Biography
Flore specialises in international commercial arbitration. She has significant experience representing international companies in mediation and arbitration proceedings.
Flore has a particular focus on disputes relating to the defense, chemicals and automotive industries.
Prior to joining Signature Litigation, Flore was Counsel in August Debouzy’s litigation, arbitration and white-collar crime practice group in Paris.
She regularly acts in shareholder disputes and in transactions that span multiple jurisdictions. She also has in-depth experience in the enforcement of arbitral awards in France including asset seizures.
Flore has acted as counsel in numerous arbitration proceedings, both ad hoc and under various institutional rules, and has represented parties in enforcement proceedings before the French courts.
More recently, she has advised several companies in the context of the termination of wide-scale IT projects.
Flore is very involved in the arbitration community in France; she co-founded Paris Very Young Arbitration Practitioners in 2012. She is presently one of the co-chairs of the LCIA-YIAG (Young International Arbitration Group of the London Court of International Arbitration).
She has also had various teaching engagements at the Paris Bar School and at Paris Universities and schools (Paris X, Paris XII and ESCP Europe).
Flore regularly speaks at Arbitration conferences such as the recent “Professional secrecy v legal privilege”, Young symposium, IBA Arbitration Day in Montreal and the AIJA arbitration annual conference in Zurich.
Ranked in the Who’s Who Legal Arbitration Guide, Flore is described as “the most dynamic young arbitration practitioner in Paris”, “a very dynamic and multi-skilled lawyer” and praised for her “excellent communication skills and perfect knowledge of arbitration”. She has been further praised as “definitely a future leader”, and she is recognised as “a go-to person for arbitration in France”. She was also described in the 2018 Guide as “a very highly qualified and skilled lawyer” who provides sophisticated advice on complex disputes.
The Legal 500 EMEA 2021 Guide ranks Flore as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for dispute resolution and has been recognised as a ‘Rising Star’ lawyer for International Arbitration. Flore has been praised for her “extensive expertise in international arbitration” and described as “extremely capable”.
A French national, Flore works in French and English. Flore regularly commentates in the media on pertinent arbitration issues and publishes articles on a variety of topics. A link to Flore’s international arbitration blog can be found here.
Experience
International Arbitration
- Representing an Emirati company in various disputes concerning the shipment of oil.
- Representing an Indian pharmaceuticals group in an ICC arbitration regarding a post-acquisition dispute.
- Representing companies from Malta against a French company in an ICC arbitration regarding a €1.2bn post-acquisition dispute.
- Representing a French client in an ICC arbitration relating to the construction of a highway in Africa.
- Representing a French client in an ICC arbitration in the context of a shareholder dispute of a Moroccan company concerning the validity of a share transfer.
- Representing a CIS client in the context of a shareholder dispute concerning a Lao Joint Venture against Ukrainian counterparts regarding the validity of a share transfer.
- Representing a French client of the automobile industry in several ICC arbitrations against former licensees.
- Representing a French client in an ICC arbitration in Tokyo against its Japanese supplier with Japanese law applicable to the merits.
- Representing a French client in an ICC arbitration against its Portuguese franchisee in claims of know-how misappropriation.
- Representing a client in the context of the purchase of spare parts from a Polish company.
- Representing a Moroccan client in an ICC arbitration in Casablanca concerning a construction dispute.
Actions against arbitral awards
- Representing a Belgian client in a claim for the annulment of an UNCITRAL arbitral award rendered in France.
- Representing a German company in a claim for the annulment of an ICC award rendered in France.
- Representing a Maltese company to obtain the annulment of an award rendered in France.
Enforcement of arbitral awards
- Representing a Chinese client in enforcement proceedings in France (seizure of assets).
- Advising debtors of various international entities, whose debt was frozen following attempts to enforce arbitral awards.
