power generation company in a London-seated UNCITRAL arbitration against an African State, concerning the State’s wrongful termination of an emergency power purchase agreement to relocate, re-install, and operate two existing combined-cycle power plants
  • Representing a French business owner in a Toronto-seated ICCPR arbitration with a US dental company arising from a post-M&A dispute
  • Representing a consortium of leading oil and gas companies in a Hague-seated UNCITRAL arbitration against a South American State arising out of tax liabilities and threats to take control of an oil pipeline
  • Representing a major wind power supplier in a Hague-seated UNCITRAL arbitration against a Western Asian State under a bilateral investment treaty and national investment law, relating to liability under certain performance bonds

Jonathan recently completed a one-year secondment as Legal Counsel at one of the world’s leading independent commodity trading and logistics houses, where he provided legal and strategic advice on several high-stakes disputes while working closely with their in-house and commercial teams.

Jonathan has published pieces on topics of international interest, such as sovereign immunity and arbitration on the African continent.

Manish Aggarwal

Manish is a dual-qualified English solicitor and Indian advocate, and partner in the London office. He has extensive experience of representing clients in both commercial and investment treaty arbitrations across a broad range of sectors (including energy, infrastructure, life sciences, telecommunications, and technology) and in arbitration-related court litigation.  Manish is consistently ranked as a leading practitioner in arbitration and public international law by major directories such as Who’s Who Legal and The Legal 500, with clients describing him as “the total package”, who “possesses excellent knowledge of international arbitration”. He has also been recognised in the India Business Law Journal’s list of top international lawyers for India-related matters, in which peers describe him as a “highly skilled advocate with a staggering depth of investment law insight”.

Manish’s recent experience includes:

  • Representing ConocoPhillips in its successful ICSID arbitration against Venezuela arising from the expropriation of its oil and gas assets, securing a historic US$8 billion award
  • Representing three energy companies in an LCIA arbitration against the Kurdistan Regional Government, securing awards worth approximately US$2 billion and dismissal of counterclaims worth several billion dollars, which facilitated a favourable settlement
  • Securing an award in excess of US$150 million for a multinational commodity trading company in an UNCITRAL arbitration against the Government of Ghana arising from a power purchase agreement
  • Representing an Asian energy company in an ICC arbitration under a production sharing contract arising from claims for reimbursement of certain taxes and abandonment fund contributions in excess of $300 million
  • Representing one of the world’s largest companies in a WIPO arbitration against a leading telecoms operator concerning the use and registration of intellectual property and securing a favourable settlement
  • Acting in a multibillion-dollar ICC arbitration on behalf of a real estate development company pertaining to disputes arising from a suite of Indian law governed agreements relating to a terminated joint venture in India
  • Representing a major global investment company in an LCIA arbitration arising from post-acquisition claims for breaches of warranties and indemnities under an English law governed share purchase agreement.
  • Representing infrastructure funds in multimillion-dollar ICSID arbitrations against Spain under the Energy Charter Treaty arising from regulatory measures adversely affecting renewables

Manish is a co-chair of the LCIA’s Young International Arbitration Group, serves as a faculty member of Delos Dispute Resolution’s Remote Oral Advocacy Programme, and regularly teaches commercial and investment arbitration at law schools across the globe, including Queen Mary University’s School of International Arbitration, King’s College Dickson Poon School of Law, and European Public Law Organization’s Academy of International Economic Law and Policy.

Manish studied law and humanities at National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) University of Law in India (including a semester at University of New South Wales in Australia), and holds a post-graduate diploma in international arbitration (with distinction) from Queen Mary University of London.

Gaëtan Verhoosel KC

Gaëtan is a founding partner of Three Crowns. He has over 20 years of experience serving as advocate or arbitrator in both commercial and investment treaty arbitrations.

