Type: Partners

Daryl Chew

Daryl is the managing partner of the firm’s Singapore office. He has an active portfolio of arbitrations involving a wide range of applicable laws and venues, arising from energy, construction, M&A, joint venture, and general commercial disputes.

Daryl’s experience includes:

  • Acting for the operator of a major infrastructure project in an Asian State, in a dispute with the government arising out of the concession agreement and the EPC contractor consortium arising out of the construction contract. The agreements are subject to ICC arbitration in Singapore and governed by English law and the law of the Asian State
  • Acting for a national oil company in a dispute with an international trading house and another national oil company arising out of long-term crude oil supply contracts. The agreements are subject to LCIA arbitration in London and governed by English law
  • Acting for a global energy company in a dispute with its joint venture partner arising out of a power project in Asia. The joint venture agreement and corporate documents of the joint venture company are subject to HKIAC arbitration in the Hong Kong SAR and governed by English law and the law of the Asian State
  • Acting for the owner of a power plant in Asia in a dispute with an EPC contractor and heavy equipment supplier consortium arising out of the development of the power plant. The agreements are subject to ICC arbitration in Singapore and governed by English law and the law of the Asian State
  • Acting for a Southeast Asian real estate developer in a dispute with a consortium of international investors arising out of a suite of financing and corporate documents. The agreements are subject to SIAC arbitration in Singapore and governed by Singapore law and the law of the Southeast Asian State
  • Acting for a NASDAQ-listed acquirer in a post-M&A dispute with the founders and promoters of the target business. The dispute involves court and arbitration proceedings in multiple jurisdictions across Asia and the United States

Daryl also serves as presiding arbitrator, co-arbitrator and sole arbitrator in institutional and ad hoc arbitration proceedings.

Chambers and The Legal 500 commend his “outstanding track record”, “superb written advocacy”, “valuable strategic input”, and recommend him for “consistently high-quality work”. Clients in these directories observe that he “scores highly for excellence in proceedings that turn on complex points of law” and describe him as “a brilliant all-round talent” and a “phenomenal advocate with the ability to turn the most complex facts in a case into simple, attractive and persuasive argument”. Daryl features as a “Global Leader” in Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration, which describes him as “a top name for international arbitration” with “great problem-solving skills”. Prior editions of Who’s Who Legal have ranked him as “one of the brightest” and “most highly regarded” partners in the Asia Pacific. He also features in the inaugural “Legal 500 Arbitration Powerlist – Southeast Asia” and was named among “30 People to Watch in the Business of Law in Asia in 2022” by Asia Law Portal.

Daryl serves as the Chairman of the Board of Maxwell Chambers, an integrated Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) complex in Singapore established to provide best-of-class facilities and services for the conduct of ADR activities. He also serves on various governmental and regional arbitration committees and lectures at several universities in Southeast Asia.

Shaparak Saleh

Shaparak is a partner in the Paris office. She has acted as counsel in a large number of commercial arbitrations both ad hoc and institutional, including under the ICC, IEMA, LCIA, UNCITRAL, and VIAC rules. Her experience includes post-M&A disputes, and disputes in the construction, energy, aeronautics, space, telecommunications, food, chemicals, and pharmaceutical sectors, relating to projects in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

Shaparak’s experience includes:

  • Representing French construction groups in several disputes against the owner of the project (ICC and AFA; seats in Paris and Geneva)
  • Representing international petroleum companies in several disputes arising under production sharing contracts concluded with an Algerian State-owned company in relation to the exploitation of crude oil fields and/or the implementation of a tax on exceptional profits in Algeria (ICC and UNCITRAL; seats in Geneva)
  • Representing a Malaysian construction group and its French subsidiary in a dispute against a national energy company (ICC; seat in Paris)
  • Representing an Algerian company in a construction dispute against a Turkish company (ICC; seat in Brussels)
  • Representing two Spanish investors against Venezuela in annulment proceedings before the French courts
  • Representing a Canadian gold mining company against Venezuela in annulment proceedings before the Paris Court of Appeal

Over the years, she has acted for, among others, States, State entities, major international oil, gas and mining companies, leading construction groups, an aircraft manufacturer, and electricity companies.

She regularly sits as arbitrator, including as chairperson.

In addition, Shaparak has broad experience in pre- and post-arbitration litigation before the French courts, having represented clients in some 25 set-aside proceedings. She was also involved in enforcement proceedings of numerous awards against sovereign States.

