Biography
Neil is an international arbitration lawyer with particular experience in managing high value cross-border disputes, many of which involve multiple parties and multiple jurisdictions. His practice has a particular focus on the energy sector and oil and gas disputes.
Neil has extensive experience in international commercial arbitration, including LCIA, ICC, CIETAC, SIAC, SCC, UNCITRAL, and ad hoc arbitration proceedings under the Arbitration Act 1996, as well as ancillary or enforcement proceedings before the English Courts, claims under investment treaties and cases concerning State entities and state immunity.
Prior to joining Signature Litigation, Neil was a Legal Director at Eversheds Sutherland, where he qualified in 2004. Neil is a fluent French speaker and undertook a series of secondments to Eversheds Sutherland’s arbitration and public international law team in Paris.
Neil represents clients across all sectors, but has particular expertise in the energy sector and oil and gas disputes and has acted in matters involving: exploration and production, joint ventures, oilfield services, pipeline transportation, product distribution, advising on available protections under relevant investment treaties and disputes concerning carbon emissions. Neil also has considerable experience in acting for clients involved in corporate/finance disputes (relating to M&A transactions, shareholders’ agreements, loans and guarantees), and has acted on a wide range of technology/media/telecoms disputes (including contractual disputes, royalty audits and disputes over rights).
Neil is regarded as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ in The Legal 500 UK 2024 for international arbitration and banking litigation. He is commended for being “extremely user friendly”, having “fantastic drafting skills” and “always hav[ing] an eye to the bigger strategic picture“. 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“. 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’.
He is co-author of “International Arbitration: A Practical Guide”, a leading international arbitration textbook published by Globe Law and Business. Neil is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the ICC and the LCIA.
Experience
International Arbitration
- Acted for an Armenian mining company in four separate LCIA arbitrations in London arising out of a joint venture (and related lending arrangements) with Russian and Cypriot entities.
- Acted for a US Investor in relation to a claim under a Bilateral Investment Treaty concerning expropriation of its investment In an Eastern European State.
- Acted for a major NOC in a Swiss Rules arbitration arising out of a cooperation agreement concerning upstream and downstream projects in Algeria.
- Acted in a joint venture dispute between a consortium of oil companies and an African State in relation to the ownership and operation of a pipeline project.
- Acted for a listed aviation company in an ICC arbitration concerning claims arising out of alleged breaches of warranties given on a disposal of part of the client’s business.
- Acted for a Hong Kong based supplier of consumer goods in DIFC-LCIA arbitration proceedings and parallel English High Court proceedings against a Saudi Arabian purchaser for non-payment of goods received.
- Acted for a State in defending multiple arbitration proceedings brought under the auspices of different Bilateral Investment Treaties.
- Acted for a multinational mobile telecommunications company in an ICC arbitration arising out of a tender for a mobile license in a Middle Eastern state.
- Acted in a complex LCIA arbitration worth over USD 100 million concerning the ownership of property in Moscow and breaches of a shareholders’ agreement, and spanning several jurisdictions including Russia, England, Cyprus, Switzerland and the BVI.
- Acted in an LCIA arbitration for a Japanese trading house in a dispute concerning the supply of emission credits under the Kyoto Protocol.
- Acted for a Middle East drilling contractor in a SIAC arbitration in Singapore concerning a dispute over the hiring or rigs in Iranian waters.
Commercial Litigation
- Acted for a UK logistics supplier in a dispute in the Technology and Construction Court in London arising out of an outsourcing project with a global technology company.
- Acted for a high net worth individual in successfully resisting a Norwich Pharmacal order in respect of documents and information sought from him concerning alleged financial mismanagement.
- Acted for an Irish listed healthcare company in both London seat ICC proceedings and English High Court proceedings against Indian and Singaporean companies and individuals relating to losses arising from breach of warranties on an acquisition, and related issues of conspiracy, deceit and breach of director’s duties.
- Acted for a composer in an English High Court action against members of a well-known heavy metal band for breach of copyright.
- Acted for the estate of a well-known musician in two matters before the High Court and the Court of Appeal, obtaining judgment for breach of performer’s rights.