Gaëtan’s experience includes:

  • Successfully defending the Sultanate of Oman against a US$200 million claim in connection with an investment treaty dispute relating to an oil and gas engineering and construction contract
  • Reducing a US$430 million claim against an Asian national oil company to $10 in nominal damages in an ICC arbitration arising from the client’s withdrawal from a production sharing contract in Central Asia
  • Securing a US$175 million damages award including interest for a Trafigura subsidiary in an UNCITRAL arbitration against the Government of Ghana arising from a power purchase agreement
  • Representing a European wind farm manufacturer in an ICC arbitration relating to a cross-licensing agreement for wind turbine patents
  • Securing a $150 million award for an Asian national oil company in an ICC arbitration arising from a production sharing agreement with another Asian national oil company, while defeating a $140 million counterclaim in the same proceeding
  • Representing an Asian national oil company in a US$490 million ICC arbitration arising from a gas transportation agreement
  • Securing a favourable award for a European renewable energy fund in an investment treaty arbitration against the Kingdom of Spain.

Gaëtan is a past Senior Co-Chair of the Arbitration Committee of the International Bar Association – a leading standard-setter for the practice of international arbitration. He is a member of the SIAC Court of Arbitration and was appointed to the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators by the Kingdom of Belgium. He has taught at King’s College School of Law in London and Columbia Law School in New York.

Before entering private practice, he served as a Legal Advisor at the World Trade Organization in Geneva, where he advised dispute settlement panels adjudicating disputes between sovereigns across a range of industry sectors.

Gaëtan has been ranked as a leading international arbitration practitioner in all major publications, including Chambers, The Legal 500, The Legal 500’s Arbitration Powerlist 2019, and Who’s Who Legal (legal thought leader).  Gaëtan has been described in Chambers as having “a phenomenal reputation” and is praised for “articulating his arguments well and being good at devising the right legal strategy while also convincing the tribunal during his submissions”. Who’s Who Legal has noted that Gaëtan is recognised by his clients, peers, and opponents as “the number-one person I have ever encountered on the other side”, “impressive and thorough oral advocate”, and that “he is liked by peers for his style and presence; he definitely deserves to be on any list of the best”.

Gaëtan is admitted to practice in England & Wales, Spain and France.

Constantine Partasides KC

Constantine, one of the founding partners of Three Crowns, has appeared as lead counsel in some of the largest international arbitrations of the last two decades. He has secured a series of multi-billion dollar awards for his clients, and defended others in ‘bet-the-company’ claims arising in a number of different business sectors.

Constantine’s experience includes:

  • Securing a landmark $9 billion award for ConocoPhillips against Venezuela in an ICSID arbitration
  • Securing a $2 billion award on behalf of ConocoPhillips against PDVSA, the State Oil Company of Venezuela, in one of the largest ICC arbitrations in history
  • Securing a $2 billion award for two oil and gas majors against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
  • Securing a $1.98 billion award against the Kurdistan Regional Government in an LCIA arbitration
  • Securing a favourable award on behalf of Elliott Associates in a UNCITRAL arbitration against the Republic of Korea
  • Securing a favourable award on behalf of CNOOC, Occidental Petroleum and Consolidated Contractors Company in an ICC arbitration against the government of Yemen
  • Successfully representing Dana Gas (the largest privately-owned energy company in the Middle East) in an LCIA arbitration
  • Appearing for the ICC International Court of Arbitration before the UK Supreme Court in relation to the challenge of an arbitrator in the celebrated case of Halliburton v Chubb (click here to view appearance)

In addition to his counsel work, Constantine appears regularly as arbitrator, including in disputes that involve States and State entities. He has experience acting as Chairman or Sole Arbitrator in cases under the ICC Rules, the LCIA Rules, the SCC Rules, and the UNCITRAL Rules.

Constantine is recognised internationally in all major directories and publications at the top of the arbitration market. Over the last decade, he has been named each year in the Top 20 “Global Elite Thought Leaders” by Who’s Who Legal, which describes him as “the leading arbitration lawyer in London”, “exquisite as an advocate”, and “a leader of his generation”. Chambers Global and UK recognises him as one of only two “Star Individuals” in international arbitration globally, with a market source saying he is “a leading figure in the global arbitration space”, renowned for his “repeated success securing multibillion-dollar awards in highly complex disputes”. He is also listed in the “Hall of Fame” for international arbitration in The Legal 500.

Constantine is a co-author of the fourth, fifth, and sixth editions of the leading textbook on international arbitration, Redfern and Hunter on International Arbitration. He is a Member of the ICCA Governing Board and a Director of the LCIA Board.

Constantine is a solicitor-advocate (Higher Courts Civil) and was appointed King’s Counsel in 2014. He was educated at King’s College, London and Cambridge University.