Dispute resolution
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP‘s London arbitration team is consistently appointed to work on complex, high value-mandates; and it has an enviable track record of victories and successful awards. Heading the international arbitration group in London, Craig Tevendale acts as counsel, advocate and arbitrator in ad hoc proceedings and before all the major arbitral institutions; Andrew Cannon ’effortlessly masterminds case strategy’; Christian Leathley focuses much of his practice on clients’ interests in Central and South America; Chris Parker KC acts in international disputes in the energy, life sciences and mining sectors; and Mike McClure KC ‘has incredibly broad international experience’. Other key figures are Hannah Ambrose, whose caseload covers both commercial and investment arbitration; Charlie Morgan, who is ’leading the AI revolution in arbitration’; and Louise Barber, whose experience includes LCIA, SIAC, PCA, ICC, WIPO, UNCITRAL, HKIAC, and ICSID proceedings. Anuradha Agnihotri and Joel Halliday are also experienced practitioners.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Mentions
Profile
Work Department
International Arbitration, Public International Law, ESG Disputes
Position
Of Counsel, London
Career
Louise focuses on dispute resolution with a focus on international arbitration in the energy and natural resources and pharmaceutical sectors. She has represented clients in disputes from a range of sectors and jurisdictions in international arbitration proceedings, including under the LCIA, SIAC, PCA, ICC, WIPO, UNCITRAL, HKIAC and ICSID rules and in ad hoc proceedings. She has considerable experience with commodity price review disputes, disputes arising under long-term commodity sale and purchase agreements and joint venture disputes. She also has a focus in arbitrations involving intellectual property issues, including in the pharmaceutical sector.
Louise has extensive experience with matters of public international law, having represented and advised clients in a range of bilateral and multilateral investment treaty arbitration matters, along with advising on maritime boundary disputes, law of the sea issues, the application of international treaties and conventions, advisory opinions from international courts and tribunals, and international human rights law issues.
Louise is a professional in ESG disputes and risk management, along with business and human rights issues arising within supply chains and contractual relationships. She has published extensively on the risks arising from climate change within commercial relationships, as well as under international law.
In 2023, Louise was named as a Rising Star by Legal 500 in International Arbitration in London. She is the co-founder of the Young Practitioners' Subcommittee of the Equal Representation in Arbitration (ERA) Pledge and is a member of the LCIA's Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Working Group, along with a range of other diversity-focused initiatives. She also works on a range of pro bono matters within the firm.
Louise holds a BA (Honours) in Government & International Relations and French from the University of Sydney as well as an LLB from the University of Sydney with First Class Honours, during which she studied at the East China University of Politics and Law in Shanghai and the Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance of Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
Education
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Chris Parker KC is a superb advocate and wears his immense legal skills very lightly.’
‘Christian Leathley is a favourite with clients and leads cases out of New York as well as London; Mike McClure KC has incredibly broad international experience; and Hannah Ambrose is a star in the making with clients from numerous sectors.’
‘This team is highly intelligent and diligent. They are very innovative in problem-solving. They have proved their capabilities by winning all cases. Its successes make the team unique.’
‘High-calibre team at all levels. Partners are outstanding advocates and shrewd strategists. The associates are brimming over with talent and ideas. Client service is always top of the agenda and is demonstrated by the repeat work from leading corporates.’
‘Charlie Morgan is very tech savvy and leading the AI revolution in arbitration and more broadly, and Craig Tevendale is someone clients want on their side when the going gets tough.’
‘Andrew Cannon effortlessly masterminds case strategy.’
‘Extremely commercially astute and capable of deeply understanding the business of the client with ease and speed. Highly responsive and aware of client needs.’ ‘Calm, strategic, and practical advice. Some of the best legal minds out there.’
Key clients
- BP Chevron Eni Standard Chartered Bank Republic of Italy Star Hydro Power Government of Azerbaijan State Oil Company of Azerbaijan
Work highlights
Representing the Republic of Italy, in relation to two enforcement actions involving investment treaty awards under the Energy Charter Treaty.
Representing two major international energy companies, in relation to a complex, high-value and highly-politicised dispute, which concerns a large-value oil and gas project in Africa.
Defended a US supermajor oil company in a multi-faceted defence of a sham arbitration for $18bn.