News

Specialist commercial disputes law firm Signature Litigation today announces the promotion of international commercial arbitration specialist Neil Newing to Partner.

Neil joined Signature in 2017 as Counsel from Eversheds Sutherland. He has particular experience in managing high value cross-border disputes, many of which involve multiple parties and multiple jurisdictions.

He is regularly instructed to act in arbitrations under LCIA, ICC, CIETAC, SIAC, SCC, and UNCITRAL rules, as well as in ad hoc arbitration proceedings under the Arbitration Act 1996, and ancillary or enforcement proceedings before the English Courts. He also handles claims under investment treaties and cases concerning State entities and state immunity.

Neil represents clients across numerous sectors, but has particular expertise in the energy sector and oil and gas and infrastructure disputes.

For example, over the past year Neil has been acting for Discovery Global LLC, a US investor in a multi-million USD claim against the Slovak Republic under the US-Slovak Bilateral Investment Treaty. Neil’s client alleges that it was prevented from conducting oil and gas exploration drilling operations as a result of an arbitrary and unlawful pattern of behaviour by the Slovak government and its agencies. Neil has also been acting for Privinvest in a claim brought by the Republic of Mozambique against Credit Suisse, Privinvest and other entities, including in a successful hearing before the Court of Appeal on the interpretation of s.9 of the Arbitration Act 1996. That decision has been appealed by Mozambique and is due to be heard by the Supreme Court in January 2023.

Commenting on his promotion, Neil said: “I am delighted to join Signature’s distinguished partnership and continue advising clients on high stakes international arbitrations. Signature has established a strong team of specialist arbitration lawyers and I am excited at the prospect of working closely with the partners across our London, Paris and Gibraltar offices to expand our offering.”

International arbitration partner Ioannis Alexopoulos commented: “Neil’s promotion to partner is testament to our commitment to fostering internal talent, and we are thrilled to have Neil’s extensive experience as part of our growing practice.”

Neil’s promotion to partner follows the recent join of partner Tsegaye Laurendeau in September from Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes.

This news was published in Commercial Dispute Resolution and Global Arbitration Review.