Steptoe LLP

Darren Abrahams

Partner - Darren enables clients throughout the chemicals and life sciences supply chain to get and keep their products on the European market (in the UK and the EU). He focuses on defence of products through strategic advice, advocacy before institutions and agencies, and litigation before EU and national courts and tribunals. He has a wealth of experience with the regulation of biocidal products, plant protection products (agrochemicals), REACH, classification, labelling and packaging, GM food and feed, cosmetics, and endocrine disruptors.Darren also has particular experience defending clients resisting requests for access to confidential business information. For instance, he successfully defended the European Chemicals Agency in a high-profile case concerning its refusal to grant public access to information disclosing the identity and specific commercial activities of companies engaged with a number of allegedly hazardous substances. He also successfully led industry interveners in the Glyphosate appeal before the Court of Justice of the EU on the same issues.

Renato Antonini

Partner - For over 20 years Renato Antonini has represented clients on global trade legal and regulatory issues, in particular advising on EU trade matters, WTO trade law, as well as on trade remedies investigations in other jurisdictions. Renato advises Sovereign states, and international companies operating globally, and across all industries, in particular in steel manufacturing, chemicals, energy, and financial services. Renato's EU trade practice concentrates on EU trade remedies investigations, EU customs, as well as EU sanctions and export control issues. His practice includes the assistance to governments in WTO disputes. He has a track record in achieving successful outcomes for clients before EU Courts, the European Commission and national regulators. Renato successfully assisted Jinan Meide Casting Co. Ltd, one of the largest manufacturers worldwide, in two landmark judgements of the European Court of Justice General Court concerning imports of threaded tube or pipe cast fittings, of malleable cast iron, originating from China. He also represented Jindal Saw Ltd, an international manufacturer headquartered in India, in two landmark judgments in cases concerning imports of tubes and pipes of ductile cast iron originating from India.

Juliya Arbisman

Partner Juliya Arbisman has a broad international law practice with a focus on complex jurisdictions (Middle East and Africa, and CIS), complex industries (mining), and complex claims (parallel criminal-civil proceedings). Juliya is experienced in serving as lead counsel in international arbitrations under the LCIA, ICC, ICDR, SCC, SIAC, Swiss Chamber, PCA, ICSID and ad hoc rules. She represents clients in a number of court-based applications regarding arbitration (in the UK and elsewhere), including injunctions, set-aside claims, and enforcement proceedings. Juliya has particular experience in mining sector cases involving both public and private projects that ranged in value from $100m to $7bn in many EMEA locations. Juliya holds a Non-Executive Director position in a mining advisory firm in London. Juliya also has substantial experience on protection of property and fair process cases in international and regional courts in Africa and Americas. She acts as overseas counsel to support legal claims from Commonwealth jurisdictions, including at the Privy Council. These claims have ranged from judicial review over energy regulation, judicial review over declaration of marine protection area that had excluded an aboriginal population in the Indian Ocean, habeas corpus and other submissions invoking diplomatic and consular law.

Senior Associate - Yongqing Bao advises governments and private parties on trade and investment issues, strategies for negotiating international trade agreements, and EU law. He is a qualified Chinese lawyer who has been practising international trade and EU customs law in Brussels for more than 10 years. Yongqing has a particular focus on China, having represented Chinese clients on more than 60 multijurisdictional trade defense and customs investigations. He has also advised clients in several investment-related projects in China and Europe. With his extensive knowledge of all aspects of trade remedy (anti-dumping, anti-subsidy, and safeguards) proceedings, Yongqing is well-equipped to assist clients during on-spot verifications, in the preparation of questionnaire responses, and in the negotiation of undertakings. He regularly represents private and public bodies before the EU courts in Luxembourg in trade remedy, public procurement, and EU internal market disputes. Yongqing also has broad experience with EU customs rules and procedures regarding product classification and origin, duty suspension, tariff quota, and export controls, as well as other EU regulatory matters.

