Biography
Flore specialises in international commercial arbitration. She has 12 years’ 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 Who’s Who Legal Arbitration – Future Leaders, 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 a “very dynamic and multi-skilled lawyer” whom peers highlight 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 2020 Guide ranks Flore as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for dispute resolution in France and a ‘Rising Star’ lawyer for International Arbitration, recognising her “extensive expertise in international arbitration” and “extremely capable”.
A French national, Flore works in French and English.
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 Russian 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 Russian 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 entities of the Russian Federation, whose debt was frozen following attempts to enforce the Yukos awards.
Press Coverage
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
Latest news
@SignatureLitLLP
Partners @florepoloni and Nicolas Brooke examine concerns over evidentiary standards relating to #corruption allegations and how far the #arbitration court should have gone to uncover the alleged history of the #LibyavSorelec contract, in @lemondedudroit bit.ly/3qAXHV1
Signature Partners
Ioannis Alexopoulos
Ioannis is ranked in the Chambers UK Guide for international arbitration and is recognised in The Legal 500 UK 2021 as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for international arbitration. He is praised as a “brilliant advocate” and the Guide also notes that he is “is experienced in cases involving Greece, the Balkans, Russia and Central Asia, the Middle East, Brazil and sub-Saharan Africa“. Ioannis has also been ranked in Chambers Global as a ‘Foreign Expert Based in UK’ and a ‘Foreign Expert for Greece’ for his dispute resolution expertise and is commended for his ability to “see right to the heart of sprawling banking disputes.”
Paul Brehony
Paul is recognised as a “notable practitioner” in banking litigation by The Legal 500 UK Guide and is also “highly recommended” for commercial litigation expertise. He is further described as “charming, well organised and a pleasure to litigate with.”
Nicolas Brooke
Nicolas has deep experience in the management of complex and international high stakes litigations. He receives high praise within the industry; his team at Société Générale was awarded the “Trophée d’or Direction Juridique Contentieux” by Décideurs/Leaders League and most recently Nicolas won the “Outstanding In-house Counsel” award at the Global Investigations Review Awards in 2018. The Legal 500 EMEA Guide recognises Nicolas as a ‘Leading Individual’ for compliance, and notes he has “outstanding professional skills and shows a good sense of strategy.”
Natalia Chumak
Natalia is 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 2021 for his civil fraud and banking litigation expertise. The Legal 500 notes 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”.
Steven De Lara
Steven practices in both London and Gibraltar. A multi-faceted lawyer, Steven is used to concurrently manage complex contentious and non-contentious commercial, corporate and regulatory mandates. He enjoys a wide corporate and commercial practice, often acting on joint venture and shareholder disputes, contentious asset management, professional negligence claims and Fintech claims. Steven is ranked in the Chambers Europe 2020 Guide for General Business Law: Dispute Resolution. The Guide notes he is an “insightful, dedicated lawyer with great attention to detail“ and adds that Steven is “extremely hard-working, client-focused and very knowledgeable.” The Legal 500 EMEA Guide also recognises Steven as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for dispute resolution in Gibraltar.
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 ‘Next Generation Partner’ 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.”
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 recognises Graham for being a “a leading figure in commercial dispute resolution and widely regarded as a rainmaker.”
Abdulali Jiwaji
Abdul is regarded as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 UK 2021 for Banking Litigation: Investment and Retail and Commercial Litigation. The Guide notes he “is always on the ball and has a good tactical brain” and recognises he “has always provided sound and very considered advice”. Abdul 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”.
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 commercial litigation.
Hermès Marangos
Hermès is recognised as a ‘Leading Individual’ in The Legal 500 UK 2021 for his insurance and reinsurance litigation practice. Hermès is ranked as a Band 3 expert in Chambers Global 2020 and Chambers Latin America 2021 for his Insurance expertise in the region.
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. In 2019 Elliott was recognised as one of the world’s leading private client lawyers and trusts and estates litigators, and was 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.”
Flore Poloni
Ranked in Who’s Who Legal Arbitration – Future Leaders, 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 2020 Guide ranks Flore as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for dispute resolution in France and a ‘Rising Star’ lawyer for International Arbitration, recognising her “extensive expertise in international arbitration” and “extremely capable”.
Thomas Rouhette
Thomas is ranked Band 2 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 ‘Leading Individual’ 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 2021 for his Banking Litigation: Investment and Retail and Commercial Litigation expertise.
Daniel Spendlove
The Legal 500 UK Guide describes Daniel as “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, International Arbitration and Professional Negligence categories. He was recently described, by Commercial Dispute Resolution magazine, as “one of a new breed of independent and forceful commercial litigation partners”.
Josh Wong
Josh is recognised as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 UK 2021 for his international arbitration expertise, and the Guide notes that he is “an expert in security, asset tracing and enforcement actions involving multiple jurisdictions”. He is also 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.