Shaparak is recognised as a Global Leader for arbitration in Who’s Who Legal, which notes she is “absolutely fantastic at complex international disputes”, “very dedicated, experienced, sharp, meticulous and hardworking”, and “is able to provide sound solutions and strategy for extremely complex and difficult issues”. Global Arbitration Review highlights that she has “great advocacy skills and handles her cases with determination and dedication”.

For the last twelve years, Shaparak has been a lecturer in international arbitration, teaching courses on enforcement proceedings at a number of prominent universities, such as Sciences Po Paris and Paris II – Panthéon-Assas. She is admitted in Paris and speaks French, English, Italian, and Persian.

Ilija Mitrev Penushliski

Ilija is a partner in the Paris office. Ilija has represented clients in international arbitrations conducted under all major arbitration rules. His practice focuses on complex investment and commercial arbitrations, particularly in the energy sector. He has extensive experience with proceedings for the annulment and enforcement of arbitral awards in numerous jurisdictions.

Ilija has also advised clients in relation to the renegotiation of bilateral investment treaties and on public international law issues, more generally, including on immunities, the law of the sea, and international criminal law.

Ilija’s experience includes the representation of:

  • A Ministry of Finance of a European State in an ICC arbitration against a consortium of European infrastructure companies, relating to a project for the improvement of the wastewater infrastructure in the country. The contract is based on the FIDIC Red Book
  • An aviation consultancy firm in an ICC arbitration seated in Geneva against a major aircraft manufacturer. The dispute arose from a series of consultancy contracts governed by French law. The consultant is seeking payment of unpaid remuneration in the amount of US$80 million and financial relief in connection with the termination of the relationship
  • A European energy company and the municipality of a European city in an SCC arbitration against an international utility company. The dispute arises from a long-term agreement for the lease of energy generation facilities
  • 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 $50 billion awards rendered in the arbitrations against the Russian Federation. Ilija also represented the majority shareholders in the underlying UNCITRAL arbitrations, in which the Tribunal found the Russian Federation liable to pay damages under the Energy Charter Treaty for the expropriation of the shareholders’ investments in Yukos
  • The Republic of Lithuania as Respondent in an ICSID arbitration relating to district heating and power generation markets in Lithuania brought under the Lithuania-France bilateral investment treaty
  • The Republic of Lithuania in two arbitrations against Gazprom: one brought by Gazprom under the Russia-Lithuania BIT in respect of Lithuania’s implementation of the EU Third Energy Package (UNCITRAL) and another brought by the State under two contracts in respect of Gazprom’s undertaking to supply gas to Lithuania at fair prices (SCC)
  • Electricité de France (EDF) as Claimant in a UNCITRAL arbitration against the Republic of Hungary. The dispute arose from termination of the Power Purchase Agreements put in place during the privatisation of the electricity sector. The claims were brought under the Energy Charter Treaty and the arbitration was considered in accordance with UNCITRAL rules

Ilija is featured in Who’s Who Legal since 2020 which hails him as “one of the most outstanding legal minds of his generation”, someone who “knows the cases inside out”, and a “truly remarkable’ arbitration lawyer who has an impressive ability to manage very complex cases and to develop strategy”.  One client notes “I was most impressed with the depth of Mr Mitrev Penusliski’s knowledge across various areas of public international law”.

Ilija teaches international arbitration at the Université de Fribourg, in Switzerland. He was recently appointed as a Member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, and he is an ambassador for the Vienna International Arbitral Centre. Ilija holds an LLM from Harvard law School, a Magister Juris from the University of Oxford, and an LLB from Saints Cyril and Methodius University.

Leilah Bruton

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

Leilah’s recent experience includes:

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

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

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

Reza Mohtashami KC

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

Reza’s experience includes:

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

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

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

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

Simon Consedine

Simon is a partner in the Washington, DC office. He has significant experience in commercial arbitration and investment arbitrations, having represented clients across a wide range of sectors.

