Type: Associates

Vamika Puri

Vamika is an associate in the Singapore office. She has experience with complex commercial and investment treaty arbitrations across a range of sectors including construction, energy, and real estate. Vamika has also advised States on matters of international trade.

Vamika’s experience includes:

  • Advising the owner of a power plant in Southeast Asia in a dispute with an EPC Contractor
  • Advising a Middle Eastern conglomerate in an investment treaty dispute relating to the sale and purchase of real estate in a neighbouring State
  • Advising a South Asian company in a commercial dispute over a real estate development project
  • Advising a Middle Eastern State in an investment treaty dispute relating to the operation of a telecoms business
  • Advising an Eastern European State in simultaneous commercial and investment treaty disputes over the development of a deep sea port
  • Advising a Central Asian corporation in a commercial dispute over construction of an oil & gas pipeline
  • Advising an East Asian State on its environmental obligations under WTO law

Vamika has an extensive academic background in law, with an LLB and PCLL from the City University of Hong Kong, and a dual LLM in international arbitration and dispute settlement from the NUS-MIDS Double Degree Program. During her LLB, she was awarded Dean’s List and multiple scholarships for her achievements in international law. Her team at the Willem C. Vis and Vis East International Commercial Arbitration Moots won eight awards, amongst which Vamika was awarded an Honourable Mention for Best Individual Oralist. She was also awarded Dean’s List in her PCLL, and pursued her LLM at NUS under a full academic scholarship.

Before joining Three Crowns, Vamika trained with arbitration teams in London, Paris, and Geneva, as well as with arbitrators Dr. Michael Hwang SC and Mr. Andrew Moran KC.

Vamika is admitted to practice in New York. She is fluent in English, Hindi, and Punjabi.

Ai Lin Tai

Ai Lin, an associate in our Singapore office, has experience in international commercial arbitrations conducted both ad hoc and under various institutional rules in the oil & gas, construction, public infrastructure, and web3 industries.

Her recent experience includes:

  • Representing a consortium of multinational contractors in an SIAC arbitration concerning the expansion of an oil refinery in Thailand
  • Representing a Singaporean energy major in a commercial arbitration concerning the development of a power plant in Myanmar
  • Representing an exhibition production company in a HKIAC arbitration against a South Korean integrated resort owner
  • Representing a Japanese technology giant in an ICC arbitration arising out of a distribution agreement for the sale of lighting systems in India
  • Representing an Indian Fintech company in a shareholders’ dispute on the purchase of a business that provides India’s leading app and content discovery platform
  • Advising and representing government-linked entities in various construction disputes on public infrastructure projects including rail and residential projects

Ai Lin acted as Young Independent Counsel (amicus curiae) before the Singapore courts in the cases of Vijay Kumar v Public Prosecutor [2023] SGHC 109 and Lee Shin Nan v Public Prosecutor [2023] SGHC 354, where she assisted with the formulation of a sentencing framework for offences under the Payment Services Act and Penal Code.

She graduated with First Class Honours from the University of Bristol.

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.

Camelia Aknouche

Camelia is an associate based in our Paris office with extensive experience advising private corporations in disputes governed by diverse laws and institutional rules, with a focus on construction-related disputes.

Camelia’s recent experience includes:

  • Representing an international construction contractor in an ICC arbitration seated in Austria. The dispute concerns a tunnelling project and involves claims in excess of EUR 250 million
  • Representing an international construction contractor in an ICC arbitration seated in Qatar. The dispute concerns the development of a mega project and involves claims in excess of QAR 1.5 billion
  • Representing an Engineering and Technology company in an ICC arbitration seated in Paris against a North-African State-owned company
  • Representing a German company in an annulment procedure at the Paris Court of Appeal

Before joining Three Crowns, Camelia underwent training in private practices across Chicago, Dubai, Doha, London, and Paris. Camelia also served as a research assistant, initially in London focusing on commercial disputes and later in Paris in the realm of investor-state disputes. Holding master’s degrees from La Sorbonne University and Nanterre University, she is admitted in Paris and is proficient in both French and English.

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.

Borja Pérez-Puente

Borja is an associate based in the Madrid office. He has experience acting in international commercial arbitrations under several governing laws and institutional rules in disputes relating to the aerospace, railway, TMT, construction and energy sectors.

Borja’s recent experience includes:

  • Representing a global aerospace group in over fifteen ICC arbitrations and judicial disputes further to the group’s termination of its relationship with local business partners amidst criminal investigations conducted by the UK SFO, the French PNF, the US DoJ and the US DoS
  • Representing several members of the Al-Shoula Consortium awarded with Phase 2 of the Mecca-Medina Haramain High Speed Railway Project in four arbitrations relating to design services, distribution of scopes of works and third-party consultancy services
  • Representing a Spanish group against a Canadian investor in an ICC arbitration arising from the construction and later shutdown of a EUR 1.7 billion underground gas storage facility
  • Representing a Dutch group against a US investment fund in a post-M&A ICC arbitration stemming from potential accounting inaccuracies and breaches of representations and warranties
  • Representing a Spanish energy company against a Portuguese energy group in an ICC arbitration over the construction of a PV plant and a subsequent price review of four PV PPAs
  • Representing an English energy fund against a Singapore-based LNG and gas trader in an ICC arbitration relating to a price review and ensuing termination of a gas supply agreement

Borja has been recognised as a key practitioner in major publications such as The Legal 500 Spain, with sources describing him as an “outstanding professional” who “inspire[s] trust“, is “close to the client at all times”, is “impressively efficient and detail-oriented“, “quickly learns all the technical details of both your business and the case and then […] is able to explain them in plain language with an amazing ease“, and has an “exceptional knowledge” about the matters in which he participates.

Borja holds a double licentiate degree in law and business management from the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas (ICADE), and he is admitted to the Madrid Bar and to the Madrid College of Economists. He has experience handling contentious work in English, Spanish and French and he also has a limited proficiency in Portuguese.

Borja is a co-founder and member of the steering committee of the Comillas Alumni International Arbitration Club. At his former firm, he was in the Innovation and Best Delivery steering group for the Continental Europe dispute resolution practice, in the AI in Dispute Resolution working group, and in the coordination of a monthly training for the global arbitration practice’s associates. He writes and gives conferences on arbitration-related topics on a regular basis.

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.

Erin Culbertson

Erin, a senior associate in the Washington, DC office, has extensive experience representing and advising clients, including governments and government entities, international organisations, and multinational companies, in international arbitration proceedings (contractual and treaty-based), recognition and enforcement proceedings, complex commercial litigation, bankruptcy litigation, and project finance matters. Erin’s representations have concerned diverse industries, such as gaming, mining, life insurance, banking/finance, satellites, and wireless spectrum.

