Mr Thomas Parigot > Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes > Paris, France > Lawyer Profile

Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes‘ team is ‘made up of lawyers from diverse backgrounds’, with each member consistently demonstrating ‘a mastery of his or her cases, and a broad knowledge of various aspects of the law and judicial or arbitral jurisprudence’. The firm is exclusively focused on the management of international disputes, with an enviable track record spanning key economic areas including energy, natural resources, construction and infrastructure. Yas Banifatemi leads the practice from Paris and has experience representing the Algerian Republic in numerous investment and commercial arbitrations. Coralie Darrigade, Maude Lebois and Benjamin Siino are also key practitioners, as is Thomas Parigot, who was promoted to partner in January 2023.

Launched early 2021, Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes houses a sizeable and international team and has offices in Paris, London and New York. The fully dedicated arbitration firm offers a full-service practice, from advisory work and early-stage case management to final enforcement proceedings, representing leading French and international clients. It manages high-profile investment and commercial arbitration disputes, acting for state entities and leading companies in strategic and geopolitically sensitive cases (some matters involving corruption and international security issues), in connection with various industry sectors including oil and gas, nuclear and telecoms. The team’s caseload spans global disputes involving Russia, China and Latin America (notably Colombia and Brazil). It has a particularly strong footprint handling matters concerning the Middle East and Africa through a dual qualified team able to handle cases in Arabic, including headline disputes in Egypt and Algeria. Practice head Yas Banifatemi is a high-profile figure in the field, with other top names including Mohamed Shelbaya, Coralie Darrigade, Maude Lebois, and Thomas Parigot  who was promoted to partner in early 2023. In Benjamin Siino, the firm has remarkable arbitration exequatur expertise in France and across the globe, notably for cases involving state entities.