Christophe Bondy

PartnerChristophe Bondy has more than 20 years of experience as an investment treaty counsel, and his work includes taking a leading role in some of the highest profile cases yet decided in investment treaty arbitration. Through his work as lead counsel to Canada in multiple NAFTA Chapter Eleven arbitrations and as private sector counsel to multiple sovereigns and private claimants, he has addressed and considered in depth virtually all procedural and substantive issues arising in international investment law both from the state and the investor perspective. His cases have made a substantial contribution to the development of international law in this field. In addition to his busy counsel practice, Christophe sits as an arbitrator in investment treaty cases. Christophe also has deep experience as counsel in the negotiation of international trade and investment agreements. He was senior counsel to Canada in the negotiation of the Canada – European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), with particular emphasis on services and investment chapters. He has negotiated treaties with countries around the world and advised States on both strategic and compliance issues, up to the highest levels of government, and provides capacity building and advisory services to States around the world. Christophe has extensive experience as counsel in international commercial arbitrations under all major rules, as well as in advisory work on multiple aspects of public international law, including the law of state responsibility, sovereign and diplomatic immunities, and international intellectual property law.

Partner, Hong Kong

Managing Partner of Steptoe's Brussels office. Ruxandra defends industry interests through legal and regulatory challenges to EU market access, before both EU and national institutions and courts. Her practice is focused on EU regulatory law and litigation with a strong emphasis on chemicals and product regulations, such as REACH. She has notable experience and success with related matters concerning emerging issues such as nanotechnology. Ruxandra is a litigator well-known for her groundbreaking cases before the Court of Justice of the EU, as well as for her successful representation of clients in numerous appeals before the European Chemicals Agency's Board of Appeal (BoA). Many of the cases that Ruxandra handles have never before been argued: she develops new remedies and solutions to earn favorable outcomes for clients. For instance, she acted as counsel in the first successful direct action related to EU chemicals legislation before the EU General Court. She was also counsel in the only successful nano-related substance and dossier evaluation cases under REACH brought before the BoA, defending industry-wide interests. Ruxandra’s success for clients stems from her dedication to learn their business and be a trusted and pragmatic advisor. She has formed and continues to act as a trusted advisor to more than 30 industry groups. She further brings significant experience in EU rules on biocides and pesticides, cosmetics, medical devices, consumer products, food, and food contact materials.

Partner Henry Cao represents domestic and international clients on international trade and regulatory compliance matters. Henry’s international trade practice focuses on US international trade investigations and compliance, including trade remedies investigations, customs and export controls/sanctions. Henry has extensive experience in trade remedies and has advised many foreign producers and the US importers in responding to antidumping and countervailing duty investigations before the US Department of Commerce (DOC) and US International Trade Commission (ITC) and appeals at federal courts. His experience covers a variety of industries such as steel products, chemicals, engineering projects, shipping containers, auto parts, tires, furniture products, wood flooring and paper products. Henry has also advised U.S. and European producers in responding to the antidumping and countervailing duties investigations before the Ministry of Commerce of China (MOFCOM). With regard to customs, Henry counsels many foreign producers and US importers on China-US trade supply chain issues involving production in third countries, classification, country of origin, and customs entry issues. In the area of export controls and sanctions, Henry assists clients in handling compliance issues regarding the US Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) as well as sanction measures administrated by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the US Department of State. As a Chinese background attorney, Henry has a deep understanding of China's regulatory environment and issues affecting multinational companies with China activities, and he counsels multinational companies on their China-related businesses.

Matthew Coleman

Partner, Chair of Steptoe's Investment Treaty Arbitration Practice.Matthew Coleman specializes in international arbitration, litigation and public internationallaw. Many of Matthew's cases involve concurrent proceedings before tribunals and courts, andhave been in favor of, or against, international companies, State agencies and States. Hehas acted as lead counsel on investment treaty and commercial arbitrations in the leadingarbitration forums. Matthew has also appeared as counsel in the Courts of England. Matthew's public international law practice has a particular focus on acting as lead counselin investment disputes between States and foreign investors (ISDS), including at ICSID.His work for States has included advice relating to the investment chapters of free tradeagreements and drafting treaties.