Erin’s experience includes:

  • Representing Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels Inc. and Sureste Properties, Inc. in an UNCITRAL arbitration in Singapore and in subsequent enforcement proceedings in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. The arbitration arose from the termination of a management services agreement for an integrated resort and casino in Manila
  • Representing the Government of Mongolia in a bilateral investment treaty arbitration arising from the passage of a windfall tax following increases in the price of gold
  • Representing insurers, The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company (Lincoln) and Equitable (formerly AXA Equitable), in complex litigation in federal court defending against multiple individual actions and putative class actions arising from adjustments to the cost of insurance for universal life insurance products
  • Representing Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels, Inc. (Bloomberry) in an appeal in New York state court by Bangladesh Bank of the dismissal of Bloomberry for lack of personal jurisdiction from a lawsuit arising from the theft by North Korean hackers of nearly $100M from Bangladesh Bank’s account and the laundering of the stolen funds in the Philippines
  • Representing the Bank of Mongolia in bringing a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations (RICO) Act case in Florida against an international criminal enterprise that defrauded the Bank of Mongolia of approximately $70M
  • Representing Ligado Networks, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., and the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Sea Launch in their reorganisations from Chapter 11 bankruptcy
  • Advising the African Development Bank and private lenders on international law and dispute resolution clauses of a sovereign guarantee agreement with the Republic of South Africa in connection with a $1.3B public-private loan agreement to a South African electricity public utility company

Erin received a J.D. with High Honours from The George Washington University Law School, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif. She received her B.A. from the Princeton School of Public & International Affairs at Princeton University.

Erin is admitted to practice in New York and the District of Columbia, as well as the US Supreme Court, US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, US District Court for the District of Columbia, US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia, and US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Erin has published and presented on topics including arbitration, dispute resolution, international trade and investment. She has extensive experience working in Africa and Asia, and her pro bono practice focuses on reproductive rights, asylum, and juvenile justice.

Tom Villalon

Tom is an associate in the Washington, DC office. He has significant experience representing clients in a wide range of international arbitrations under most major institutional rules, with a particular focus on disputes across Asia and Latin America. Tom has represented and advised clients from an array of industries, including construction, mining & metals, post-M&A, biotech, and pharmaceuticals.

Tom’s recent experience includes:

  • Representing a global gold company in a UNCITRAL arbitration in connection with a South American bi-national mega mining project.
  • Representing the subsidiary of a Chinese State-Owned entity in an ICC arbitration concerning a mega mining project in Latin America.
  • Representing a US non-profit company in a dispute arising from the faulty construction of a women’s hospital in rural Burundi, prevailing on 100% of the client’s claims and awarding 100% of the client’s costs.
  • Representing a major Korean construction conglomerate in a Hanoi-seated arbitration under VIAC rules.
  • Representing a Chinese bio-tech company in a post-M&A dispute against a Korean private equity fund in a Hong-Kong seated arbitration under HKIAC rules.
  • Representing a Korean pharmaceutical company against a German competitor in a Tokyo-seated arbitration under ICC rules.
  • Representing a Korean client in a nuclear construction dispute against a North American supplier for an arbitration seated in Seoul under KCAB Rules.

Tom holds a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Hawaii School of Law, and a B.A with Honors from Dartmouth College. While in law school, he won first-place individual oralist for the global International Environmental Law Moot Court competition. He is the host of The China Arbitrator, a Mandarin language arbitration podcast dedicated to understanding Asian views of the practice of international arbitration. He is also the co-founder of Rescue Afghan Women Now, an organization dedicated to rescuing high-risk Afghan women from Taliban capture and execution.

Tom is admitted to practice in California, New York, and Washington DC. He speaks English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean, and is conversant in Arabic (Egyptian dialect) and Farsi.

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.

Stephen Armstrong

Stephen is an associate in the Paris office. He has experience with commercial disputes in the oil & gas, transportation infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, and real estate industries.

Stephen’s recent experience includes:

  • Representing Eni in its ICSID investment treaty claim against Nigeria.
  • Representing a consortium of oil majors in a cost recovery dispute with a Central Asian State.
  • Representing a public transportation agency in a complex multi-party court proceeding regarding the design and construction of a metro station.
  • Representing a New Zealand manufacturer in a dispute with its Canadian distributor.
  • Representing a real estate developer in a dispute arising from a co-tenancy agreement with another developer.
  • Representing a pharmaceutical company and national retail pharmacy chain in the defence of multiple class actions in respect of opioid products.

Stephen also served as legal counsel to the Public Order Emergency Commission of Inquiry in Canada, which investigated the Government of Canada’s invocation of emergency legislation in response to domestic unrest in 2022. Among other duties, Stephen examined Government of Canada officials and protest attendees during the inquiry’s publicly broadcasted hearings.

Stephen served as a judicial law clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada from 2019-2020. He was also a judicial law clerk with the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta in Calgary from 2018-2019.

Stephen graduated at the top of his law school class at the University of Calgary, with distinction. Before law school, Stephen played Canadian college football at Mount Allison University, where he obtained an honours degree in history.

Stephen has been published in the Canadian Journal of Commercial Arbitration, the Canadian Arbitration and Mediation Journal, and the Supreme Court Law Review.

Olusola Odunsi

Sola is an international associate in the Washington, DC office. She has significant experience advising multinational corporations and states in commercial and treaty arbitrations under several institutional rules. Her practice spans across various industries, including the energy, life sciences, construction, telecommunication, and technology industries.

Sola’s recent experience includes:

  • Assisted the counsel team representing an Eastern European state in an ICSID arbitration arising out of a concession agreement
  • Assisted the counsel team representing a major telecoms company in an ICC post-M&A arbitration relating to valuation and technical deficiencies
  • Assisted the counsel team representing a leading pharmaceutical company in a DIS post-M&A arbitration arising out of a share purchase agreement
  • Assisted the counsel team providing Nigerian law advice and support in the enforcement of a US$2 billion arbitral award in New York, against the Nigerian state owned oil corporation
  • Represented the Nigerian subsidiary of one of Africa’s largest telecommunications tower companies in an arbitration arising out of a managed services and colocation services agreement
  • Represented an energy and infrastructure multinational in two concurrent construction arbitrations
  • Represented a drilling company in the enforcement of a US$23million award against an exploration and production company over breaches and the non-performance of conditions precedents under an offshore drilling contract

Sola has appeared severally before the Nigerian courts and has provided Nigerian law advice for cases pending before courts in the United States and the United Kingdom. Recently, she was a member of the team that advised JPMorgan Chase Bank (through an international law firm), in the successful defense of a claim by the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), relating to transactions processed through the bank for the controversial sale of OPL 245.

Sola holds an LL.M. degree from Georgetown University Law Center, where she graduated with Distinction and was on the Dean’s List. While at Georgetown, she externed with ICSID, working with the English case management team, and represented Georgetown Law at the American University International Commercial Arbitration competition.

Valeriya Tsekhanska

Valeriya is a dual-qualified international associate in the Washington, DC office. She has experience advising private corporations, high-net-worth individuals, and States in a variety of sectors, including energy, construction and manufacturing, across a range of arbitral institutional rules. Valeriya has also advised international organizations and NGOs on questions of international public law, European law and human rights.