Simon’s experience includes:

  • Representing Elliott Associates LP in its successful claim against the Republic of Korea under the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement
  • Advising a number of international oil companies concerning production sharing contracts rights in Nigeria
  • Representing a Missouri-based artificial intelligence firm in a JAMS arbitration arising out of a contract dispute under Delaware law
  • Representing Sacyr in a $1 billion dispute relating to claims brought under the Spain-Panama BIT in relation to the Panama Canal Third Set of Locks Project, including section 1782 motions in the U.S. courts
  • Representing a Chilean oil and gas explorer in successful defence of claims brought by a co-venturer under a joint operating agreement
  • Representing Ukraine in defence of claims for unlawful termination of a licence to explore for oil and gas. The matter settled following a hearing
  • Representing a Canadian rare earths minerals explorer in its expropriation claim against the Republic of Kyrgyzstan

Simon is recognised in Who’s Who Legal as a global leader for Arbitration, which highlights that his “analytical skills, clear communication style, and legal expertise make him a strong practitioner” and that “he has the ability to articulate issues in a clear, concise manner”, noting “he is confident and sharp”. Simon has been recognised for International Arbitration in The Legal 500 US since 2020 and clients have described him as having “formidable analytical skills and great client service”.

Simon co-authored the chapter “Fair and Equitable Treatment: Legitimate Expectations and Transparency” in ICSID’s 50th anniversary text Building International Investment Law: The First 50 Years of ICSID. He sits on the Banking and Financial Services Committee for the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR).

Simon received his LLM from Columbia Law School, where he studied as a Fulbright scholar. Before that, he received an LLB with first-class honours and a BA with first-class honours from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. He speaks English and French, and is admitted to practice in Washington, DC, New York, and New Zealand.

Liz Snodgrass

Liz, a partner in the Washington, DC office, has more than twenty-five years of experience as an advocate and adviser in international arbitration matters. Her practice is a mix of commercial and investment treaty arbitration, across a range of industry sectors and for clients based in the US and around the world. Liz has particular expertise handling disputes involving States and State entities, including investment treaty cases, fiscal disputes under long-term contracts, and disputes that implicate both contract and treaty protections.

Liz’s experience includes:

  • securing a favourable award on behalf of Elliott Associates in a UNCITRAL arbitration against the Republic of Korea arising out of alleged governmental corruption and political interference in the activities of a State-controlled entity;
  • representing a subsidiary of an Australian mining company in a dispute with a Central Asian State concerning tax and royalty demands in breach of stability guarantees in a long-term investment agreement relating to one of the world’s largest gold/copper mines;
  • representing a US- and UK-listed financial services firm in an LCIA arbitration against a customer under a NY-law governed financing agreement and obtaining expedited formation of the tribunal, a TRO and a preliminary injunction to prevent erosion of collateral;
  • representing a consortium of international oil companies in a $4 billion cost recovery dispute with a Central Asian state;
  • representing Canadian and Central Asian subsidiaries of an Australian mining company in a dispute with a Canadian joint venture partner;
  • representing various consortia of oil majors in a series of arbitrations against a West African national oil company arising out long-term production sharing contracts;
  • representing the Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese subsidiaries of a globally diversified mining company in a NY-law governed ICC arbitration with a US glass manufacturer arising out a licence agreement and concerning issues of patent infringement; and
  • defending a Delaware-law governed ICC arbitration brought by a counterparty to a technology licensing agreement against a Fortune 10 technology company relating to the development of cutting-edge mobile phone technology and a claim of unpaid royalties.

Liz is recognized in leading directories. Chambers & Partners notes that Liz is particularly well regarded for her expertise in the energy sector, and handles both commercial and investment treaty disputes. Clients note: “She is very impressive; a great lawyer with strong analytical skills,” adding that she “knows the client’s needs and works to understand their business”, and Who’s Who Legal notes that she has “a brilliant legal mind” and offers “wise counsel” in arbitrations.

Liz is a member of the International Bar Association, the Advisory Board of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration, and the North American Users’ Council of the LCIA.

Liz holds degrees from the University of Virginia and the University of Oxford. At Virginia, she was an Articles Editor for the Virginia Law Review. She clerked for the Hon. Judge J.H. Wilkinson, then Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Liz regularly speaks and teaches on international arbitration and global disputes, including appointments at University College London (2007-2012), American University’s Washington College of Law (2019-2024), and Georgetown University (2021-2024).

Kathryn Khamsi

Kathryn, a partner in the Paris office, acts for corporate clients and States in all types of disputes. She is particularly sought after in high value disputes that raise complex issues of fact and law.

