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  1. Public international law
  2. Leading individuals

Leading individuals

Allen & Overy LLP advises clients across treaties, investment treaty arbitration and investment protection, WTO law, international environmental and human rights law, and international laws against corruption and money laundering. The practice recently assisted clients with business interests in Libya, Syria and Iran in relation to sanctions, asset freezing and tracing, and force majeure clauses. It also conducted the advocacy at the merits hearings of three significant investment treaty arbitrations. Judith Gill QC, Mark Levy, Edward Murray, and special global counsel Philip Wood are key contacts. Stephen Jagusch and Anthony Sinclair joined Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP.

Clifford Chance’s practice is jointly headed by Audley Sheppard and Rae Lindsay. The team advised on complex issues arising out of the Arab Spring; and acted in international law matters arising out of steps taken by governments around the world in response to political and economic crises, including sovereign debt matters. The firm’s bilateral investment treaty (BIT) specialists achieved some significant victories for clients, while other areas of expertise include the emerging field of business and human rights, and sanctions matters. Jeremy Carver is highly rated.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP acts for international oil super majors in significant investment arbitrations, and has advised various corporations in relation to sanctions against Iran, Libya and Syria. The practice assisted Bahrain with the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the unrest of 2011, and also acted in an ICSID arbitration following Venezuela’s takeover of a client’s land and cattle farming business. Constantine Partasides heads the team, which includes Jan Paulsson, who has represented states in land and maritime boundary disputes; and Sylvia Noury, who was promoted to partner.

In 2011, Robert Volterra and Stephen Fietta moved their practice from Latham & Watkins LLP to form Volterra Fietta, which focuses largely on public international law and dispute resolution either for or against sovereigns. It is a ‘niche firm of technically able lawyers, with a shared vision and commitment to building a strong reputation in public international law’. Volterra’s ‘wide experience means that he provides technical advice with strong practical grounding’; and Fietta is an ‘extremely talented practitioner’. Highlights included representing a Cyprus company in an ICSID-registered case against Hungary under the Cyprus-Hungary BIT. The practice also advised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on PIL issues.

Clyde & Co LLP’s practice spans expropriations; economic sanctions; territorial and boundary disputes; bribery and corruption; sovereign debt; international trade law; natural resource concessions; and privatisations. Key highlights included acting for The National Transitional Council of the State of Libya in a case involving the landmark declaration that the National Transitional Council was the sole legitimate governmental authority in Libya, which declaration enabled the unfreezing of approximately £80m in funds located in London.

DLA Piper UK LLP saw an increase in advisory work, in the context of the potential collapse of the euro and the prospect of sovereign debt defaults in Europe. The team includes Matthew Saunders, whose focus has been Russia and the former Soviet Union; and Kate Knox, who has significant investment treaty experience. Jamie Curle and Jean-Pierre Douglas-Henry joined from Lawrence Graham LLP; both have advised governments in relation to regime change, and associated fraud and asset recovery matters.

At Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP, department head Tim Daniel advises governments and parastatals, particularly in the developing world, and has represented the government of Nigeria since the mid 1970s. James Maton assists governments and their anti-corruption agencies in their efforts to trace, freeze and recover the corruptly acquired assets of public officials. Alan Perry acts on issues relating to hydrocarbon deposits at or near international boundaries.

Eversheds LLP acts on the full range of PIL issues, including state responsibility; state immunity, international sanctions, treaty obligations, international organisations, and boundary-related matters. Recent highlights include acting for one of the largest manufacturers of fertilisers in Eastern Europe in an ICSID claim brought under a BIT between Lithuania and Serbia, relating to the expropriation of UAB ARVI’s chemical and fertiliser manufacturing business in Serbia. Stuart Dutson is recommended. Andy Moody was recently promoted to partner.

The ‘thoroughly competent’ team at Herbert Smith LLP advises on international boundary disputes, investment protection and treaty arbitration, international trade law and WTO issues, sanctions and export control, sovereign immunity, and international human rights. The firm’s opening of a New York office in the summer of 2012 adds to the firm’s global PIL platform, particularly in terms of Latin America treaty disputes. Matthew Weiniger is ‘knowledgeable, and gives practical advice’.

