Environmental, Social and Governance
United Kingdom
19 August 2025
Jonathan Leach heads up the public international law offering at Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP, which stands out for its strength in treaty arbitration. Leach takes point on investor-state arbitrations, acting for both states and investors, and is described by clients as ‘outstanding’. The ’highly committed’ Katia Finkel has a strong track record handling investment treaty arbitration, particularly in the infrastructure sector, while Wilson Antoon has a focus on investor-state arbitrations in the mining and energy sectors.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘I would like to admit Katia Finkel, whose dedication and professionalism set her apart. She is highly committed to her cases, consistently responsive to both clients and colleagues, and brings a sharp, analytical mind to every matter she handles.’
‘Jonathan Leach is one of the most outstanding lawyers we worked with. His answers are very clear and always quick.’
‘I've been working with the team for about 15 years on various issues, and my experience with them has been truly unique. What sets them apart is their accuracy, prompt communication, attention to detail, and organization.’
‘The Eversheds team is a pleasure to work with. They work very efficiently despite using cross-border teams from multiple locations. The partners are deeply involved in the cases and are on top of the details. They have a uniquely deep understanding of quantum issues. They also have a very strong understanding of the oil & gas sector. Based on years of working together, they have very dedicated teams on their cases, who ensure continuity even when cases run for many years.’
‘Mark Howarth is very impressive. He is very quick and insightful, very detail-oriented and the most pleasant person to work with. He has a great sense of humour and his colleagues and collaborators clearly enjoy working with him.’
‘Eversheds has a long tradition in acting in inter-State disputes. They also have a very broad practice in investment treaty arbitration. Their repeat work for States is a testament to the esteem in which they are held.’
‘Jonathan Leach is a maestro. He leaves no stone unturned and is excellent at marshalling the team.'
- 'Wilson Antoon thinks outside the box for novel solutions.’
- 'They have great expertise in the public international law. Their billing is clear, transparent and fair.'
- 'Wilson Antoon is an outstanding arbitration lawyer who combines deep technical knowledge with exceptional strategic acumen. Wilson is calm under pressure, highly responsive, and an excellent communicator. He is a go-to counsel for high-stakes international arbitrations.'
Key clients
- Islamic Republic of Iran
- Malaysia’s Minister of Finance (Incorporated) and 1Malaysia Development Berhad
- Naftiran Intertrade Company (NICO) Limited
Work highlights
Representing the Islamic Republic of Iran in several large-value cases in relation to the Iran United States Claims Tribunal (IUSCT), which was established by the Algiers Accords in 1981 and is now regarded as a pillar of public international law.
Representing a project company in commercial and investment treaty claims against an African State.
Practice head
Jonathan Leach
Other key lawyers
Wilson Antoon; Mark Howarth; Katia Finkel