Kathryn’s experience includes:

  • Representing three ENI subsidiaries in an ICSID arbitration against the Federal Republic of Nigeria arising out the State’s refusal to grant an oil mining license to allow production to proceed in Nigeria’s deep offshore. The case involves allegations of corruption. US$2.5 billion is at stake
  • Representing the Kingdom of Bahrain in a €180 million claim by French company CNIM relating to a renewable energy sector investment that raised issues of project finance and environmental legislation, as well as in related proceedings before the French courts.
  • Representing an Emirati-Algerian energy generation company in a US$100 million ICC claim against an Algerian State-owned company
  • Representing Areva and Siemens in an ICC dispute against a Finnish utility company, TVO, to the OL3 nuclear power plant in Finland – the first third-generation nuclear plant to be built in Europe since the Chernobyl disaster. The dispute involved claims and counterclaims totalling in excess of €5.5 billion and presented extraordinarily complex design, regulatory, delay, and quantification issues. The dispute settled on favourable terms
  • Representing a consortium of oil majors in a multibillion-dollar dispute with a Central Asian State over a complex formula for the sharing of petroleum under a production sharing contract

Clients have commended Kathryn’s “grasp of the technical detail, and her ability to identify and articulate game changing arguments”. She is recommended by Chambers, Who’s Who Legal, and The Legal 500.

Kathryn also sits as arbitrator, and was recently appointed to the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators, and will serve a six-year term. She has lectured and published extensively on questions of international arbitration and public international law, including most recently on the subject of emissions trading schemes.

Prior to entering private practice, Kathryn was a Legal Advisor to the Prime Minister of East Timor (Timor-Leste), based in East Timor, coordinating East Timor’s negotiations with Australia over maritime boundaries and the drafting of a new regime for petroleum investments. Kathryn has also worked with the International Development Law Organization in Kabul, Afghanistan, and with Columbia Law School and the Carter Center in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Kathryn, who speaks English and French, is admitted in Paris, New York, and Ontario. She holds an A.B from Harvard, LLB and BCL degrees from McGill, and an LLM from Columbia (where she was a James Kent Scholar).

Agustin G. Sanz

Agustin is a partner in the Madrid office. He has been trained in the civil law and common law traditions and has extensive experience of both international commercial and investment treaty arbitrations under the rules of the major arbitral institutions and ad hoc across a variety of jurisdictions, with a particular focus on Latin America, covering a broad range of sectors including infrastructure, energy, oil & gas, public contracts, and regulated industries. Agustin also has extensive experience advising international clients in connection with local administrative and court proceedings, settlement negotiations and contract renegotiations in the context of major disputes in Latin America. Agustin also sits as arbitrator.

He has been ranked as a “Future Leader” for arbitration by Who’s Who Legal.

Agustin’s 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 Sacyr in its investment treaty arbitration against the Republic of Panama arising from the Expansion of the Panama Canal
  • Representing a Latin-American oil & gas and petrochemical company in its UNCITRAL investment treaty dispute and ensuing settlement negotiations with Ecuador
  • Advising the Inter-American Investment Corporation in matters of public international law
  • Advising an oil & gas major in its multimillion-dollar royalties dispute in Colombia
  • Advising a major Latin-American insurance company in enforcement proceedings and settlement negotiations
  • Advising an Omani investor in its potential treaty dispute with a European country
  • Representing a consortium of international 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
  • Representing Pakistan in its disputes with India under the Indus Waters Treaty

Agustin previously worked at the Ministry of Economy and the Federal Communications Commission in Argentina, in addition to his academic roles at the University of Buenos Aires and the University of Chicago.

Agustin teaches in Argentina, Ecuador, and Colombia, and speaks regularly on arbitration-related issues. He is admitted in Buenos Aires and in the District of Columbia (Special Legal Consultant), and speaks English and Spanish.

Simon Elliot

Simon, a partner in the Singapore office, provides advice and representation in commercial and treaty proceedings conducted under the rules of the major arbitral institutions and ad hoc, and in pre-arbitration dispute resolution processes. His practice has a particular focus on disputes arising out of large infrastructure and major projects involving disputed technical, delay, and quantum related issues.

Simon’s experience includes:

  • Representing the local subsidiary of a global contracting group in a dispute arising out of the construction of a significant healthcare facility in the Middle East, which centred on highly technical issues of electrical engineering
  • Acting for a French-German consortium in an arbitration arising from an agreement for the construction of a “first-of-a-kind”, new-generation nuclear power plant in Finland
  • Representing a European refining company in a dispute concerning a significant refinery upgrade project involving a wide spectrum of technical issues, ranging from deficient site preparation to post-completion defects, complex delay analysis and significant claims for production losses
  • Advising a European contractor in dual contractual and investment treaty arbitrations arising out of a “mega project” to expand a strategic maritime infrastructure installation
  • Acting for a European mining company in proceedings arising out of an expansion to a substantial wet-sands mining operation in an African country

Simon is described by The Legal 500 as a “rising star” and clients laud his “impressive ability to deep dive into highly complex, technical issues” and turn them into “elegant and powerful arguments”.