Her recent experience includes:

  • Acting for two consortia of energy companies in three separate series of disputes against a Central Asian State arising from a long-term production sharing agreement, the arbitrations include issues of tax, cost recovery, and environmental inspections
  • Representing a high-net-worth individual in a $14b ad hoc UNCITRAL arbitration against a CIS state in respect of his investments in banking, mining, real estate and heavy manufacturing industries, the representation included successfully obtaining an interim award from the tribunal to suspend the parallel extradition proceedings against the client
  • Successfully representing a Dutch investor against an Eastern European state in a $750m ICSID arbitration under a BIT relating to a judicial expropriation of a metallurgical plant
  • Representing a CEE state in two separate annulment action of an ICSID award rendered against it
  • Representing a private company against an Eastern European state in a $75m ICSID arbitration in respect of its railcar manufacturing business
  • Representing one of the parties in a $40b ICC arbitration arising out of an offshore construction project in APAC

Prior to her legal career, Valeriya served at the embassies of Ukraine in Paris and Berlin, as well as at the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations in New York, where she represented Ukraine in the Second (Economic and Financial) Committee during the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly.

Valeriya holds an LL.M. degree from Harvard Law School, where she served as President of Harvard International Arbitration Law Students Association (HIALSA) and worked as a research assistant at Harvard Law School Program on International Law and Armed Conflict (HLS PILAC).  She also graduated with a Master’s degree in Global Business Law and Governance, jointly taught by SciencesPo Paris, Columbia Law School, and Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.  Valeriya also holds an advanced Master’s degree (M2) with honors in Finance and Asset Management from Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, and a B.A. degree in Transatlantic Relations from SciencesPo Paris, where she won the best oralist prize in the SciencesPo International Public Law Moot.

Valeriya is admitted to practice in England & Wales and Ukraine, and her admission to the NY Bar is pending.

Laura Anaya

Laura is an associate in our Madrid office. She specialises in investment and commercial arbitration under a variety of arbitration rules in a range of sectors, including energy and natural resources, construction, and mining. Laura has been involved in proceedings under various institutional rules, including the ICC, UNCITRAL, and ICSID rules.

Laura’s recent experience includes:

  • Representing the Republic of Chile in its ICSID arbitration with a Colombian construction and power distribution company under the Chile-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.
  • Representing Sacyr in its UNCITRAL investment arbitration against the Republic of Panama arising from the expansion of the Panama Canal.
  • Representing investors from the United Kingdom and Luxembourg in a resubmitted ICSID investment arbitration stemming from a series of energy reforms affecting the renewables sector.
  • Advising a Spanish company on the viability of a potential investment arbitration claim linked to a concession contract for energy generation in a Latin American country.

Laura holds an LLM from King’s College London, where she graduated with Distinction, having earned academic scholarships by the University and the British Council in Colombia. She graduated from Universidad Externado de Colombia with an LLB, where she was ranked first in her cohort and was awarded two academic scholarships. Whilst there, she won an international competition in procedural law, for which she was granted a scholarship for postgraduate studies in tort law and contractual liability. She also won oralist awards when participating in an international arbitration moot competition.

Laura is dual-qualified in civil law and common law, being a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales and admitted to practice in Colombia.

Raoul J. Renard

Raoul is an international associate in the Washington, DC office, specialising in complex international commercial and investment arbitration.

Prior to joining Three Crowns, Raoul represented global business at the United Nations General Assembly and related institutional fora as a Counselor in the Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations of the International Chamber of Commerce. In that role, Raoul led the ICC delegation to the Global Pact for the Environment negotiations at UNEP in Nairobi, Kenya, and frequently represented  ICC at multilateral events around the world. Raoul also led the ICC working group on e-commerce, providing business perspectives for the Joint Statement Initiative on the trade-related aspects of electronic commerce at the World Trade Organization. Raoul developed guidance and briefs on a wide range of international public policy issues, including the economic and fiscal response to COVID-19, the equitable distribution of vaccines and digital trade. As Deputy Director of Legal Reform within ICC’s Digital Standards Initiative, Raoul led reform efforts globally to promote the adoption of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR).

Raoul holds an LL.M. from Columbia Law School, where he graduated with Honors and the Parker School Certificate for Achievement in International and Comparative Law. Raoul served as Submissions Editor on the American Review of International Arbitration, Research Assistant to Professors George A. Bermann and Kabir A.N. Duggal, and was a Board Member of the Columbia International Arbitration Association. He holds a J.D. from Melbourne Law School, where he graduated in the top 10% of his class and won the prestigious King & Wood Mallesons Moot Court Competition, the Castan Centre Human Rights Moot, and the Sir Zelman Cowen State Championship Moot. He also holds a B.A. (Philosophy and Mandarin Chinese) and a Diploma of Languages (Spanish) from the University of Melbourne.

Raoul serves as Assistant Editor for Technology for Kluwer Arbitration Blog and has a working knowledge of Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.

Aarushi Nargas

Aarushi is an international associate in the Washington, DC office.

Prior to joining Three Crowns, Aarushi clerked with Chief Justice Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud at the Supreme Court of India, where she worked on commercial, arbitration, and constitutional law matters. She also has prior experience of working at the judicial chambers of the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals in The Hague and as an associate in the projects and infrastructure practice of a domestic commercial law firm in India.

Aarushi holds an LL.M. from Harvard Law School, where her focus was on international commercial and investment arbitration and public international law. She served as the Vice President of the Harvard International Arbitration Law Students Association and as a member of the board of the Harvard International Law Journal. She also holds an LL.B. from National Law University Jodhpur, where she graduated with a gold medal for her outstanding achievements in moot court competitions.

Aarushi has published in international law journals such as the California Western International Law Journal and participated in international law conferences.

Akash Karmarkar

Akash is an associate in the Paris office. He has significant experience in advising States, State-owned entities, and private corporations in international commercial arbitrations, investment arbitrations and cross-border disputes. He works across a range of sectors, including construction, banking and finance, oil & gas, and private equity.

His recent experience includes:

  • Representing an East European State in a Paris-seated ICC arbitration brought by a French construction consortium in relation to disputes arising out of an urban infrastructure project
  • Representing an international energy company in an LNG price review arbitration under the ICC rules with the seat in London
  • Representing a Middle Eastern State in an investment arbitration involving civil war related damages
  • Representing an international distributor in an LCIA arbitration arising out of a distribution agreement in the automobile sector
  • Representing a Mauritian PE investor in an ICC arbitration under a share purchase agreement in the technology sector
  • Representing a Middle Eastern State-owned entity in a London-seated ad hoc arbitration under a charter party

Akash holds an LL.M. in Transnational Arbitration and Dispute Settlement from Sciences Po Paris, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was awarded the Squire Patton Boggs Research Excellence Grant. He also holds a B.A., LL.B. (First Class Honours) from the Gujarat National Law University in India.

Akash has made several appearances before Indian courts, including the Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court in high stakes commercial litigations and arbitration-related applications. He recently co-authored two chapters in the book titled Provisional and Emergency Measures in International Arbitration, published by Edward Elgar Publishing.

He is fluent in English, Hindi, and Marathi, and has a working understanding of Gujarati and Konkani.