Publications
Challenging and appealing arbitral awards in France – LexisPSL Arbitration – 7 September 2023
French courts—distinguishing the duties and liabilities of arbitral tribunals and arbitral institutions (Kraydon Ltd v ICC) – LexisNexis – 11 April 2023
PAW2023: Keeping arbitration fit for purpose – Commercial Dispute Resolution – 3 April 2023
The Kabab-Ji case: identifying the law governing an international arbitration agreement – The Global Legal Post – 17 November 2022
Quelle loi régit la convention d’arbitrage ? Chronique d’une divergence franco-anglaise – Option Droit & Affaires – 9 November 2022
La loi applicable à la convention d’arbitrage : verdict des juridictions françaises – Le Monde du Droit – 9 November 2022
Kabab-Ji ruling cements cross-Channel clash – Global Arbitration Review – 29 September 2022
Quelles solutions pour un investisseur européen en litige contre un Etat de l’Union européenne ? – Le Monde du Droit – 20 September 2022
6 Questions For Signature’s Arbitration Head Flore Poloni – Law360 – 15 September 2022
Russie : quels impacts sur les procédures arbitrales ? – Option Droit & Affaires – 7 September 2022
Trends from the Paris Court of Appeal on arbitrators’ duty of disclosure: lessons from the PRIDE case and the Billionaire case – LexisNexis – 1 July 2022
The Belokon ruling: reflections on the French approach to public policy – Global Arbitration Review – 19 May 2022
The New and Improved CMAP Rules of Arbitration: Continuity and Innovation – Kluwer Arbitration Blog – 10 November 2021
France – jurisdictional arbitral awards and claims of corruption – LexisPSL – 15 October 2021
L’exécution de sentences arbitrales à l’épreuve de la corruption – Revue Internationale de la Compliance et de l’Éthique des Affaires – August 2021 Issue
L’affaire SORELEC : l’absence d’allégations de corruption doit susciter la méfiance des arbitres – Revue Lamy Droit des Affaires – July 2021 Issue
Breach of International Public Policy: Issues of Foreign Overriding Mandatory Rules and Embargoes – (pg 29) ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin – June 2021
Quatre raisons de privilégier l’arbitrage dans les litiges sur de nouvelles technologies – L’Usine Nouvelle – 6 June 2021
L’exécution de sentences arbitrales à l’épreuve de la corruption – Revue Internationale de la Compliance et de l’Éthique des Affaires – 25 May 2021
Signature hires from Squire Patton Boggs in London – Global Arbitration Review – 10 May 2021
On ne change pas une équipe qui gagne – Nouvelles Règles de l’IBA sur l’administration de la preuve – Le Monde Du Droit – 15 April 2021
Mise à jour des Règles de l’IBA sur l’administration de la preuve – Le Monde du Droit – 25 March 2021
Pourquoi la décision Halliburton vs Chubb fascine-t-elle tant la communauté de l’arbitrage britannique ? – Option Droit et Affaires – 3 February 2021
Arbitral Tribunals Beware: Better Keep an Eye on Potential Corruption Involving Consent Awards – Kluwer Arbitration Blog – 29 January 2021
Tribunaux arbitraux : attention au piège d’absence d’allégations de corruption – Le Monde du Droit – 15 January 2021
Preuve de son agilité, la Cour internationale d’arbitrage de la CCI modifie (encore) son règlement – La Gazette du Palais – 5 January 2021
Tribune – Droit applicable à la clause d’arbitrage de part et d’autre de la Manche : une solution, deux visions – Bulletin Rapide Droit des Affaires – 30 November 2020
What the new ICC and LCIA rules tell us about the concerns of users – Global Arbitration Review – 17 November 2020
Arbitrage LCIA 3.0 – L’institution londonienne se positionne à la pointe des nouvelles pratiques – La Lettre des Juristes d’Affaires – 30 October 2020
ICC Unveils its revised 2021 Rules of Arbitration – Briefing Notes – 14 October 2020
Signature Litigation Paris builds up international arbitration practice with new Partner hire – Various – 10 July 2020
Areas of Expertise
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Signature Partners
Ioannis Alexopoulos
Ioannis is ranked in the Chambers UK 2022 Guide for international arbitration, which notes that he “consistently produces extraordinary, excellent work and he fills the client with great confidence and comfort”. He is further described as “adept at handling BIT claims” and “is very experienced and brings a wealth of knowledge to the field.” He is also recognised in The Legal 500 UK 2023 as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for civil fraud, international arbitration, commercial litigation and banking litigation, and he is praised for his “superb commercial and practical sense.” Ioannis is also recognised in Who’s Who Legal 2022 Arbitration Guide. He has been described as “well recognised for his top-notch arbitration practice among peers who say he is “very experienced and engaging with the tribunal”.”
Paul Brehony
Paul is recognised for his commercial litigation expertise in The Legal 500 UK 2023 Guide. He has also been recommended for civil fraud and banking litigation and is commended as “a highly accomplished insolvency litigator“, who “is fantastic in highly complex insolvency cases where his knowledge and experience put him head and shoulders above others“. Previous guides have described Paul as a “notable practitioner” for banking litigation and “highly recommended” for commercial litigation. He is further praised as “charming, well organised and a pleasure to litigate with.”
Natalia Chumak
Natalia has been ranked in the Chambers UK and The Legal 500 UK Guides for her International Arbitration expertise. She has previously been praised by The Legal 500 and Chambers UK for her “fantastic experience and responsiveness“, for being an “extremely good tactical mind“, a “steely litigator with excellent litigation instincts” and she has been praised for her ability to “remain incredibly calm under pressure“.
