Nicola is International Counsel in the Washington, DC office, where she has a broad practice in international dispute resolution. She represents States, international organizations, and private parties before a range of international courts and tribunals, including in complex and high-value international commercial and investment treaty disputes, as well as in proceedings before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the International Court of Justice.
Nicola is ranked in The Legal 500 US, Chambers USA, Chambers Global and Lexology Index, and has been praised as “one of the best arbitration lawyers of her generation”, “demonstrat[ing] an incredible depth of knowledge and sensitivity to strategy”, and “prepared, unflappable on her feet”.
Nicola holds degrees from the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and University College London.
Nicola is an English-qualified barrister and is admitted to practice in California.
Bar and court admissions
Languages
English
"She is one of the best arbitration lawyers of her generation."
Lexology Index
Representing US financial investor, Elliott Associates, in an UNCITRAL investment treaty dispute arising out of a major State corruption scandal in Korea
Representing Canadian mining company, Gold Reserve, in ICSID Additional Facility proceedings concerning one of the world’s largest gold deposits in Venezuela
Acting for the Kingdom of Bahrain in an ICC arbitration relating to a project to design, build, and operate a waste-to-energy plant
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
Representing an American lifestyle company in an LCIA arbitration and parallel expert determinations relating to the buy-out of an Indian joint venture
Representing an international energy company in an ad hoc UNCITRAL arbitration brought by an African State relating to a power purchase agreement and an expert determination
Representing the Republic of Vanuatu before the International Court of Justice in proceedings concerning the Legal Consequences of the Separation of the Chagos Islands from Mauritius in 1965
Advising the UN Environment Programme in proceedings before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea concerning the Request for an Advisory Opinion submitted by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law
Appearing before the UK Supreme Court on behalf of the ICC International Court of Arbitration in the widely reported Halliburton Company v Chubb Bermuda Insurance Ltd case
Representing Elliott Associates in set-aside proceedings before the English courts
Acting as Legal Secretary to the World Tennis Ethics Commission for more than five years, conducting investigations and deciding sports law and ethical complaints
"Nicola is tremendously responsive and highly effective, whether it be at drafting, analysis or as part of the advocacy team."
Chambers USA
"Nicola is a true star and a specialist in international environmental law"
Lexology Index
- MA, University of Cambridge
- MSc, Imperial College London (EFTEC Prize)
- LLB, University of Law
- LLM (AHRC Scholar), University College London