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.

Melody Lau

Melody is an associate in the Singapore office. Her experience in international arbitration spans a variety of joint venture, shareholder, construction, and infrastructure disputes.

Melody’s experience includes:

  • Acting for the owner of a power plant in Southeast Asia in a dispute with an EPC contractor
  • Acting for a major East Asian beverage company in a joint venture dispute against a state-owned entity
  • Acting for a global agri-company in a shareholders’ dispute arising from a  joint venture in Southeast Asia, which resulted in concurrent arbitration and litigation proceedings in multiple jurisdictions
  • Acting for a major data centre provider in Southeast Asia in a multi-jurisdictional shareholders’ dispute

Melody received her LL.B. degree from the National University of Singapore, where she received prizes for being the best student in her cohort. She also received awards for Best Oralist, Best Memorial, Champion (Singapore), and Semi-Finalist (International) at the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. She was champion of the B.A. Mallal Moot in Singapore and the Asia Cup International Law Moot Court Competition in Tokyo.

Melody won the Essex Court Chambers and Singapore Academy of Law International Mooting Competition as a qualified advocate. She has published on international arbitration in the Singapore Academy of Law Practitioner.

Dana Chang

Dana is an associate in the Singapore office. She has experience in a wide variety of arbitrations across a range of sectors including oil and gas, joint venture, construction, and general commercial disputes.

Dana’s recent experience includes:

  • Representing a consortium of oil majors in a multibillion-dollar dispute with a Central Asian State in relation to a production sharing contract
  • Representing the owner of a power plant in Asia in a dispute with an EPC contractor arising out of the construction of the power plant
  • 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
  • Acting for a Japanese-listed logistics company in successfully resisting a majority shareholder’s claim in an SIAC arbitration
  • Acting for a foreign investment company in a loan dispute, where the claimant successfully obtained an early dismissal of the respondents’ defence for a manifest lack of legal merit under the SIAC Rules

Dana holds an LLB from the National University of Singapore. She has participated in multiple moot competitions including the Essex Court Chambers-Singapore Academy of Law Moot Court Competition, where her team emerged champion, as well as the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, where her team clinched the best memorial prize.

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.

Marcel Lister

Marcel is an associate based in the Singapore office.  He has experience in international commercial arbitration and international dispute resolution, with a particular focus on minerals, construction, and infrastructure disputes. Marcel also has experience in arbitration-related litigation before the New Zealand courts, both with respect to investor-State arbitration and commercial arbitration.

Marcel’s experience includes:

  • Acting for a major minerals entity in arbitration proceedings in a multimillion-dollar dispute concerning the triggering of payment obligations and corporate control mechanisms under a sale and purchase agreement
  • Acting for a construction and infrastructure civil works provider in parallel arbitrations brought under the SIAC rules in a dispute relating to the construction of two significant geothermal power stations in Indonesia
  • Acting for a major food services and facilities management company in proceedings relating to the recognition and enforcement of a multimillion-dollar ICSID award
  • Representing a minerals entity in proceedings ultimately heard before the Supreme Court relating to the interpretation of obligations owed by the purchasing party under a sale and purchase agreement
  • Representing a major steel producer in challenges to numerous decisions made by the New Zealand government with respect to the imposition of countervailing duties on the imports of various steel products
  • Acting for a multi-national publicly traded dairy co-operative in proceedings relating to private law duties owed by emitters
  • Acting for liquidators against a former company director in respect of a large-scale ponzi scheme
  • Representing a Cayman Islands bank in successfully obtaining preservation orders over funds held in New Zealand
  • Advising a major private equity firm, with respect to proceedings in the High Court of Hong Kong, to prevent a compulsory share transfer led by the controlling shareholder

Before joining Three Crowns, Marcel specialised in international dispute resolution, together with general commercial litigation, international trade law, and insolvency, and appeared in courts and tribunals at all levels in New Zealand.

Hongchuan Zhang-Krogman

Hong is an associate based in the Washington, DC office. She has experience with commercial and treaty disputes in the TMT, energy, infrastructure, private equity, aerospace and defence sectors, and working with private clients, States and State-owned entities. She has also advised States and clients on matters of public international law.

Her recent experience includes:

  • 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
  • Representing an oil and gas major in commercial and treaty arbitrations against a CIS State
  • Representing a European construction company in an ICC arbitration arising from a delayed urban development project in a CIS State
  • Representing the Kingdom of Cambodia in an ICSID claim brought by a Chinese telecommunications investor
  • Representing an Asian private equity fund in an UNCITRAL arbitration and related litigations in Vietnam and Singapore
  • Representing an Indian EPC contractor in an SIAC arbitration with a Chinese subcontractor relating to the construction of a mega power plant
  • Advising a European telecommunications investor on separate treaty claims against two Asian States
  • Representing a State agency in an SIAC arbitration against a North American contractor in a defence-related construction dispute

Hong was previously State Counsel at the International Affairs Division of the Attorney-General’s Chambers Singapore, where she advised the Singapore government on a range of international law issues, including trade and investment disputes, international organisations, privileges and immunities, United Nations Security Council Resolutions compliance, extradition, and mutual legal assistance. She acted in matters before the Singapore courts and in commercial arbitration. She also represented the Singapore Government in FTA negotiations with the Eurasian Economic Union and the United Kingdom and was a delegate to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) and the ICSID Rules amendment project. Hong was also a Justices’ Law Clerk at the Supreme Court of Singapore.

She studied law at the University of Cambridge and New York University as a Singapore Public Service Commission scholar, graduating with First Class Honours from the University of Cambridge. She is bilingual in English and Mandarin Chinese, and has a working knowledge of Spanish.

Katherine Shen

Katherine is an associate in the Washington, DC office. She advises on commercial and investment treaty arbitrations across a range of sectors.

Her experience includes:

  • advising a Japanese high-technology glass manufacturer and its South Korean and Taiwanese subsidiaries in an ICC arbitration seated in New York against a US glass manufacturer
  • advising an independent oil and gas company in two multibillion-dollar disputes against Middle Eastern company arising out of a long-term gas sale and purchase agreement
  • advising the Republic of Chile in an ICSID arbitration brought by a South American company concerning fines and guarantees enforced by Chile due to the claimant’s delay in the construction of an electric power transmission

Katherine regularly provides legal support pro bono. She worked on two research memos for Guernica 37, drafting the extraterritorial applications of the European Convention on Human Rights and breaches of Article 2, the right to life.

Katherine has interned at World Bank Group, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, and the International Criminal Court. She was the 2021-22 Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard International Law Journal and was the U.S. Champion and World Champion of the 2022 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot.

Katherine holds a JD from Harvard Law School, a MPhil in political theory from the University of Oxford, and a Bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Chicago. She speaks English and Mandarin.

Luis Tamborini

Luis is an associate based in the Madrid office.  He has experience in a variety of international commercial arbitrations under several institutional rules in industries including construction, energy, pharmaceutical and banking.  He also has experience advising private parties on matters of public international law.

