Experience

• International Disputes

  • Hess in its landmark victory against ExxonMobil and CNOOC, in one of the most significant arbitrations in recent years. The victory was a major success for Hess, and also cleared the final hurdle to one of the largest and most geopolitically significant M&A transactions in the energy sector in decades, namely Chevron’s $53 billion acquisition of Hess – a transformative deal that reshapes the global energy landscape.
  • Eiser Infrastructure and a subsidiary in their successful ICSID arbitration, brought under the Energy Charter Treaty, against the Kingdom of Spain following the withdrawal of certain financial incentives to encourage investment in renewable energy.
  • An international oil company in advising on potential ICSID claims against a Southeast Asian state in connection with taxation measures imposed by the government.
  • YPF S.A. in successfully defeating claims for roughly $15 billion in damages and pre-judgment interest that were brought by Petersen Energía and Eton Park (both funded by Burford Capital) in the S.D.N.Y. arising from the Republic of Argentina’s intervention in YPF and subsequent expropriation of 51% of YPF’s capital stock.
  • A construction company in its ICC arbitration with a major oil company over delays and additional costs in a project for the construction of an FPSO platform.
  • Poštová Banka of Slovakia in investment treaty claims against Greece arising from the Greek debt restructuring.
  • A leading engineering, construction, and project management company in a potential investment treaty claim in the Middle East.
  • Francesco Becchetti and five other Italian investors in ICSID proceedings against Albania arising out of claimants’ investments in a hydroelectric plant and a media company, winning a historic order of provisional measures suspending criminal and extradition proceedings, and resulting in a favorable award.
  • IMS Health Incorporated and its Latin American affiliates in a Spanish-language ICC arbitration relating to an alleged breach in Brazil, Mexico and certain other Latin American jurisdictions of a contract governed by Argentine law.
  • Macau-based Sanum Investments and Netherlands-based Lao Holdings, NV in bilateral investment treaty arbitration claims against the Government of Laos.
  • Abilio Diniz, the founder of one of Brazil’s leading retail businesses, in three ICC arbitrations governed by Brazilian law and seated in São Paulo against Casino Guichard-Perrachon SA in a shareholder dispute. The dispute ended with a widely reported settlement favorable to our client that was awarded the Deal of the Year Award – Disputes by Latin Lawyer (2014).
  • ExxonMobil and Murphy Oil in a NAFTA claim against the Government of Canada arising from requirements imposed by the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Tribunal handed down its Decision on Liability and on Principles of Quantum ruling in favor of our clients that Newfoundland’s regulations violated NAFTA.
  • A global consumer healthcare company on its indemnity obligations under various English law-governed agreements, in relation to an investigation by an EU government agency.
  • Norilsk Nickel and Interros International Investments in a dispute with United Company Rusal, including LCIA arbitration proceedings and related court litigation in the United States, England, Russia, Switzerland, St. Kitts & Nevis and The Netherlands.

• Public International Law

  • The State of Qatar and Qatari entities and individuals in international claims arising out of the measures imposed by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt against Qatar, including in proceedings before the International Court of Justice against the United Arab Emirates, investment arbitrations and claims in other international tribunals.
  • Oy Metsä-Botnia in its $1.3 billion greenfield investment in the Orion pulp mill project in Uruguay and the Case Concerning Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) in the International Court of Justice, which concerns that project. Argentina commenced proceedings against Uruguay in the ICJ pursuant to a bilateral treaty concerning the River Uruguay, which forms a shared border between the two countries, claiming that Uruguay had violated the treaty by allowing construction of the mill.
  • Bangladesh in advisory proceedings before the International Court of Justice concerning States’ obligations in respect of climate change.
  • A major U.S. oil company with respect to issues with respect to its offshore concession because of a border dispute between two neighboring countries.
  • The UK Government as amicus curiae in litigation relating to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations before U.S. federal and state courts and the United States Supreme Court.

• ESG Advisory

  • A U.S.-based international engineering company in conducting a welfare risk assessment in relation to certain large construction projects in the Middle East.
  • One of the world's largest private equity investors, and its portfolio companies on developments and trends in European and UK ESG matters. This includes the applicability and substance of newly enacted and existing ESG legislation to the client and its many EU and non-EU portfolio companies, including CSDDD, CSRD, and areas as diverse as DEI, deforestation and the environment.
  • A major multinational consumer-goods company on its implementation of EU sustainability related regulatory regimes on a group-wide basis. The focus of our work lies on the effects of CSRD, Taxonomy Regulation and CSDDD on Nestlé and its EU subsidiaries, as well as on its non-EU subsidiaries to the extent they are affected by said EU regimes.
  • A global leader in entertainment and media on various ESG-related compliance and performance matters.
  • A sovereign wealth fund on a wide range of ESG, sustainability, and climate regulatory and policy matters, including with respect to EU, U.S. and global sustainability regulations such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and California’s Climate Disclosure Regulations.