Melanie Willems > Haynes and Boone CDG, LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Haynes and Boone CDG, LLP
1 New Fetter Lane
LONDON
EC4A 1AN
England

Work Department

Energy Litigation, International Arbitration, Renewables, Offshore Oil and Gas, Dispute Resolution

Position

Partner, Chair of International Arbitration Practice Group

Career

Melanie Willems, Chair of the International Arbitration Practice Group in the London office, is experienced in all forms of alternative dispute resolution including expert determination, mediation, and adjudication. Melanie has extensive experience in both ad hoc proceedings and those administered by the major international arbitral institutions, such as ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, ICSID, as well as standard form contract rules. She also represents clients in the English courts and sits as an arbitrator.

Melanie acts for clients in a range of industries, including engineering, energy, construction, rail, infrastructure/transport, hospitality and hotels, retail, property development, banking and finance, technology, and insurance. She has particular experience in contractual disputes arising from energy, major projects, engineering matters, and hospitality. Clients seek Melanie’s counsel on international projects disputes in Asia, Africa, Middle East, and India in relation to foreign investments, power plants, renewable energy, desalination plants, petrochemical plants, oil rigs, pipelines, hotels, roads/highways, hospitals, transport, and government projects.

Melanie is ranked for international arbitration in all major legal directories and was inducted to The Legal 500 UK’s Hall of Fame for International Arbitration in 2021. She is also included in The Legal 500 “International Arbitration Powerlist”, which showcases 200 of the UK’s leading practitioners working in law firms and the Bar.

Melanie is a prolific writer and speaker, and lectures frequently on topics related to international arbitration and various forms of dispute resolution, in the UK and abroad.

Languages

Fluent French, Good Spanish, German, Italian, some Portuguese.

Memberships

International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), International Bar Association (IBA), Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and Committee Member of the London Branch, 2007-2015, Former President of and Committee Member of the Society of Construction Arbitrators.

Education

LL.B., Kings College London, 1989. Maitrise, Law, Université  de Paris I, 1989. MSc in Construction Law and Arbitration, Kings College London, 1993

Lawyer Rankings

London > Real estate > Construction: contentious

Haynes and Boone CDG, LLP handles complex construction arbitrations under all major institutional rules, including ICC, LCIA, and HKIAC. Melanie Willems, head of the firm’s international arbitration department, brings a vast spectrum of dispute resolution experience within numerous sectors, notably energy and construction. Her advisement spans international projects in the Middle East, Asia, India, and Africa, covering diverse areas from renewable energy and petrochemical plants to transportation and highways.

London > Dispute resolution > International arbitration

(Hall of Fame)

Melanie WillemsHaynes and Boone CDG, LLP

Haynes and Boone CDG, LLP ‘s ‘international arbitration team excels at coordinating cross-border disputes with parallel proceedings in different jurisdictions‘. The group has industry experience in energy, renewables, oil and gas, and construction and engineering projects. International arbitration leader Melanie Willemssees the bigger commercial picture‘, and Markus Esly acts in arbitrations under all the major international rules, including ICC and LCIA. William Cecil is London disputes head, while counsel Robert Blackett is an expert in engineering and construction arbitrations.