Luis’ recent experience includes:

  • Representing an Asian company in the renewable energy industry in disputes over EPC contracts for the construction of five wind farms in a Latin American country
  • Representing a company of the oil and gas industry in two arbitrations against a gas liquefaction company, under the LCIA arbitration rules
  • Representing a company of the oil and gas industry in a dispute with a gas licensee in Latin America related to gas processing, in an arbitration under ICC arbitration rules
  • Representing a multinational construction and engineering company in a dispute over an EPC contract for the construction of a biodiesel production plant in Latin America, in an arbitration governed by ICC arbitration rules
  • Representing a company in the IT industry in a dispute against a Brazilian client of the banking industry, in an arbitration under the ICC arbitration rules
  • Representing a company in the paper industry in a dispute against a Latin American State, in an arbitration under the ICC arbitration rules
  • Representing a foreign capital company in a claim regarding the acquisition of a fishing company, in an arbitration governed under the ICC arbitration rules
  • Representing a company in a dispute with an international company in the audit field of pharmaceutical industry in relation to a contract for the sale of shares and non-compete obligations, in an arbitration governed by ICC arbitration rules

Luis holds an LL.M. from Columbia Law School, where he graduated as a James Kent Scholar, awarded in recognition of outstanding academic achievement.  He also holds a J.D. from the University of Buenos Aires School of Law, where he was awarded a distinction as an outstanding student for his performance in international moot court competitions.  Luis continued coaching university teams in moot court competitions.

Luis speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese, and is admitted to practice in the City of Buenos Aires.

 

Arjun Sreenivas

Arjun is an associate in the Paris office.  He has experience advising and representing companies and states in commercial arbitrations across various sectors including construction, energy and technology.

Arjun’s recent experience includes:

  • Acting for an East European state in an ICC arbitration brought by a French construction consortium in relation to disputes arising out of an urban infrastructure project.
  • Acting for a Spanish engineering company in an ICC arbitration brought by a sub-contractor for delay and cost claims relating to the construction of utilities for a combined cycle power plant in the Middle East.
  • Advising a global energy major on force majeure issues arising in relation to an LNG facility.
  • Acting for and advising the promoters of an Indian wind turbine manufacturer in multiple shareholder and technology licensing disputes with their German joint-venture partners.
  • Successfully representing a Spanish construction company in an arbitration against an Indian state entity for delay and cost claims arising out of turnkey contracts for the construction of electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure.
  • Successfully defending the governing body for cricket in India in an arbitration brought by a former team in the Indian Premier League seeking significant damages for termination.

Arjun is admitted to practice in India and holds an LL.M. from the MIDS programme in Geneva.

Lucie Perrier

Lucie is an associate in the Paris office. She has experience advising companies and private individuals in commercial arbitrations in industries including energy, construction, and shareholder disputes.

Her recent experience includes:

  • Defending a European company in an ICC arbitration arising out of the construction of a carbon fiber plant
  • Acting for an Asian oil and gas company against a joint venture over the construction of an LNG gas project
  • Assisting a European gambling operator in an LCIA arbitration arising from multiple concession agreements

Lucie trained at the French Conseil d’Etat as well as the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Lucie holds a J.D. from Cornell Law School, where she was an Articles Editor for the Cornell International Law Journal and represented minors seeking SIJS status as part of her clinical work. Lucie is also fully French trained and has a significant background in intellectual property law. She is admitted to practice in New York, and speaks French and English.

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.

Rudolf Simone-Pont

Rudolf is a senior associate in the Paris office. He has represented clients in international arbitrations conducted under all major arbitration rules and his practice focuses on investment and commercial arbitrations across a broad range of sectors.

Rudolf also has experience with proceedings for the annulment and enforcement of arbitral awards, as well as advising clients on the renegotiation of bilateral investment treaties.

Rudolf’s experience includes:

  • Representing the Republic of Latvia in an ICSID arbitration under the UK-Latvia bilateral investment treaty relating to the supervision of a banking group
  • Acting for a European construction company in an ICC arbitration relating to a joint venture dispute concerning the renovation and extension of an airport in South America
  • Advising a European energy company in an FAI arbitration relating to a nuclear power plant
  • Representing Ukraine in an ICSID arbitration under the Netherlands-Ukraine bilateral investment treaty relating to an aluminium smelter
  • Advising a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund in an ICC arbitration relating to a sports sponsorship agreement
  • Acting for the majority shareholders in the former Yukos Oil Company in proceedings initiated in multiple jurisdictions in relation to the setting side and recognition and enforcement of the US$50 billion awards rendered in the arbitrations against the Russian Federation
  • Representing a private equity fund in ICC and HKIAC arbitrations relating to the ownership of various entities in the fund structure
  • Representing the Republic of Croatia in an ICSID arbitration under the Austria-Croatia bilateral investment treaty relating to a food production company

Rudolf holds a BA from Yale University and a BA in Law from Oxford University.

Marie-Provence Brue

Marie-Provence is an associate in the Paris office. She has experience in advising companies, private individuals, and States in commercial arbitrations in various sectors, including construction and shareholder disputes. She also has experience in annulment proceedings before the French courts.

Marie-Provence’s experience includes:

  • Advising a Malaysian construction group and its French subsidiary in a dispute against a national energy company
  • Advising a French construction group in a dispute against the owner of the project
  • Advising a group of Iranian shareholders in a shareholder dispute against a French company and its subsidiaries
  • Advising the State of Cameroon in a dispute against a Belgian company relating to a concession contract
  • Advising an Indian company against a Jordanian company in French annulment proceedings arising out of an arbitration relating to a construction project in Jordan

Marie-Provence holds an LLM in International Law from the University of Cambridge, a Master 1 from Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne University and an LLB from King’s College London. During her time at the Paris Bar School, she successfully completed the Advanced Programme in Investment Arbitration.

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.

Srinath Reddy Kethireddy

Srinath Reddy is an associate in our Washington, DC office. He has experience with commercial, investment treaty, and inter-State arbitrations, as well as arbitration-related litigation before U.S. courts, across a range of sectors including financial services, energy, mining, real estate, and infrastructure.

Srinath’s experience includes:

  • Representing a leading international financial services provider in an LCIA arbitration with its joint venture partner pertaining to the amounts owed under a joint venture agreement relating to credit card transactions
  • Representing an international energy major in an UNCITRAL arbitration against a state-owned energy company relating to the costs of decommissioning one of the world’s largest oil and gas fields
  • Representing a Middle Eastern conglomerate assessing investor-State claims arising from sale and purchase agreements for plots of land in a neighbouring State
  • Representing a renewable energy producer and litigation funder in two contractual disputes arising from wind turbine supply agreements
  • Representing an international mining corporation in post-arbitration proceedings across multiple jurisdictions to enforce a US$2 billion LCIA award

Before joining Three Crowns, Srinath was an Assistant Legal Counsel at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, where he assisted arbitral tribunals in investor State disputes, contract-based arbitrations, and an Annex VII arbitration under the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea. He was also an economic consultant assisting quantum experts on a range of econometric and damages analyses.

