The Legal 500

London: Dispute resolution

International arbitration

Within: Leading individuals

Audley Sheppard QC - Clifford Chance LLP

Within: International arbitration

Clifford Chance LLP recently acted in several high-value arbitrations, including under shareholder agreements, finance agreements and construction contracts. The firm also has a strong investment treaty practice, working closely with its Perth and Warsaw offices. It represented Standard Bank entities and their syndicated lenders, as claimants, in concurrent London-seated LCIA arbitration proceedings against Erdenet Mining Corporation (EMC) and Just Group, which arose out of agreements entered into for the ultimate benefit of EMC. Key figures include Audley Sheppard QC, who is the global co-head of international arbitration; Alex Panayides, who 'provides prompt and helpful advice'; Rob Lambert, who has particular expertise in the energy, infrastructure and telecoms sectors, as well as considerable experience of joint venture and shareholder disputes; and Marie Berard, who has acted as counsel and advocate in over 40 international commercial arbitration proceedings. Jessica Gladstone is also highly rated.

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Public international law

Within: Public international law

Clifford Chance LLP fields experts in investment protection; international economic sanctions work and other transnational regulation; the law of international organisations; state and diplomatic immunities; business and human rights; advice on treaties; and sovereign debt. Rae Lindsay and Audley Sheppard QC co-head the public international law practice. Lindsay recently focused on international sanctions, business and human right and immunities and privileges of states, state entities and international organisations as well as territorial and maritime jurisdiction issues, interpretation of treaties, status of territories under occupation and the right of populations to self-determination; and Sheppard is highly rated for his representation of clients in investment treaty proceedings against states. Jessica Gladstone is another highly rated contact who has taken a primary role in the firm's Brexit practice, advising various financial institutions and trade associations on the trade law issues and WTO scenarios for industry post-Brexit. Other notable advisers are Michael Lyons and consultants Federico Ortino and Andrew Dickinson.

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London: Projects, energy and natural resources

Oil and gas

Within: Oil and gas

Alex Panayides , Graham Phillips and Ashvin Seetulsingh jointly head Clifford Chance LLP 's global oil and gas offering which recently handled Engie's $2bn sale of its portfolio of upstream LNG assets to Total, and assisted Shell with the disposal of a portfolio of North Sea interests and associated infrastructure to Chrysoar for $3.8bn. Russell Wells collaborated with a cross-office team to advise lenders on the development of a major cross-border gas pipeline project, and Brendan Moylan acted for a consortium of heavyweight investors in its agreement with a utilities company to acquire a 61% shareholding in its regulated gas distribution networks. The team also intervenes in contentious matters such as Audley Sheppard and Roger Best 's representation of a Middle Eastern state-owned investment company in an LCIA arbitration concerning contractual claims against an Asian sovereign wealth fund. Other key clients include Kerogen, Statoil and Petrofac.

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