International Arbitration Team of the Year
The winner of this award will demonstrate pre-eminent advice in a single international arbitration matter, be that acting for private corporates, investors, state-owned enterprises or states themselves in international commercial arbitration or investment treaty arbitration.
2019 Winner
King & Spalding
Tom Sprange QC
Successfully defended Reliance Industries against a $1.7bn UNCITRAL claim brought by the government of India. The claimants had argued the client had sold gas from blocks adjacent to the one it was licensed to operate, with the outcome of great significance to the oil and gas industry.
Shortlisted
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom - HIGHLY COMMENDED
David Herlihy, Bruce Macaulay
Successfully defended the Republic of Cyprus against an ICSID claim brought by former shareholders in the country’s second-largest bank, Laiki. The claims emanated from the Eurozone crisis where Laiki incurred €3bn in losses from Greece’s sovereign debt haircut.
Boies Schiller Flexner
Kenneth Beale, Natasha Harrison
Successfully representing Codere in an ICC arbitration over control of the company, following a move by the board of directors to remove two brothers from their posts because of concerns about the company’s financial and strategic performance under their leadership.
DLA Piper
Kate Cervantes-Knox, Ben Sanderson
Successfully defending the Republic of Kenya in an ICSID arbitration brought by Cortec Mining Kenya and Stirling Capital, relating to the alleged expropriation of a mining licence in Kwale County. The claims were entirely dismissed and Kenya was awarded costs of over $3.5m.
Hogan Lovells
Markus Burgstaller
Securing a landmark judgment before the Court of Justice of the European Union for the Slovak Republic. The client challenged a €25m BIT award issued in favour of the Dutch insurer Achmea, stemming from its investment in the Slovak health insurance market.
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
Boris Bronfentrinker, Nick Marsh
The team represented the Cypriot company, Raga Establishment, in an LCIA claim against Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov and his company over the non-payment of a $760m debt. The defence and counterclaims were dismissed, and Akhmetov was ordered to pay the full debt plus $60m in interest and costs.