Srinath’s writing on international law has been published in the Yale Journal of International Law, the Cornell Law Review, the Harvard National Security Journal, and Just Security. He was also the U.S. National Champion, international semi-finalist, and one of the top 10 oralists worldwide in successive years of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot.

Srinath holds degrees in Mathematics, Economics, and Government from Cornell University and a J.D. from Yale Law School, where he was awarded the Jerome Sayles Hess Prize for the top graduating student in International Law.

Thomas Dauvillier

Thomas is an associate in the Paris office. He has experience in a number of contentious and non-contentious procedures in international commercial arbitration in relation to the energy, aeronautics, construction and banking sectors, primarily in Europe and Africa. Thomas also has a broad experience of annulment proceedings before the Paris Court of Appeal and litigation proceedings before the French domestic courts.

Thomas’ recent experience includes:

  • Representing two consortiums of leading oil and gas majors in several distinct billion-dollar Stockholm-seated UNCITRAL arbitrations against a Central Asian State arising from breaches of a production sharing agreement relating to the division of profits, the recovery of costs, and the State’s use of its regulatory powers
  • Representing a major global financial institution in a London-seated LCIA arbitration arising from a Middle East joint venture contractual and financial dispute
  • Representing a Malaysian construction group and its French subsidiary in a Paris-seated ICC dispute against the national energy company of an African State relating to the construction and operation of a desalination plant
  • Assisting a leading oil and gas major in a dispute against a Middle East State relating to the late life investments obligations of a series of profit-sharing agreements
  • Representing a Malaysian construction group and its French subsidiary in  annulment proceedings before the Paris Court of Appeal.
  • Representing aviation consultancy firms in the aeronautics industry in two separate ICC arbitrations against a global aerospace corporation relating to the alleged breach of several consultant agreements
  • Representing a leading arbitration institution in several proceedings brought by parties before the French domestic courts on the basis of contractual liability
  • Assisting a Spanish construction company against a public entity in a dispute based on contractual and legal penalties relating to a major railroad infrastructure project in Tunisia
  • Representing a Turkish construction company in an ICC arbitration seated in Brussels in relation to the termination of real estate projects in North Africa
  • Acting as secretary to the Arbitral Tribunal in an ICC arbitration regarding drilling operations in Argentina

Thomas also has a background in academia and has given lectures at Nanterre University in European and International Private Law.

Thomas holds a Master’s degree in International Private Law and International Arbitration from Pantheon-Assas University. During his time at the Paris Bar School, he successfully completed the Advanced Programme in Investment Arbitration.

Macarena Bahamonde Villafuerte

Macarena is an associate in the Madrid office. She specialises in commercial and investment arbitration under a variety of arbitration rules in a range of sectors including energy and natural resources, pharmaceuticals, and construction.

Macarena’s recent experience includes:

  • Representing Sacyr in its UNCITRAL investment arbitration against the Republic of Panama arising from the Expansion of the Panama Canal
  • Representing the Republic of Chile in its investment arbitration with a Colombian construction and power distribution company under the Chile-Colombia Free Trade Agreement
  • Representing Ecuador in an investment arbitration under UNCITRAL rules against two oil companies under the BIT between the United States and Ecuador, derived from a claim for denial of justice
  • Representing Ecuador in an arbitration under UNCITRAL rules against a pharmaceutical company under the BIT between the United States and Ecuador, derived from a claim for denial of justice
  • Representing Ecuador in a dispute against a Peruvian national regarding claims for non-observance of the BIT between Ecuador and Peru
  • Representing Ecuador in a dispute against a Chinese company under the Ecuador-China BIT

Prior to joining Three Crowns, Macarena was a lawyer in the International Arbitration Directorate of the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Ecuador, where she represented the Ecuadorian State in various international arbitrations and annulment and enforcement proceedings in foreign jurisdictions.

Macarena is admitted to practice in Ecuador and the State of New York. She completed her Master of Laws at Harvard Law School, where she was a Fulbright Scholar and Gammon Fellow. Macarena also obtained a Master of Laws and Postgraduate Diploma in Laws from the University of London School of Law in a joint programme with University College London and Queen Mary University of London. She graduated first in her class at University of San Francisco of Quito.

Macarena is a co-founder of Ecuadorian Very Young Arbitration Practitioners (ECUVYAP) and she coaches the arbitration moot team of University of San Francisco of Quito. Macarena was elected as the Ecuadorian Arbitration Institute Young Members’ Representative and is an Arbitrator Intelligence Ambassador for Latin America. She speaks Spanish, English, and French.

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.

Blair Shepherd

Blair is an associate in the Paris office. He has experience in a variety of international commercial arbitrations under several institutional rules in industries including construction, energy, and port operations. He also has experience advising States and non-governmental organisations on matters of public international law, which is his primary academic focus, with an emphasis on human rights and national security.

Blair’s recent experience includes:

  • Advising a European subsidiary of a significant Asian LNG trader in respect of a variety of issues arising under back-to-back LNG supply and purchase agreements and representing it in ICC and LCIA price-review arbitrations, with English law applying
  • Representing an international energy company in a multibillion-dollar ad hoc commercial arbitration arising out of a national oil company’s failure to supply gas under a long-term contract
  • Representing a Middle Eastern company in an LCIA arbitration brought against it by a major Japanese automotive manufacturer following termination of a distribution agreement
  • Representing a European gambling operator in an ad hoc investor-State arbitration against the Czech Republic
  • Successfully defending a major Middle Eastern natural gas company’s termination of a sale and purchase agreement in an expedited LCIA arbitration
  • Advising a European State-owned gas corporation in respect of various legal issues arising under a long-term gas supply agreement following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Blair has made numerous appearances in the New Zealand courts, including the High Court, and was the sole solicitor acting on a two-year bifurcated commercial arbitration, with favourable awards upheld on appeal. His note, “Cutting Submarine Cables: The Legality of the Use of Force in Self-Defense” was recently published in the Duke Journal of Comparative & International Law, and he is a New Zealand contributor to the World Bank’s “Women, Business and the Law” reports.

Blair holds an LLM from Duke University School of Law in the U.S., where he graduated magna cum laude, was a Staff Editor for the Duke Journal of Comparative and International Law, and contributed to submissions to the U.S. Department of State’s Commission on Unalienable Rights as part of the International Human Rights Clinic. He also graduated from the University of Otago in New Zealand with an LLB and a BA. Whilst there he won the SDS International Business Case Competition with the Otago Business School team and spent time studying at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen in Germany. Blair is admitted to practise in New Zealand and New York.

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.

Eugénie Wrobel

Eugénie is an associate based in our Paris office. She has experience in advising private corporations, States and State-owned entities in commercial and investment treaty arbitrations conducted under major institutional and ad hoc rules.