Simon holds an LLB (First Class Hons) and a BA (French). He is admitted and entitled to practice at both the Paris Bar as an Avocat and in England and Wales as a Solicitor. Simon is also admitted in New Zealand. He speaks fluent English and French.

Manish Aggarwal

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

Manish’s recent experience includes:

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

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

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

Scott Vesel

Scott, a partner in the Washington, DC office, has a decade and a half of experience handling complex international investment and commercial arbitrations in the oil and gas, construction, energy, mining, gaming, defence, technology, and agribusiness sectors. In addition to his private practice in international arbitration, he has served as an attorney-advisor at the U.S. Department of State and at an international organisation. He is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center, where he teaches a course on advocacy in international arbitration.

Scott’s recent experience includes:

  • Representing a GCC state-owned water utility in a commercial arbitration over delays and defects in the performance of contracts to expand and improve an urban water distribution network;
  • Representing a European construction company in a Paris-seated ICC arbitration involving a project in a CIS state under a $600 million contract governed by local law;
  • Representing a consortium of international oil and gas companies in a series of disputes with a CIS state under a PSA, including an arbitration concerning tens of billions in disputed cost recovery amounts;
  • Representing a Middle Eastern State as respondent in the successful defence of a US$ 200 million ICSID arbitration claim relating to the termination of a long-term oil and gas engineering and construction contract and in the defence of the award in ongoing annulment proceedings;
  • Representing a global power generation company in a London-seated, New York law-governed ICC arbitration relating to the termination of a project to develop a coal-fired power station in a South East European state;
  • Representing a Middle Eastern state in an ICC arbitration relating to hundreds of millions in disputed cost recovery claims and other issues at the conclusion of a PSA’s term;
  • Representing an Asian national oil company as respondent in a London-seated, English law ICC arbitration arising out of its withdrawal from an exploration project in a Central Asian country – the claims valued at over US$ 400 million were dismissed with costs;
  • Representing a European gaming company and its controlling shareholder in multiple LCIA arbitrations arising out of a European state’s breaches of contracts;
  • Representing a French-German consortium in a € 3 billion Stockholm-seated ICC arbitration arising out of a Finnish law contract to construct a nuclear power plant in Finland;

Who’s Who Legal has recognised him every year since 2016, noting that clients singled him out as “one of the smartest lawyers I have ever worked with”, describing him as “a thoughtful and well-regarded practitioner”, and praised his “impressive pre-hearing preparation and his advocacy”. He is listed in The Legal 500’s 2019 UK Arbitration Powerlist and recommended in The Legal 500 UK where he “attracts praise for his ability to ‘master complex issues’”.

Scott holds JD, MA, and BA degrees from Yale University, as well as an MPA degree from Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. He is qualified as an attorney in New York and the District of Columbia and as a barrister in England & Wales and speaks English, French, German, Russian, and basic Latvian.

 

Todd Wetmore

Todd Wetmore, a founding partner of Three Crowns, is based in Paris, where he has handled complex international commercial arbitration cases for over 25 years. As counsel, he represents clients in high-stakes disputes around the world in diverse sectors including high-tech manufacturing, automobile distribution, aviation, oil and gas, electricity, and mining. He has deep experience with disputes presenting challenging financial and technical issues, such as those arising from banking operations, teaming arrangements, supply and M&A deals, and gas pricing, under both common law and civil law systems. Todd is also a recognised specialist in infrastructure and construction disputes and has led teams handling some of the largest construction disputes in arbitration.

