LALIVE

The largest number of Partner promotions in recent years highlights LALIVE's deep pool of homegrown talent and continued business growth International disputes firm LALIVE announces today the Partner promotions of Laura Azaria and Robert Bradshaw in international arbitration, and Adam El-Hakim, Christian Exner and Sébastien Zulian in litigation. The firm also announces the promotions to Counsel of Isabel San Martín in international arbitration and Nikita Ognivtsev in litigation. These new appointments are effective from 1 January 2026 and mark LALIVE’s largest number of Partner promotions in recent years. Laura Azaria joined LALIVE’s Geneva office in 2014. She specialises in both international arbitration and litigation. Laura has extensive experience with disputes, particularly those arising out of infrastructure and construction projects, sales, distribution, joint venture and shareholders agreements, as well as M&A transactions and technology-related disputes, including in relation to blockchain technology and smart contracts. She also routinely represents clients in set aside proceedings before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, as well as recognition and enforcement proceedings. Laura holds an LLM from Columbia Law School, as well as a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Legal Professions, a Master of Laws in Economic Law, and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Geneva. She was also a research assistant to Prof. George Bermann at Columbia Law School. Laura was admitted to practise in Switzerland in 2012. Her recent experience includes being part of the LALIVE team in several high-profile set aside proceedings before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, including Libya’s challenge to a US$74 million award under the OIC investment agreement. She also notably assisted Yukos Capital in upholding a US$5 billion Energy Charter Treaty award against Russia before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court. Robert Bradshaw joined LALIVE’s London office in 2019. He practises international commercial and investment arbitration, with a focus on the energy and mining sectors. Robert was one of the first members of LALIVE’s London office, has higher rights of audience before the English courts and is a registered foreign lawyer with the Singapore International Commercial Court. He currently serves as the Thought Leadership Co-Chair for the Young ITA, the under-40 group of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration. Robert holds a Master of Laws from BPP University, London and a Bachelor of Laws with German from the University of Birmingham. He was admitted as an English solicitor in 2016. His recent experience includes being part of the LALIVE team which won compensation of £252 million for GreenX Metals in parallel cases against Poland relating to the obstruction of a coal mining project. He also advised Gate Gourmet in a long-running dispute with Asiana Airlines, helping the airline caterer to win an award worth around USD 1.78 billion, which was subsequently upheld and enforced in multiple jurisdictions. Adam El-Hakim joined LALIVE’s Zurich office in 2019. He is a specialist in white collar crime, compliance, asset recovery, international mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, and internal investigations. Adam advises and represents clients before authorities and courts at all stages of criminal proceedings. He has significant experience in complex domestic and cross-border criminal litigation, including matters involving anti-fraud, anti-money laundering, and anti-bribery regulations. Adam holds a PhD, a Master of Laws and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Basel, as well as an LLM from University College London. He was admitted to the Swiss Bar in 2014. His recent experience includes advising a leading global asset manager on anti-corruption compliance and representing an international commodities trader in high-stakes criminal proceedings. Christian Exner joined LALIVE’s Zurich office in 2021. He concentrates on domestic and international litigation, with a particular focus on insolvency-related disputes. In this context, he advises both creditors and debtors in domestic and cross-border proceedings. His practice also includes complex commercial and banking litigation, as well as the enforcement of foreign judgments and awards. Christian holds a Master of Laws from Zurich University and an LLM from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. He was admitted to practise in Switzerland in 2011 and in the State of Illinois, USA, in 2021. His recent experience includes advising members of a group of companies in the context of debt restructuring proceedings and representing institutional investors in a major banking dispute. Sébastien Zulian joined LALIVE’s Geneva office in 2017. He specialises in private client matters, advising and representing clients in complex domestic and cross-border litigation and transactional cases, with a focus on inheritance and family business disputes and pre-contentious situations. Sébastien is a Swiss Bar Association Certified Specialist in inheritance law. He holds an LLM from Columbia Law School, a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Legal Professions, a Certificate in Transnational Law, and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Geneva, as well as a Bilingual Master of Laws from the University of Basel and the University of Geneva. He was admitted to practise in Switzerland in 2016. His recent experience includes providing comprehensive legal support in relation to the cross-border estate of a high-net-worth individual and advising a private individual in the settlement of an estate with high-value artworks, trust structures and Swiss forced heirship rules. Isabel San Martín joined LALIVE’s London office in 2021. She specialises in international arbitration and public international law. Isabel represents and advises clients across a range of sectors, including renewable energy, oil and gas, mining, construction, and banking and finance. She also has experience in human rights law and was a member of the ICC Task Force on Resolving Climate Change Related Disputes through Arbitration. Isabel holds a Master of Laws from Boston University School of Law and a Bachelor of Laws from ICADE – Universidad Pontificia de Comillas, Spain. She also completed a Master in Legal Practice at Universidad Carlos III. Isabel was admitted to practise in Spain in 2015 and in New York in 2018. Her recent experience includes being part of the LALIVE team currently representing Romania in ICSID annulment proceedings in relation to an over USD 6.7 billion investment treaty arbitration brought by Canadian gold mining company, Gabriel Resources, on which Romania prevailed. Isabel also acted for UK investors in a USD 4 billion investment treaty arbitration under UNCITRAL Rules brought against Uruguay over an iron-ore mining project. Nikita Ognivtsev joined LALIVE’s Geneva office in 2019. He advises and represents clients in domestic and cross-border litigation, with a particular focus on complex financial matters, white collar crime and banking disputes. His practice also includes asset recovery and judicial assistance in civil and criminal matters, as well as compliance and internal investigations. Nikita has extensive experience in issues involving Russian-speaking jurisdictions (CIS and Ukraine). Nikita holds a Master of Laws and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Legal Professions from the University of Geneva. He was admitted to practise in Switzerland (Geneva) in 2019. His recent experience includes representing a plaintiff in a complex criminal case against a Swiss bank involving fraud and money laundering, and defendants in an international money laundering case with significant political dimensions. Thomas Brown, LALIVE Managing Partner, comments: "These new appointments are thoroughly well deserved and illustrate the deep pool of homegrown talent we have at LALIVE. They also underscore our commitment to deliver the highest level of expertise and service to our clients in all areas of domestic and international disputes." Reflecting LALIVE’s continued focus and commitment to excellence in dispute resolution, the firm now has a total of 40 lawyers in litigation and 48 in international arbitration, based in its Geneva, Zurich and London offices - ENDS - NOTES TO EDITORS LALIVE is an international law firm based in Switzerland, with offices in Geneva, Zurich and London, renowned for its expertise and experience in dispute resolution. We provide comprehensive advice to companies, governments, international organisations and private clients, helping them to anticipate and manage disputes around the world. Our high-level expertise has earned us recognition as one of the leading dispute resolution firms worldwide. For further information please visit www.lalive.law For further information please contact: Alex Charlwood +44 (0)7957 397 514 [email protected]