PartnerSimon Collis advises on all aspects of commercial real estate for a UK and internationalclient base. His practice has an emphasis on acquisition and disposal of investmentassets, the complete life cycle of development projects, and landlord and tenant leaseholdwork. He also has a wide experience of corporate real estate and real estate finance andregularly advises on real estate led corporate transactions.Simon has experience acting for major institutional pension funds and investment arms,family wealth offices, private and large scale developers, data centers, entrepreneurs, andlarge scale commercial tenants and has looked after the UK property interests ofmultinational organizations.

PartnerNeil Dooley represents clients on complex cross-border fraud claims, most notably with a Russian element, and has a proven track record of delivering results, obtaining freezing orders, and finding commercial solutions. In particular, he has litigated many fraud claims including those in the financial services, insurance, pharmaceutical, and property industries. Neil frequently works with foreign lawyers and law enforcement agencies worldwide.

Partner, London Office Managing PartnerMatthew has extensive experience in a broad range of property work. He focuses on complex development projects and investment acquisitions and has experience on a wide variety of joint venture structures.

Director, EHS Regulatory - Dr. Anna Gergely, a European Patent Attorney in a role equivalent to partner, with a PhD in analytical and quantum chemistry, brings to clients a unique combination of deep scientific understanding and cutting-edge regulatory knowledge in environmental legislation, focusing on chemicals, food, food contact materials, consumer products and workers' safety matters. She is particularly experienced in providing creative solutions to clients seeking compliance strategies that cover the full range of their technical and legal needs in areas such as: chemicals (under REACH and CLP), food, feed, food contact materials (risk assessment and composition compliance, marketing claims, and hygiene rules), medical devices, biotechnology, consumer products, such as cosmetics, toys and all applications of nanotechnologies.

PartnerIvan Gordienko has particular knowledge of commercial litigation and arbitration, specifically within the aviation, telecommunications, real estate, chemical and financial sectors. He has extensive experience across diverse environments as well as a broad understanding of cross-border issues, as he has played a pivotal role in many high profile international cases. His experience includes managing complex international arbitrations and litigations arising from corporate transactions connected to Russia and the CIS. Ivan utilises his strong technical, negotiation and communication skills to support clients with regards to fraud charges, wealth disputes, defamation and negligence claims as well as contentious takeovers.

Anne-Gabrielle Haie

Partner - Anne-Gabrielle Haie advises clients on a wide range of digital-related matters, with a strong focus on data protection, privacy and cybersecurity. In addition, she has developed considerable expertise on AI and blockchain. She advises clients on compliance with EU laws and risk management. Anne-Gabrielle also has strong experience advising clients on data privacy and cybersecurity issues related to strategic transactions and commercial negotiations. She further assists clients with cybersecurity preparedness and response to data breaches and other security incidents. Anne-Gabrielle's practice include representing clients in enforcement and litigation actions before European supervisory authorities and courts. Her clients include multinationals, start-ups and scaleups in diverse industries, and she has a strong track record in the Life Sciences and Technology sectors.

Partner Thomas advises and conducts advocacy on a wide range of international and commercial disputes. Most notably, he acts as counsel in investment treaty disputes between states and foreign investors, including matters at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) and under other arbitration rules. Thomas has been ranked from 2019-2022 as an "Associate to Watch" for International Arbitration by Chambers UK which has described him as an "incredibly smart and capable" lawyer who "is impressive in presentations at hearings and is amazing in the cross-examination of expert and fact witnesses." He has also been listed as a "Rising Star" for Public International Law by The Legal 500 UK from 2021-2022.