Eugénie’s experience includes:

  • Representing a “supermajor” oil company in a commercial LCIA arbitration seated in London in relation to disputes concerning the assignment of concession interests under a Farmout Agreement
  • Representing an aviation consultancy firm in an ICC arbitration seated in Geneva against a major aircraft manufacturer over unpaid invoices and the termination of agency contracts
  • Assisting a European energy and construction conglomerate in an UNCITRAL arbitration seated in Geneva over the payment of invoices under a series of supply contracts in relation to photovoltaic plants in the Middle East
  • Assisting the contractor in a European Development Fund arbitration seated in Paris against a Francophone West African State over the suspension of an infrastructure project
  • Assisting a Francophone West African State in French language ICSID proceedings arising out of an alleged expropriation of the investor’s mining concession rights

Eugénie gained experience at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Washington. Eugénie holds an LL.M. from Georgetown University, a Master’s degree in Litigation and Arbitration from Paris II Panthéon-Assas as well as Master’s degrees in International Business Law from Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne and Paris XI Paris Sud respectively. She is admitted in Paris, and speaks French and English.

William Sullivan

Will is an associate in the Washington, DC office. He has advised clients in the finance, energy, and manufacturing sectors in both treaty and international commercial arbitrations conducted under ICC, ICSID, LCIA, and UNCITRAL rules.

His recent experience includes:

  • Representing a major energy company in an investment treaty arbitration involving a denial of justice
  • Representing a renewable energy technology concern in an ICC arbitration arising under a patent cross-licensing agreement governed by Illinois law
  • Representing a large financial services firm in an LCIA arbitration applying New York law
  • Advising a telecommunications logistics firm in a Delaware law contract dispute

Will studied classics at Princeton, law at Yale, and legal history at the University of Chicago, where he received a PhD in 2020. Immediately before joining Three Crowns, Will held the Raoul Berger-Mark DeWolfe Howe Fellowship at Harvard Law School and taught Roman law at Boston College Law School. He previously served as a law clerk for Judge José A. Cabranes of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and, before graduate school, taught classical languages at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH.

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).

Raymundo T. Treves

Raymundo is an associate in the Paris office. He has experience in State-to-State, international commercial and investment treaty disputes, acting in arbitrations under a range of rules, including the UNCITRAL, LCIA, ICSID, and ICC rules.

His experience includes:

  • Representing a Spanish contractor in an ongoing investment treaty arbitration against a Latin American State in a dispute arising out of a “mega project” to expand a strategic maritime infrastructure installation
  • Representing a subsidiary of an industrial, mining, and energy group in an ongoing commercial dispute
  • Working with REDRESS on a pro bono project promoting balanced gender representation in UN mechanisms and bodies

Raymundo previously worked at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, where he and assisted several arbitral tribunals, and the PCA Secretary-General as an appointing authority and in his role of designating appointing authorities. In particular, he assisted the arbitral tribunal in the South China Sea (Philippines v. China) arbitration.  Prior to working at the PCA, he worked with counsel for Peru in the Maritime Dispute (Peru v. Chile) before the International Court of Justice.

As a member of the International Max Planck Research School on Successful Dispute Resolution in International Law, he finalised his thesis on “Equality of Arms in International Dispute Settlement” at the University of Heidelberg and the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law.

He has lectured on international arbitration at the University of Milan, the London School of Economics, and the University of Geneva, and is the author of several publications in international procedural law, including: “Preserving the Respective Rights of the Parties to the Dispute – The Ghana v. Cote d’Ivoire Order for Provisional Measures”.

Raymundo completed his legal studies at the University of Milan and was awarded the Premio Padovani for best thesis in private and procedural international law by the Italian Society of International law. He has an LL.M from New York University School of Law where he received the Dean’s Graduate Award and Martin and Eva Domke scholarship.  He is admitted to practice in Italy and New York and speaks English, Spanish, and Italian.

Anton Chaevitch

Anton is an associate in the Washington, DC office.

His recent experience includes:

  • Acting for two consortia of energy companies in two separate series of disputes against a Central Asian State, arising from a long-term production sharing agreement.  The arbitrations include issues of tax, cost recovery and admissibility. A further expert determination has been launched in relation to an annual work program and budget.
  • Advising the same consortia on strategic questions and potential disputes, including regulatory issues relating to the approval of a field development plan, OPEC+ production cuts, and inspections related to environmental issues.
  • Acting for an energy company in two separate disputes against Eastern European states in connection with the construction and operation of power plants.
  • Acting for Grupo Unidos por el Canal in annulment proceedings in U.S. federal court against an award arising out of the expansion of the Panama Canal.

Anton regularly provides legal support pro bono. He assisted REDRESS in the case of Meriam Ibrahim before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, is working with Guernica 37 Chambers in bringing claims before the European Court of Human Rights on behalf victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity in a Middle Eastern State, representing a Sudanese refugee seeking family reunification, and advised a people on possible paths to gaining independence from an Asian State.

Prior to joining Three Crowns, Anton completed his Ph.D. at Harvard University. He previously clerked for the late Honorable Juan R. Torruella on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. He holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School (James Kent Scholar), as well as a Bachelor’s Degree (magna cum laude) and a Master’s Degree from Harvard University. Anton was a visiting professor at the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, where he taught international arbitration and gave a faculty presentation on issues relating to international arbitration.  He was also selected by the International Law Institute to teach choice of law as part of an International Commercial Arbitration and Mediation Master Class.

His publications have appeared in “Pro-Arbitration” Revisited: A Tribute to Professor George Bermann from his Students over the Years (Juris Publishing, 2023), Reflections on International Arbitration – Essays in Honour of Professor George Bermann (Juris Publishing, 2022), and the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law.  He also co-authored a chapter in International Arbitration in Latin America: Energy and Natural Resources Disputes (Kluwer Law International, 2021).

Anton’s languages include English, Dutch, Russian, German, French, and Spanish.

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.

Daria Pavlyuchok

Daria is an associate based in our Paris office. She has experience of advising private corporations, States, and State-owned entities in commercial and investment treaty arbitrations under major institutional rules.

Daria’s recent experience includes:

  • Representing a European contractor in an investment treaty arbitration arising out of a “mega project” to expand a strategic maritime infrastructure installation
  • Representing an ultra-high-net-worth individual in disputes arising out of the repudiation of an option agreement and services agreement
  • Representing a European contractor in an ICC arbitration arising out of the construction of a multi-purpose complex in a CIS country

Daria holds a Master’s degree from Pantheon-Sorbonne University (Private International Law and International Trade) and Paris-Est University (D.U. LL.M in Advanced Arbitration and Litigation), as well as a Bachelor’s degree in law from Paris Descartes University. During her time at the Paris Bar School, she successfully completed the Advanced Programme in Investment Arbitration. She speaks Russian, French, English, and Ukrainian.

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.

Zara Desai

Zara is an associate in the Paris office. She has significant experience in advising States and State-owned entities in investor-State arbitrations and on matters of public international law. Her practice also includes representing private corporations in international commercial arbitrations governed by a range of applicable laws and various industry sectors, with particular experience in disputes arising in the banking, finance, and energy sectors.

