Michael Polkinghorne > White & Case LLP > Paris, France > Lawyer Profile

White & Case LLP has outstanding credentials in the international arbitration field and houses a sizeable team of arbitration specialists. The firm’s expertise is pre-eminent in the construction field where it acts for companies and state entities in some of the world’s largest disputes (including the Panama Canal case). The team also manages high-profile commercial and investment disputes relating to a range of industries and geographical regions. It is particularly active in Africa and the Middle East where it notably advises on high-stake telecoms and energy matters (including price review cases). State entities and leading corporations are clients. Among its recent developments, the team notably won a remarkable $1bn sentence in an Iraqi telecoms case and has been mandated to handle sensitive matters dealing with fraud allegations, Russian sanctions and new cryptocurrencies industry cases. The practice also handles strategic exequatur cases before French and foreign judicial courts. Arbitration specialists Michael Polkinghorne and Christophe von Krause are key names. Charles Nairac, Andrew de Lotbinière McDougall, John Willems, Nicolas Bouchardie, Kirsten Odynski, Elizabeth Oger-Gross, Noor Davies, Lucas De Ferrari and  Samy Markbaoui are also highly regarded.

The ‘high-quality team’ at White & Case LLP  has an established practice advising clients in France, Europe and Africa on a range of green and brownfield projects,  encompassing renewable, conventional and nuclear energy. Four partners head up the practice. Jean-Luc Champy is regularly sought out by public companies in the energy sector. Amaury de Feydeau has a strong track record in energy infrastructure financing mandates. Marc Petitier and Michael Polkinghorne complete the leadership team.