PartnerLeigh Mallon represents leading corporate clients and institutions in high-value, complex commercial litigation and international arbitration matters, as well as in a broad range of regulatory matters including competition and antitrust investigations; white collar crime and enforcement; special investigations; and compliance monitoring. Leigh's work frequently involves the coordination of multiple proceedings, arbitrations and investigations across a number of jurisdictions. Leigh's commercial litigation matters commonly involve breaches of fiduciary duties, professional negligence and shareholder claims. He conducts arbitration proceedings under the rules of the leading international arbitration institutions, including the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC). Leigh also frequently advises on the enforcement of arbitral awards in foreign jurisdictions and the New York Convention. Leigh's regulatory work includes acting for clients in matters concerning white-collar crime and enforcement. He conducts special investigations, compliance audits and compliance monitoring work for national and multinational companies to assist in the detection and elimination of potentially unlawful conduct as well as evaluating the strength of company policies and procedures. He also assists clients with respect to dawn raids by finance, competition and corruption regulators. During his career Leigh has previously been seconded to a large investment bank where he worked across their London and New York offices and advised on corporate and investment banking litigation and arbitration matters, as well as internal regulatory and compliance investigations.

Alexandra Melia

Partner Alex Melia's practice focuses on international financial crime compliance, investigations and enforcement defense related to the UK Bribery Act, other countries' anti-corruption laws, UK sanctions and export controls and anti-money laundering legislation. She regularly conducts internal investigations, financial crime compliance audits and risk assessments for clients operating in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe across a wide range of industries, including financial services, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and technology. Alex also defends clients in investigations and enforcement actions brought by the UK's Serious Fraud Office, Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Financial Conduct Authority and other law enforcement and regulatory agencies. Alex has significant experience in advising clients on the design, implementation and evaluation of global compliance programs. She also helps clients develop effective financial crime compliance strategies, including establishing internal policies and procedures. Alex has extensive experience in conducting pre-investment financial crime due diligence and devising post-investment compliance integration plans for asset managers and private equity firms investing in high-risk sectors and countries as well as for companies as part of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other strategic transactions. Alex gained valuable in-house experience during a year-long client secondment acting in the capacity of a de-facto Chief Compliance Officer for an oilfield services company. Alex's responsibilities included devising practical, business-focused solutions to a range of strategic and tactical compliance issues in a number of high-risk markets.

Andrew Miles advises on all aspects of commercial property, including the acquisition and disposal of investment properties and landlord and tenant estate management work. Andrew has experience in acting for developers, institutional landlords, large scale tenants, and charities.

Partner - Eva Monard's practice focuses on EU trade and customs law, WTO disputes, trade remedies such as anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations, EU sanctions and trade controls, and EU internal market law. Eva represents international companies, associations, and governments. She represents clients before EU institutions, including the European Commission, and before customs authorities of various EU Member States. Eva has extensive experience in litigating trade and internal market cases before the EU courts. In the trade remedy area, she has assisted clients in more than 80 anti-dumping, anti-subsidy, and safeguard investigations in various jurisdictions, and has obtained annulments of trade remedies imposed on imports. She also advises clients on their obligations under EU export controls laws and sanctions by preparing compliance policies and by conducting due diligence of proposed transactions to ensure that clients meet their obligations as to EU trade controls (e.g., in relation to military or dual-use items) and sanctions. Eva advises clients on EU customs law, on issues such as classification, origin and valuation. She has guided several companies through pan-European customs investigations. Eva assists governments at all stages of World Trade Organization dispute settlement proceedings, before panels and the Appellate Body. She also advises clients on the compatibility of national legislation with WTO trade laws and free trade agreements.

Eléonore Mullier

Partner - Eléonore Mullier specializes in EU regulatory law and litigation. She advises clients who, whether based in the EU or not, come into contact with EU regulations affecting the placing on the EU market of their products. Eléonore's knowledge extends to the entire life-cycle of materials, from chemicals legislation (biocides, REACH, classification and labelling, POPs, PPPs, etc.) to product and waste legislation (CE marking, RoHS/WEEE, Ecodesign, medical devices, single use plastics, waste and end-of-waste). She also advises clients on the interface between these regulations and on cross-sectoral issues including the European Green Deal initiatives.Eléonore also has extensive experience representing clients before the European Court of Justice and the ECHA Board of Appeal and before both national and EU regulatory authorities (the European Chemicals Agency, the European Commission, and national competent authorities).