Todd’s experience includes:

  • Representing one of the world’s leading technology companies in a high-stakes dispute arising out of a cutting-edge, multibillion-dollar technology development and supply agreement
  • Securing an award for a leading Japanese automotive manufacturer in a dispute brought against it by a contractual counterparty that dismissed the claimant’s primary claim and awarded a counterclaim put forward by our client
  • Securing a comprehensive victory for the Kingdom of Bahrain in an ICC arbitration initiated by French company, Constructions Industrielles de la Méditerranée (CNIM) relating to a project to design, build and operate a waste-to-energy plant. The tribunal rejected CNIM’s claims and awarded the Kingdom over $5 million in costs. We are currently representing Bahrain in related proceedings before various French courts
  • Securing a landmark award representing DEPA (the Public Gas Corporation of Greece) against the Turkish State-entity BOTAŞ in an ICC arbitration arising out of the interpretation of a price revision formula in the parties’ long-term contract. The award resets the pricing formula in the parties’ agreement and has already led to a payment of $220 million
  • Representing an African company in an LCIA arbitration against a port operator in a dispute arising from the termination of a joint venture agreement
  • Leading a team for a French-German consortium in a high-stakes ICC arbitration, arising out of a contract to construct a nuclear power plant

Todd regularly sits as an arbitrator under the ICC, LCIA, Swiss, and UNCITRAL Rules. One prominent appointment includes the much-publicised van der Garde v. Sauber arbitration, which had an impact on the 2015 Formula 1 motor-racing season.

Who’s Who Legal recognises him as a “Thought Leader” in arbitration and a “Recommended Global Leader” in construction and energy law and describe him as “a very brilliant advocate”. Chambers, which ranks him as a Band 1 lawyer, notes that Todd is “furiously bright, gets very deep into the case details and is very passionate about his work” and is “outstanding counsel” whilst The Legal 500 describes him as “tireless, very intelligent and pragmatic”.

He co-authored the France chapter in Construction & Engineering Laws and Regulations (ICLG) and the Construction Disputes chapter of International Arbitration and the COVID-19 Revolution (Kluwer Law).

Todd is a Vice-President of the ICC Court and is qualified as an avocat in France and a solicitor in England.

Luke Sobota

A founding partner of Three Crowns, Luke represents private and sovereign clients in some of their largest and most important commercial, investor-State, and inter-State arbitrations, including the successful prosecution of one of the largest ICC cases in history. He also has more than 20 years of experience litigating international issues in U.S. courts.

Luke’s practice experience spans a variety of sectors, with a focus on the energy, financial, and technology industries.

Luke’s experience includes:

  • Acting for a multinational technology company in a multi-billion-dollar ICC arbitration pertaining to sole-source supply agreement
  • Acting for a global energy in a $9 billion PCA investment treaty arbitration concerning denial of justice by a Latin American country
  • Acting for a multinational aviation company in an AAA-ICDR dispute regarding the termination of $4 billion merger and acquisition agreement
  • Acting for a global apparel company in HKIAC and SIAC arbitrations concerning a dispute under joint venture agreement involving several Asian countries
  • Acting for US multinational energy company in ad hoc investment arbitration arising out of change to decommissioning laws in Asian country
  • Acting for a UK renewable energy company in a $200 million concession dispute with an African State

He is active in pro bono matters, including work for Equality Now and the Penobscot Nation.

Luke is also a Senior Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School and an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Law.  Among other publications, he is the co-author of the second edition International Arbitration: Three Salient Problems (Cambridge University Press, 2020) and General Principles of Law and International Due Process (Oxford University Press, 2017).

Luke is ranked by Chambers, which describes him as an “extraordinarily intelligent” attorney who “draws extensive praise for his advocacy skills, with clients affirming that ‘his analysis and strategic view is outstanding.’” Who’s Who Legal has recognised him a “sharp intellectual” who “is praised for his fantastic analytical and writing abilities”. The Legal 500 writes that Luke “is extremely smart and a great strategic thinker” and is “an excellent draftsman”.

Luke previously worked in the Office of Legal Counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he advised and prepared formal legal opinions for executive branch officials on a range of constitutional, international, and administrative law issues.

He earned his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School, after which he clerked for Judge Pamela Ann Rymer of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist of the US Supreme Court.

Georgios Petrochilos KC

Georgios, one of the founding partners of Three Crowns, based in the Paris office, has a broad practice spanning more than two decades and covering inter-State, investment, and commercial disputes. He has represented States, international organisations, and private parties in more than 70 disputes, including several appearances in the International Court of Justice.