Hogan Lovells International LLP acts in investment disputes for both investors and states. Key matters included advising the government of Mongolia, and the Mongolian state entity for uranium exploration and mining, in an UNCITRAL arbitration brought under the Energy Charter Treaty. Michael Davison heads the practice. Markus Burgstaller is a PIL expert, with a focus on international investment law and EU legislation.

Latham & Watkins LLP saw the departure of Robert Volterra and Stephen Fietta, but the remaining team boasts practical PIL experience within the commercial and governmental sectors. It recently experienced growth in international sanctions work and expanded the scope of its advisory practice. Mark Beckett, Philip Clifford, Sebastian Seelmann-Eggebert and Rachel Thorn are the key partners.

Known for its leading international arbitration practice, WilmerHale has recently been involved in state-to-state disputes, groundbreaking intra-state arbitrations, and investment arbitrations. Department head Gary Born and Wendy Miles are widely praised.

The team at Baker & McKenzie LLP ‘quickly understands the key elements of clients ’ requests’. It advised De La Rue in connection with its contract to print and deliver Libyan dinars for the Central Bank of Libya, with approximately £1bn claimed by both the Gaddafi regime and the newly established National Transitional Council. It was also active in investment treaty disputes, and environmental and climate-related public international matters. Practice head Edward Poulton ‘reaches goals’. London arbitration head Jeremy Winter, leading trade practitioner Ross Denton and Sunwinder Mann are also highly rated.

Baker Botts (UK) LLP’s ‘level of service is excellent’. The practice attracted new BIT and Energy Charter Treaty instructions, with Jay Alexander conducting two investment treaty merits hearings, and also assisting clients in connection with change of government scenarios arising out of the Arab Spring. Team head Alejandro Escobar is ‘very effective’.

Carter-Ruck has developed expertise in the field of asset freezing measures and targeted sanctions. Department head Cameron Doley has recently acted on various PIL, regulatory and human rights issues; and Guy Martin successfully applied to the Council of the EU to remove businessman John Bredenkamp, and his companies, from its list of individuals and entities subject to restrictive measures in respect of Zimbabwe.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP represents sovereigns in international litigation and arbitration; acts in state-to-state disputes; and is experienced in investor-state dispute settlement.

Areas of expertise for the team at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP include BIT issues; state responsibility; asset freezes and financial sanctions; sovereign immunities; the application of PIL in the domestic courts of foreign jurisdictions; and human rights. Lord Peter Goldsmith QC heads the team, which includes Sophie Lamb, who ‘provides solid, commercial advice’; and Karolos Seeger.

Linklaters LLP represented the Republic of Poland in the defence of a €2.5bn claim under the French/Polish BIT, resulting in a successful settlement and withdrawal of the claim. Greg Reid is a key contact.

Reed Smith has significant expertise in bilateral and multilateral investment treaty arbitration and energy charter treaty cases, and excels in investor and state disputes. It has become the go-to adviser for the Republic of Kazakhstan for its investment treaty claims. Belinda Paisley heads the department, and Gautam Bhattacharyya and of counsel Chloe Carswell are also well-respected advisers.

The team at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP ‘appreciates how state parties operate’. It is led by ‘outstanding lawyer’ Karyl Nairn and David Kavanagh, and includes counsel David Herlihy, who ‘demonstrates great flair in his analysis of complex treaty law issues’. The practice advised the government of South Sudan on international law issues arising from Sudan’s secession.

Steptoe & Johnson is known for its vigorous representation before governmental agencies. It has recently been active across investment treaty arbitrations; BIT issues; state immunity matters; sanctions; and anti-corruption work. Matthew Coleman is ‘outstanding’.

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Legal Developments in London for Public international law

  • Supreme Court provides guidance 
on forum conveniens and piercing the corporate veil


    Macfarlanes LLP currently authors the Litigation & Dispute Resolution section of The In-House Lawyer magazine. For more information and articles from this author click here . This article considers the Supreme Court decision in VTB Capital plc v Nutritek International Corp & or s [2013]. Perhaps the most striking aspect of the case is that it casts doubt on the notion that the Court has the power to pierce the corporate veil. The Supreme Court also held that, even if the power to pierce the corporate veil does exist, it does not enable a claimant to hold parties that control a company jointly and severally liable under contracts entered into by that company. 

    - Macfarlanes

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