International Arbitration: Investor-State Arbitration
Global Guide 2024 : UK
Band 3
Email address
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+44 20 3088 0000Chambers Review
Allen & Overy is highly regarded for its stellar track record in representing sovereign states and corporates in high-value investment treaty disputes. The firm has considerable experience carrying out its own advocacy before courts and tribunals. It is also adept at handling a number of other PIL matters, such as ECT and BIT claims, sovereign immunity concerns and international treaty drafting. The firm's practitioners regularly appear before tribunals under the auspices of UNCITRAL, ICSID and LCIA rules, among others. The team is experienced across a number of industries, acting for clients in the financial services, energy and telecoms sectors.
Work Highlights
- Allen & Overy represented BG Exploration and Production India and Reliance Industries in a USD5 billion arbitration against the Government of India under the UNCITRAL Rules. The claim connection arose out of a production sharing contract in respect of oil and gas fields off India's west coast.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
“A&O deliver top-class arbitration services in complex disputes.”
“They have impressed me with their strong work and pragmatism. They dealt with a very difficult case very well.”
“The partners are very responsive and provide an excellent service to the point as needed. They can combine a good mixture of high-level and deep-dive advice whenever it is needed."
“Things were done in a thorough, commercially-minded and practical way. They are also responsive and creative. They are never slow. They really do keep on top of issues and never take a cookie-cutter approach.”
“A&O deliver top-class arbitration services in complex disputes.”
“They have impressed me with their strong work and pragmatism. They dealt with a very difficult case very well.”
“The partners are very responsive and provide an excellent service to the point as needed. They can combine a good mixture of high-level and deep-dive advice whenever it is needed."
“Things were done in a thorough, commercially-minded and practical way. They are also responsive and creative. They are never slow. They really do keep on top of issues and never take a cookie-cutter approach.”
Notable Practitioners
Head of the firm's international arbitration practice Mark Levy KC is a well-known arbitration specialist with a notable depth of expertise in the oil and gas sector. He often acts in arbitrations under LCIA rules and in disputes that involve complex political and foreign law issues.
“Mark is an amazing lawyer. He is very smart and an excellent advocate.”
“He is a great lawyer. He is smart, strategic and commercially aware.”
“He has a strong practice.”
David Herlihy has a strong practice representing investors and sovereign states in high-value and often novel investment treaty claims. He demonstrates notable strength in ICSID disputes and has experience acting for European and Middle Eastern entities.
"He's a superb advocate."
James Freeman has a wide-ranging arbitration practice, acting for major clients in the oil and gas, financial services and telecoms sectors in a range of LCIA, UNCITRAL and ICC proceedings.
“James is really on top of things. He is very creative and adapts to the situation that you are in. He is also sensitive to the client's issues and needs. He is an exemplary lawyer.”
“James provides an excellent legal service in an ever-changing business environment with a clear client and commercial focus. He thinks outside of the box and moves things forward. He strikes the balance between sufficient depth of advice and efficiency and commercial practicability, thereby fully meeting the client's demands.”
“He is highly effective.”
Ranked Lawyers at
A&O Shearman
UK