Zara’s recent experience includes:

  • Counsel for the Kingdom of Bahrain in an investment treaty dispute arising out of the alleged expropriation of an Iranian-owned bank and involving questions of international sanctions and banking regulations
  • Counsel for an international energy company in a multibillion-dollar commercial arbitration arising out of a national oil company’s failure to supply gas under a long-term contract
  • Counsel for a cement company in a commercial arbitration arising out of a share purchase agreement with a state agency of a South Eastern European State
  • Counsel for investors in a dispute arising from an Eastern European State’s termination of licenses to operate video lottery terminals
  • Counsel for a subsidiary of an Asian national oil company in a commercial arbitration arising under a production sharing contract relating to the reimbursement of taxes, levies, and royalties
  • Counsel in two confidential ICSID annulment proceedings

Zara trained at the International Court of Arbitration at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris.

Zara received her B.A. degree and M.A. degree (summa cum laude) from Sciences Po, Paris, where she was an Emile Boutmy Scholar and specialised in public international law. She was also the French National Champion of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition and was awarded writing and oralist awards. She spent a year abroad at McGill University, Montréal.

Zara holds an LL.M. degree from Harvard Law School, where she served as Vice President (Events) on the Executive Board of the Harvard International Arbitration Law Students Association (HIALSA) and won writing awards as part of the Harvard Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team. While at Harvard, she was a judicial extern to the Honourable Karen F. Green at the Massachusetts Superior Court.

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.

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.

Laura França Pereira

Laura, an associate in the Madrid office, specialises in international commercial and investor-State arbitration. She has experience acting in complex and high-value disputes across a range of sectors, including banking and finance, energy, oil and gas, infrastructure, and retail. Laura has acted in proceedings under a number of arbitration rules, including ICC, ICSID, UNCITRAL, and AAA-ICDR.

Her recent experience includes:

  • Representing the Republic of Chile in its investment arbitration with a Colombian construction and power distribution company under the Chile-Colombia Free Trade Agreement
  • Representing a leading US private equity firm in two parallel ICC arbitrations involving claims of fraud and breach of warranty arising from a share purchase agreement for the acquisition of a Latin American company
  • Representing a major European construction company in its investment treaty arbitration with a Latin American State arising from a “megaproject” to expand a strategic maritime infrastructure installation
  • Representing an Asia-based investment manager in an AAA arbitration against an US-based asset manager relating to a seed investment
  • Representing a European bank in an ICC arbitration involving post-acquisition claims relating to a Spanish credit card business
  • Representing a mining and petrochemical company in its investment treaty arbitration against a Latin American State
  • Representing Naturgy in its billion-dollar investment treaty claim against Colombia relating to the regulatory framework for the supply of electricity
  • Representing a consortium of oil & gas companies in an arbitration against a Latin American State, and in the ensuing settlement negotiations and agreement, arising out of tax liabilities imposed on the consortium in breach of legal and tax stability clauses included in the relevant investment agreements

Laura also maintains an active pro bono practice focused on the defence of human rights. She is representing the owners of a media group against a Latin American State in a claim filed before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights arising from alleged violations of the American Convention on Human Rights in relation to, inter alia, freedom of expression and the right to property. She also worked with REDRESS on a pro bono project promoting balanced gender representation in UN human rights organs and mechanisms.

Laura holds an LLM from Harvard Law School and an LLB from University of São Paulo, where she graduated first in her class. She studied at Sciences Po Paris, as part of her Bachelor’s degree program, where she graduated summa cum laude.

Laura has also held roles in several organisations, including co-chair of the CPR International Mediation Competition, events commissioner at the Harvard International Arbitration Law Students Association, and president of the Brazilian Association of Arbitration Students. She also regularly publishes and speaks on a range of topics including arbitration, dispute resolution, contracts, and commercial law. She speaks English, Portuguese, French, and Spanish.

 

Mihir Chattopadhyay

Mihir is a senior associate in our Washington, DC office. He has experience advising clients across a range of industries, including the oil and gas, technology, aerospace, and financial services industries. Mihir has acted as counsel in several high-value and complex commercial and investment arbitrations under the ICSID, ICC, AAA-ICDR, HKIAC, and SIAC Rules.

His recent experience includes representing:

  • ConocoPhillips in parallel ICSID and ICC proceedings arising out of the expropriation of its oil projects in Venezuela, resulting in historically large, multibillion-dollar awards
  • ExxonMobil in ICSID proceedings against Venezuela in a dispute resulting in an award of approximately a billion dollars
  • A Middle Eastern utility company in a multimillion-dollar construction arbitration involving, among other things, claims of delay, variations, and liquidated damages
  • A leading Middle East oil and gas company in a multibillion-dollar arbitration against a state-owned oil company arising out of breaches a gas sale and purchase agreement;
  • A leading footwear and lifestyle company in multi-jurisdictional disputes against a Hong Kong-based entity involving claims of breach of contract and unfair prejudice; and
  • An Asian company in a dispute for breach of contract against a large U.S. company arising out of a multibillion-dollar foreign military sales program.

Prior to joining Three Crowns, Mihir was a management consultant with an international consulting firm. He advised clients on, amongst other things, valuing companies for acquisition and improving cost efficiencies.

Mihir holds an LLM and a certificate in International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution from Georgetown University Law Center, where he graduated with Distinction and was on the Dean’s List. Mihir also holds degrees in law (LLB) and History from the University of Delhi. He speaks English, Hindi, Urdu, and Bengali.

 

Etienne Vimal du Monteil

Etienne, a French avocat and senior associate based in the Paris office, has acted for private and sovereign clients in many complex, high-value international arbitrations across a wide range of sectors (including oil & gas, electricity, aviation, and automobile distribution) under all major arbitration rules. His practice has a particular focus on disputes arising out of major infrastructure and construction projects in the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and Europe. Etienne also has experience of enforcement and annulment proceedings before the French courts.

Etienne’s recent experience includes:

  • Representing a European contractor in an ICC arbitration arising out of the construction of a natural gas processing plant in North Africa
  • Securing a victory for a Middle Eastern government in an expert determination over testing requirements and procedures for a power and desalination plant project
  • Representing a European contractor in an ICC arbitration arising from a dual-fuel power plant project against a North African State-owned company
  • Securing a US$100 million ICC award for an Emirati-Algerian energy generation company in a dispute against a North African State-owned company
  • Securing a victory for an aviation consultancy firm in an ICC arbitration against a major aircraft manufacturer over unpaid remuneration and the termination of agency contracts
  • Securing a victory for the Kingdom of Bahrain in a challenge against the enforcement of an ICC award before the Paris Court of Appeal
  • Representing Middle Eastern distributors in disputes against major Asian and European automobile manufacturers

Etienne teaches courses on annulment and enforcement proceedings at Sciences Po Paris and regularly publishes on international arbitration. He notably contributed to the treatise Provisional and Emergency Measures in International Arbitration (J. Fouret Ed., Edward Elgar Publishing 2023) and to the third edition of the GAR Guide to Challenging and Enforcing Arbitration Awards (Law Business Research 2023).  

Etienne is admitted in Paris and speaks French and English. He holds Master’s degrees from Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne University and ESSEC Business School, and a Bachelor’s degree from Lyon II Lumière University.