Julian Connerty
Julian has been ranked in Chambers for Civil Fraud and the Guide notes he “has considerable expertise in international fraud cases.” Julian is recommended in The Legal 500 UK 2022 for his civil fraud expertise. The Legal 500 has noted that Julian is an “extremely experienced practitioner” and “a specialist in international fraud and asset recovery actions”. Julian is also described as “subtle and meticulous” and “inspires great confidence in all around him”.
Simon Fawell
Simon has been recognised as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 UK for his litigation and arbitration expertise and is commended as “a strong strategic thinker”, “a real team player” and “very good to work with”. He is also Recommended for insurance and reinsurance litigation.
Jérémie Fierville
Jérémie’s practice focuses on shareholders, governance, and M&A disputes, as well as general commercial and civil litigation. Having practised in both Paris and London, Jérémie acts for a broad range of French and international companies. He represents his clients in strategic pre-litigations, litigations and arbitrations, as well as mediation proceedings.
Sylvie Gallage-Alwis
Sylvie is described by Who’s Who Legal as a “dynamic and determined litigator“, who is “a firm favourite among clients” as “she always goes the extra mile to support her clients, and is proactive in seeking commercial solutions to disputes” and is “analytical, intelligent and responsive“. The Legal 500 EMEA Guide ranks Sylvie as a ‘Leading Individual’ for Product Liability Litigation in France and she is recognised for her work on “high-profile toxic tort and product liability cases, handing a number of asbestos claims.”
Becca Hogan
Becca is recognised as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ by The Legal 500 UK 2023 for banking litigation. Becca is described as “exceptional“, with an “excellent grasp of the detail”. She is further praised as a “safe and skilled pair of hands.” She has been described, by previous editions of the Guide, as “stellar“, “calm and strategic“. She has also been praised for her “good instincts” and “commercial approach”.
Graham Huntley
Graham is consistently recognised by The Legal 500 and Chambers as one of the UK’s highest ranked commercial and banking litigators and has been involved in some of the most significant cases of recent years. Chambers UK describes him as “an intense and effective solicitor with an incredibly client-focused approach” and he has previously been described as “very bright, very hard-working, a good tactician” and “very committed and driven”. The Legal 500 UK 2023 recognises Graham as a ‘Hall of Fame’ lawyer for both banking litigation and commercial litigation, and a ‘Leading Individual’ for his civil fraud expertise. He is described as “a doyen of London banking litigation” and a “master tactician“.
Abdulali Jiwaji
Abdul is regarded as a ‘Leading Individual’ in The Legal 500 UK 2023 for Commercial Litigation and a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for Banking Litigation: Investment and Retail. The Guide notes he is “absolutely unflappable” and that he “inspires confidence“. A commentator notes that: “One of the best litigators I have had the privilege of working with is Abdulali Jiwaji.” Abdul is further described as having “a grip of the big picture and the detail; very deft in client handling; tenacious and determined; swift, responsive and clear-thinking“. Previous Guides have noted Abdul “is always on the ball and has a good tactical brain” and recognises he “has always provided sound and very considered advice”. He is also praised for being “a steady hand during turbulent times”. Chambers Global has described him as a “technically sound, sensible and robust litigator who always finds practical solutions”.
Tsegaye Laurendeau
Tsegaye Laurendeau is recognised as a ‘future leader’ in the Who’s Who Legal Arbitration Guide. Peers and clients say he is a “brilliant arbitration lawyer” and “very adept at steering cases and handling experts”. Previous editions of this Guide note that Tsegaye is “one of the best arbitration lawyers of his generation”, “a top-notch attorney” who is “rapidly establishing himself as one of the leading practitioners, notably in Africa-related disputes”. Tsegaye also features in The Legal 500 International Arbitration Powerlist UK, which showcases the UK’s leading arbitration practitioners.
Emmanuèle Lutfalla
Emmanuèle is recognised as a ‘Thought Leader’ in Who’s Who Legal’s France 2020 Guide. She is also ranked as both a ‘National’ (in France) and ‘Global’ Leader for Product Liability Defence in Who’s Who Legal. The Guide notes Emmanuèle “excels in handling disputes at the intersection of product liability and insurance matters, representing clients from the life sciences sector in litigation and product risk management.” The Legal 500 EMEA Guide ranks Emmanuèle as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for insurance and notes she is “very renowned in the insurance sector“. The Legal 500 also ranks the insurance and reinsurance litigation practice very highly in Paris, and also notes the department “unites an impressive bench of stellar litigators“. The Chambers Europe 2022 Guide notes that Emmanuèle noted as “the key point of contact” for insurance at the firm. Chambers ranks Signature Paris’ insurance practice as a leading firm in its Europe Guide and highlights the team’s “knowledge and ability to handle complex and difficult matters“.
