HAP LLC

Key clients and complex setups

Complex Legal Matters and Strategic Setups

Hayk, the managing partner and head of the Arbitration and International Disputes practice, is a highly regarded international lawyer and strategic advisor to corporations, financial institutions, government bodies, and political figures navigating high-stakes, multi-jurisdictional disputes. With over 27 years of experience, Hayk represents clients in complex commercial arbitration, investor-state disputes, sovereign litigation, and sensitive negotiations involving geopolitical and regulatory dimensions.

Recognized for his deep institutional insight and ability to bridge legal systems, Hayk is particularly sought after for matters requiring cross-border enforcement, annulment proceedings, and emergency relief mechanisms under ICSID, UNCITRAL, LCIA, and ICC rules. He frequently acts in disputes involving infrastructure, energy, finance, technology, and expropriation claims across Europe, the CIS region, and the Middle East.

Hayk regularly advises on the intersection of international law, sanctions regimes, and asset recovery—often working with clients affected by restrictive measures, unlawful forfeiture, and politically motivated prosecutions.

In parallel to his dispute resolution practice, Hayk counsels political and institutional leaders on justice reform, constitutional processes, and diplomatic engagement. He has played a central role in Armenia’s judicial modernization, including leading the E-Justice reform and serving as a member of the Supreme Judicial Council, elected by Parliament in 2018.

Fluent in English, French, Russian, and Armenian, Hayk is known for his strategic acumen, diplomatic instinct, and rigorous legal reasoning. He maintains close working relationships with leading law firms in London, Geneva, Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, Tbilisi, Rome and Milan, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Dubai and Hong Kong, and is an active promoter of transnational legal cooperation through forums such as the English Law Days in Armenia and regional arbitration initiatives.

English, Russian, French, Armenian

Ex-member of ICC International Court of Arbitration  

Ex-Vice-Chairman of the Arbitration Court at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Armenia 

Ex-Chairman of Mediators SRO of Armenia 

Ex-Chairman of Arbitration Association of Armenia 

Ex-Member of State Examination Commission for Graduate Students, Faculty of Law, Yerevan State University. 

Lead Expert to EBRD in Armenian Insolvency Law Reform Project 

CEDR accredited mediator 

Accredited mediator by the Ministry of Justice of Armenia 

Member of the Chamber of Advocates of Armenia; ex-representative of the Chamber at the Ministry of Justice of Armenia 

Licensed as Insolvency Office Holder by the Ministry of Justice of Armenia 

1993 - 1998, Faculty of Law, Yerevan State University (YSU)

1998 - 2000, School of Law, LLM, American University of Armenia

2015 - 2016, Faculty of Law, Post-Graduate studies, PhD

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Working Towards Independence of the Judiciary in Armenia: Interview with Hayk Hovhannisyan 2019 ROLT Alumni https://www.nhc.nl/independence-of-the-judiciary-in-armenia/ Allocation of Burden of Proof in Works and/or Services Contracts: Theory and Practice, Yerevan, YSU Press, Faculty of Law, Materials of the Conference, 2018 Top Courts Clarify Time Limits for Recognition of Arbitral Awards, ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin, 2017, Issue 2 Grounds of challenging arbitral awards and their classification, Digest of materials from 2015 session of postgraduates and applicants of the Faculty of Law of Yerevan State University, January 16, 2016 The Object of Recourse of the Arbitral Acts in the Republic of Armenia, "Judicial Power" Scientific - Methodical Journal of the Association of Judges of the Republic of Armenia, November 2, 2014 Problems of applying of several grounds for setting aside of an arbitral award in the Republic of Armenia, Scientific Journal "Justice" 2015 The Issue of Recognition of Arbitral Awards in the Republic of Armenia, "Judicial Power" Scientific - Methodical Journal of the Association of Judges of the Republic of Armenia, September 2, 2014