A&O Shearman’s ‘international arbitration practice is packed with extremely talented lawyers’. Handling commercial and investor-state arbitrations, the practice also covers arbitration-related court proceedings. With enviable energy disputes credentials, the group is particularly well known for gas price arbitrations. It further acts in arbitrations involving banking, finance and complex financial products, along with infrastructure, construction, life sciences, TMT, and shareholder and post-M&A conflicts. Energy dispute expert Mark Levy KC is ’well respected by peers and arbitrators’; Matthew Skinner has longstanding arbitration experience; James Freeman acts in finance sector arbitrations; and Guled Yusuf is an international commercial and investment treaty arbitration specialist. The team also includes Alex Bevan, who focuses on the Middle East; David Herlihy, who works between London and Dublin; and construction and engineering project dispute practitioner Daniel Garton. Additional names to note are Katrina Limond, Alastair Livesey and Sarah Morreau. Matthew Hodgson left in May 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘A&O's international arbitration practice is packed with extremely talented lawyers, who are passionate about the law and dedicated to their work.’
‘Their attention to detail and ability to understand the big picture are remarkable.’
‘Highly professional and very responsive team, which is very experienced in international arbitration.’
‘Able to provide assistance in various jurisdictions. They give good advice and guidance, and they are well known in the market and well connected with other relevant players. They work very efficiently and use digital tools that help sharing documents in a very easy and efficient way. Billing and invoices are transparent, and the team is diverse and works well together.’
‘Matthew Skinner is an excellent practitioner, who understands clients' objectives and tailors his advice and work to achieve those objectives.’
‘Clients are particularly impressed by James Freeman, who is very experienced and highly professional. His legal advice is of high quality and his strategy is excellent.’
Key clients
- BG
- Reliance Industries
- Commerzbank
- Chevron
- Obrascon Huarte Lain
- Samsung C&T Corporation
- RBF HK
- QatarEnergy LNG
- International Finance Corporation
- International Swaps & Derivatives Association
Work highlights
Representing BG and Reliance Industries in a London-seated arbitration against the Government of India under the UNCITRAL Rules 1976, in relation to claims arising under two oil and gas production sharing contracts.
Representing Commerzbank in a dispute with Russian company RusChemAlliance, in relation to an English law-governed performance bond it had issued in the company’s favour (on behalf of Linde), the dispute involving Paris-seated arbitration proceedings.
Representing two Chevron affiliates in a contractual claim (administered by ICSID) against the People's Republic of Bangladesh and its state-owned oil and gas company Petrobangla.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Matthew Skinner
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Guled Yusuf
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Sarah Morreau
Practice head
Alex Bevan
Other key lawyers
Mark Levy KC; Matthew Skinner; James Freeman; Guled Yusuf; Alex Bevan; David Herlihy; Daniel Garton; Katrina Limond; Alastair Livesey; Sarah Morreau