Melanie Nussdorf

Paul J. Ondrasik Jr.

PartnerZoe Osborne's practice focuses on cross-border financial crime and contentious regulatory investigations and litigation. She has represented numerous clients in investigations by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and the Financial Conduct Authority, as well as in internal investigations, and investigations and defense work before other agencies and regulators in the UK and worldwide. Zoe has a breadth of experience across sectors, jurisdictions and enforcement agencies, and is regularly involved in advising on crisis management issues, including cyber security. Clients have sought Zoe's advice and counsel in matters involving allegations of bribery, fraud, money laundering, and other financial crimes. Most recently, she advised the Board of Serco in connection with a criminal investigation by the SFO into allegations of fraud and false accounting and negotiated only the fifth Deferred Prosecution Agreement in the UK. Supplementing her deep skillfulness in investigations, Zoe brings a wealth of financial services contentious regulatory and compliance experience gained during secondments with Citigroup and Barclays and while in private practice. She has represented institutions and individuals in relation to regulatory issues including market abuse, systems and controls failings, and breaches of regulatory requirements. She also has undertaken investigations for financial institutions involving the wholesale foreign exchange market, credit default swaps, government bonds and sovereigns, supranationals, and agencies bonds (SSAs).

Jonathan Raynes

PartnerJonathan Raynes has practiced for more than 20 years in resolving complex disputes, both domestic and international, from their inception through to settlement or trial. Jonathan helps clients through complex contractual negotiations and disputes, always looking to protect their interests in a cost-effective manner. He has broad international and domestic experience in construction, EPC contracting, process plant, energy, real estate development and many other industries, and deals regularly with upfront contract drafting and review, guidance during project implementation, and ultimately the efficient resolution of disputes, over matters such as payment, extensions of time, defective work, professional negligence, employee wrongdoing, nuisance, defamation, and insolvency.

PartnerInternational Commercial Dispute Resolution A solicitor advocate, Angus exercises advocacy rights in front of the English higher courts, and appears in national and international commercial arbitrations. His recent engagements include representing: an airline in High Court antitrust litigation (several lawsuits with claim amounts exceeding US$1 billion); a manufacturer in antitrust litigation relating to batteries; a financial institution in an LCIA arbitration regarding an alleged $1 billion fraud; the insurance market in an LCIA arbitration over a £350 million Bermuda Form claim; a distributor in ICC proceedings in Kuwait over the unlawful termination of a long-standing relationship; the Defendant to a High Court dispute claim regarding alleged breach of a joint venture to develop several commercial properties; and an insurer in a large dispute relating to The Deepwater Horizon incident. Insurance & Reinsurance Advice For over 25 years, Angus has advised on a wide range of insurance and reinsurance matters, relating to property and casualty, life accident and health, surety, financial guarantee, business interruption and contingency. The author of a book on EU insurance regulation, he counsels on UK and EU regulatory issues, and drafts policies and other insurance-related contracts. He has handled innovative and ART transactions, such as BAE Systems' $4 billion FRIP and pension buy-in/buy-out contracts with a value exceeding $500 million. He also represents insurers in disputes relating to coverage and commercial matters, including COVID-19 related claims and issues arising out of the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) business interruption test case and guidance. He has authored or contributed to three books on insurance and reinsurance law: EC Insurance Law (Longman), ‎Reinsurance Claims Handling (Witherby) and A Guide to Reinsurance Law (Informa).