Hermès Marangos
Hermès is recognised as a ‘Leading Individual’ in The Legal 500 UK 2023 for his insurance and reinsurance litigation practice. Hermès has been ranked as an expert in Chambers Global and Chambers Latin America for his Insurance expertise in the region.
Neil Newing
Neil is regarded as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 UK 2023 for international arbitration and banking litigation. He is for his “excellent arbitration experience, and excellent appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of cases.” Previous Guides have described Neil as “a strong lawyer who stands out for the quality and thoroughness of his analysis” and noted for managing “major cross-border disputes“. The Legal 500 UK 2021 recognised him as “an outstandingly clever counsel who will go very far”. Neil is also described as being “an exceptionally talented lawyer, a strategic thinker and a pleasure to work with. The depth and breadth of his experience in international commercial arbitrations is a huge asset to the firm”. He is also ranked in the Who’s Who Legal Arbitration Guide as a ‘future leader’.
Elliott Phillips
Elliott is an internationally recognised barrister and specialises in global commercial litigation and international contentious trusts disputes. He has been recognised in The Legal 500 for his experience in dispute resolution work and is also ranked as a Band 2 individual in both Chambers Global and Chambers Europe for General Business Law: Dispute Resolution — Gibraltar. Elliott is also recognised as one of the world’s leading private client lawyers and trusts and estates litigators, and is listed in the Private Client Global Elite community. The Legal 500 EMEA Guide recognises Elliott as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for dispute resolution in Gibraltar, and notes he “is a specialist in international trusts and estates disputes.” A referee in the Guide described Elliott as “an accomplished litigator, highly experienced, knowledgeable and great to have on your side” and another praised his “vast knowledge and experience across an array of different areas” and noted he is “the stand-out practitioner in a hugely talented team.“
Flore Poloni
Ranked in the Who’s Who Legal Arbitration Guide, Flore is described as “the most dynamic young arbitration practitioner in Paris“, “a very dynamic and multi-skilled lawyer” and praised for her “excellent communication skills and perfect knowledge of arbitration“. The Legal 500 EMEA 2021 Guide ranks Flore as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for dispute resolution and has been recognised as a ‘Rising Star’ lawyer for International Arbitration. Flore has been praised for her “extensive expertise in international arbitration” and described as “extremely capable”.
Thomas Rouhette
Thomas is ranked as a leading expert by both Chambers Global and Europe for his litigation and aviation law expertise, with sources praising him for his “invaluable” advice, experience and knowledge. The Legal 500 EMEA Guide consistently recognises Thomas as a ‘Hall of Fame’ lawyer for his aviation and commercial litigation practices. Who’s Who Legal regards Thomas as the “finest product liability lawyer in the country and one of the very best on the continent.”
Tom Snelling
Highly ranked in the Chambers UK Guide for his commercial litigation expertise, Tom Snelling is described in the 2020 Guide as “extraordinarily good” and an “utter pleasure to work with and enormously talented, with a sixth sense for where a case is going and very sound judgement”. The Guides have also noted that Tom is “amazingly dedicated with strong credentials in international litigation” and that he is both “practical and commercial”. Tom is recognised as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 UK 2022 for Banking Litigation: Investment and Retail and Commercial Litigation.
Daniel Spendlove
The Legal 500 UK Guide describes Daniel as “hugely talented“, “with a really creative eye for litigation strategy“, “an exceptionally committed, exceptionally hard working lawyer, with a careful and thorough approach to issues” and “a really effective litigator“. He has also been described as “very smart, client focused and details-oriented” and “excellent, with great attention to detail, wide experience and excellent client care’“. He has also been praised as “highly professional”, and “a strategic thinker” who “brings real energy to cases”. He is highly ranked across the Commercial Litigation, Banking Litigation and International Arbitration categories. He was recently described, by Commercial Dispute Resolution magazine, as “one of a new breed of independent and forceful commercial litigation partners”.
Rory Spillman
Rory is recognised as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ by The Legal 500 UK 2023 for banking litigation and a commentator notes that Rory has “tremendous judgement” is “very hard-working“, and comes “highly recommended for banking disputes.” He has also been described by previous Guides as “impressive“, “excellent” and a “real authority“.
Josh Wong
Described as a “a highly experienced commercial international arbitration expert“, Josh is recognised as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 UK 2023 for international arbitration and banking litigation. A commentator remarks: “Josh Wong and his colleagues are a highly knowledgeable and intellectually-focused team that fully appreciates and acts upon all the levers within complex litigation, taking full account of the strengths and weakness of all components.” Past guides have also noted that he is “an expert in security, asset tracing and enforcement actions involving multiple jurisdictions”. He has also been ranked in Chambers Global as a ‘Foreign Expert Based in UK’ for his Chinese dispute resolution, arbitration expertise, and as a ‘Foreign Expert for China’ for UK dispute resolution.