Georgios’ experience includes:

  • Securing a landmark award representing DEPA (the Public Gas Corporation of Greece) against the Turkish State-entity BOTAŞ in an ICC arbitration arising out of the interpretation of a price revision formula in the parties’ long-term contract. The award resets the pricing formula in the parties’ agreement and has already led to a payment of $220 million
  • Representing the Kingdom of Bahrain before the International Court of Justice in two parallel appeals from decisions of the International Civil Aviation Council in cases brought by Qatar against Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain under the Convention on International Civil Aviation and the International Air Services Transit Agreement
  • Successfully representing a subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin and Mubadala in a French language ICC arbitration, securing an award for the full amount of damages claimed
  • Successfully leading a team for Mytilineos Holdings in its UNCITRAL investment treaty arbitration with the Republic of Serbia, obtaining a multimillion-dollar award
  • Representing the Republic of Chile in the largest maritime-delimitation case to date in the International Court of Justice
  • Representing a leading independent Middle Eastern oil and gas company relating to non-payments by the KRG for natural gas and associated petroleum liquids produced from the Khor Mor field in northern Iraq. We obtained a number of successful awards in the dispute, which settled on favourable terms for our client

In addition to counsel work, Georgios is regularly sought out to act as co-arbitrator or presiding arbitrator and has experience administering cases heard under ICC, SCC, ICSID, UNCITRAL, and LCIA rules.

Georgios is recognised by The Legal 500 as a “Leading Individual” for Public International Law. Client feedback in Chambers notes he “has superb advocacy skills”, who has “first-rate knowledge of international law”, and Who’s Who Legal, in which Georgios is recognised as a “Thought Leader”, says he is an “one of the most impressive orators and more knowledgeable lawyers”.

He has published extensively on international law and international arbitration, including the well-known monograph Procedural Law in International Arbitration, the leading commentary, UNCITRAL Rules, and Social License and Dispute Resolution in the Extractive Industries.

Georgios has represented a Member State at UNCITRAL since 2007, is a visiting professor at the Universities of Bern and Fribourg in Switzerland, and is the current rapporteur of the International Law Association International Arbitration Committee.

Georgios is qualified as a barrister in England, an avocat in France, and an advocate in Greece. He holds graduate degrees, including a doctorate, from Oxford, as well as degrees from Strasbourg and Athens.

Gaëtan Verhoosel KC

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

Gaëtan’s experience includes:

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

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

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

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

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

Constantine Partasides KC

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

Constantine’s experience includes:

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

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

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

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

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

Carmen Martinez Lopez

Carmen, a partner in the Madrid office, has appeared as advocate in numerous investment treaty and commercial arbitrations. She has handled arbitrations under the rules of the major arbitral institutions and ad hoc across a variety of jurisdictions, with a particular focus on Latin America and Spain. Carmen also sits as arbitrator.

Carmen’s most recent experience as counsel 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 ICSID arbitration with a Colombian construction and power distribution company under the Chile-Colombia Free Trade Agreement
  • Representing a Latin-American oil & gas and petrochemical company in its UNCITRAL investment treaty dispute with Ecuador
  • Representing a major wind power supplier in an ICC arbitration arising from the termination of a cross-licensing agreement relating to wind turbine technology
  • Representing a Spanish bank in an ICC dispute against an American bank relating to post-acquisition claims under a business transfer agreement
  • Advising a pharmaceutical company in a post-M&A LCIA dispute

Carmen is recognised in all major publications, including as a “Leading Individual” in The Legal 500 Latin America, with sources describing her as  “one of the most impressive legal minds I have encountered”, a “truly gifted practitioner”, who “has worked on some of the biggest cases of all time”, delivers “in a friendly and folksy tone, a very persuasive oral argument and a devastating cross-examination”, “gets into the details while keeping a strategic mindset”, “understands problems very well in a global way”, “has a lot of availability for the client”, and “has certainly been building up a fantastic reputation” in the market for her work in both investment treaty and commercial arbitrations. She has also been described as a “brilliant arbitrator”.

Carmen is dual-qualified in civil law and common law, and regularly handles contentious work in English, Spanish, and French. She is admitted to the New York and Madrid Bars, and is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales. Carmen holds law degrees from Columbia Law School, the College of Europe and the University of Murcia (Premio Nacional Fin de Carrera and Premio Extraordinario Fin de Carrera).

Carmen serves or has served in a variety of leadership positions, including as a Vice-President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, a member of the board and the President of the British Chapter of the Spanish and Iberoamerican Arbitration Club (CEIA), a member of the Arbitrator Appointment Committee of the Madrid Arbitration Court, and a team leader for the IBA Task Force for the Revision of the 2010 IBA Rules on the Taking of Evidence. Carmen writes and speaks regularly on arbitration-related issues.