Zachary Song is experienced in conducting international arbitrations and advising on disputes in the construction sectors, as well as general commercial arbitrations. Zachary is a New York-qualified lawyer who lived in New York, Singapore, Seoul, and Bangkok. He has a proven track record of representing Asian and international clients before international arbitral institutions globally, including the LCIA, SIAC, ICDR, ICC, SCC, as well as ad hoc tribunals. Zachary particularly has experience in the construction sector and helps clients in their disputes from the beginning stages of a project with contract administration and onwards to issues such as delay, project management and joint venture related problems and other claims arising out of construction projects. Zachary works very closely with his clients to advise on difficult negotiations with owners, subcontractors and other counterparties. He acutely understands the commercial and on-site realities of his clients when advising on legal positions to be taken against the particular counterparty. Zachary is a member of the Society of Construction Law (Singapore) and a registered panel arbitrator of the Thailand Arbitration Center, Xi'An Arbitration Commission and Member of CIArb. He is also a panel lawyer for the Ministry of Law of South Korea regarding Singapore matters. As a committee member and advisor to the Korean Association in Singapore, Zachary assists the Korean community in Singapore on a pro bono basis.

Partner - Guy Soussan has more than 20 years of experience advising clients on EU and international reinsurance regulatory issues. He advises insurers and reinsurers, captives, and intermediaries on EU regulatory, legal, tax, antitrust, international trade, and compliance issues. In this role, he has assisted leading European and non-European groups in setting up and conducting business in Europe in order for them to benefit from the EU’s Single Market rules in insurance. Guy also focuses on prudential supervision of EU and international reinsurance undertakings under Solvency II, where he frequently provides advice on governance, the setting-up of new structures, group supervision, and the treatment of third-country groups. Additionally, Guy advises EU and French export control regulations, including controls and licensing regimes for military, commercial products, and technologies. He also provides advice and assistance with EU economic sanctions targeting specific countries such as Iran, Libya, Syria, and most recently, Ukraine, and Russia. His experience covers a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, energy, telecommunications, banking and insurance, petroleum and petro-chemicals, aerospace, and defense.

Michael Thompson

PartnerMichael Thompson focuses on transactions involving M&A, joint ventures, private equity, venture capital, start-ups, public listings, corporate governance, duties of directors, reorganizations, insolvency issues for directors, and acquiring assets from administrators. His cross-border experience includes transactions conducted in the US, Asia and Europe. His sector experience includes technology, telecoms, IT, retail, real estate, mining, insurance and leisure.

Charles Whiddington

Partner - Charles Whiddington represents companies in cartel and other antitrust investigations. He also provides strategic advice on licensing, assists clients to shape their distribution networks, and provides advice and representation on the competition aspects of mergers and joint-ventures. Over the years, Charles has represented a number of clients involved in national and international cartel investigations in a range of sectors including banking, airlines, liner shipping, energy, automotive, and travel agency fees. He has also advised electricity and gas companies in the European Commission's sector inquiries, antitrust investigations concerning third party access, as well as the application of electricity and gas network codes. Charles regularly acts in the energy, transport, and life sciences sectors and has successfully represented other clients on a wide array of antitrust and competition matters.

Partner, Hong Kong Managing Partner Wendy Wysong focuses her practice on regulatory compliance and white-collar defense of international laws, including the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), US sanctions laws and regulations administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and US anti-boycott laws, as well as government fraud and public corruption. She represents clients throughout the United States and Asia in the logistics, defense, aerospace, healthcare, telecommunications, gaming, consumer goods, and energy sectors. Wendy is the managing partner of Steptoe's Hong Kong office and co-chair of the firm's Investigations and White-Collar Defense group. Ranked as a Band 1 practitioner by Chambers in its Asia Pacific and Global guides, clients report that Wendy is "at the top of her game technically" and "brilliant at bringing to bear a global picture of how regulators react." One insider noted that "she is the most experienced white-collar export lawyer that I know." Additionally, Global Investigations Review named her as one of the 100 remarkable women operating in the field of investigations around the world. Her notable experience includes leading an international team that represented a Chinese telecommunications company charged with violating US export controls and sanctions, and securing the first ever "Temporary General License" enabling the company to stay in business during the multi-agency investigation. As a former Assistant US Attorney in Washington and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement in the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry & Security (BIS), Wendy offers clients a unique combination of experience and insight as both a prosecutor and regulator before courts and agencies.