Publications
Revamping England’s 1996 Act – the latest consultation paper – Global Arbitration Review – 17 April 2023
Confidentiality in arbitration needs no reform – Commercial Dispute Resolution – 12 April 2023
PAW2023: Keeping arbitration fit for purpose – Commercial Dispute Resolution – 3 April 2023
Proposed updates to the Arbitration Act 1996 – The Law Society Gazette – 11 November 2022
Signature promotes in London – Global Arbitration Review – 6 October 2022
Commercial arbitration specialist Neil Newing promoted to partner – CDR News – 6 October 2022
Maintaining England and Wales’ status as a leading destination for commercial arbitration – The Law Society Gazette – 3 February 2022
Court upholds decision to refuse enforcement and recognition of arbitral award under Arbitration Act – The Law Society Gazette – 26 January 2022
Issues To Watch In Potential English Arbitration Act Reform – Law360 – 22 December 2021
Pourquoi la décision Halliburton vs Chubb fascine-t-elle tant la communauté de l’arbitrage britannique ? – Option Droit et Affaires – 3 February 2021
Counsel Neil Newing and Associate Olivia Flasch examine the Halliburton Chubb Supreme Court ruling – UK Supreme Court Blog – 2 February 2021
Supreme Court clarifies arbitration bias in Deepwater Horizon Chubb ruling – Insurance POST – 1 December 2020
Chubb wins UK Supreme Court case against Halliburton – Insurance Business UK – 30 November 2020
International community “will see Halliburton ruling as protecting Bar” – Litigation Futures – 30 November 2020
UK Supreme Court dismisses appeal over apparent bias – Global Arbitration Review – 27 November 2020
STAND-OUT CASE OF THE WEEK: HALLIBURTON – Edward Fennell’s Legal Diary – 27 November 2020
UK Supreme Court rules in favour of Chubb Bermuda in case against Halliburton – Bermuda Re/insurance – 27 November 2020
UK court rules in favour of Chubb in case against Halliburton – Intelligent Insurer – 27 November 2020
Governing law of arbitration agreements: cutting the Gordian knot – PLC Magazine – 1 November 2020
Significantly lower award of damages against Spain in latest investor-state arbitration claim over renewable energy tariffs (PV Investors v Spain) – Lexis PSL – 11 March 2020
Areas of Expertise
Latest news
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Signature Partners
Ioannis Alexopoulos
Ioannis is ranked in the Chambers UK 2024 Guide for international arbitration. The Guide describes him as “highly experienced and an excellent strategist” with “sharp analytical skills“. Previous guides have noted 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 2024 as a ‘Leading Individual’ for civil fraud and international arbitration, and he is praised for being “an excellent and poised strategist and leader.” The Guide notes that he is an “expert in matters involving Greece, the Balkans, the Middle East, Brazil, and sub-Saharan Africa.” Past guides also commend Ioannis as a “highly rated litigator” and noted “is well known for joint venture and shareholder disputes, business break-ups and fraud and banking disputes“. He has been further is commended for being “a great litigator who offers his advice on the basis of the commercial goals that clients set“.
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.”
Kate Gee
Kate is ranked in the Chambers UK 2024 guide for Civil Fraud and is described as “excellent”. A market source notes Kate is “making a name for herself in terms of crypto fraud”. She has also been commended by sources as being “great at driving a matter forward and building a team. She is really smart with a huge amount of energy and expertise“. Another commentator notes that “Kate is a great litigator. She is hard-working, dedicated to her clients and able to bring good commercial judgement to bear on her cases.” Previous guides have described her as having “notable experience in civil fraud work” and commended her for having “a real commercial handle on things and is completely unflappable”. In the latest The Legal 500 UK 2024 Guide, Kate is recognised as a ‘Rising Star’ for civil fraud. In The Legal 500 UK 2023 Guide, sources described her as having “real depth of experience in civil fraud matters, including cryptocurrencies.”
Becca Hogan
Becca is recognised as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ in both The Legal 500 UK 2023 and 2024 Guides for banking litigation. In the latest edition of the Guide, she is described as a “calm, composed and confidence-inspiring presence in a team” and as a “standout junior partner“. Becca is also described as “detail-oriented and very switched on“. Previous Guides comment that Becca is “exceptional“, with an “excellent grasp of the detail”. She is further praised as a “safe and skilled pair of hands.” She has also been described as “stellar“, “calm and strategic“, and has 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 2024 recognises Graham as a ‘Hall of Fame’ lawyer for civil fraud, banking litigation and commercial litigation, and he is described as “a lawyer with a particularly formidable reputation within the banking sector.”
Abdulali Jiwaji
Abdul is regarded as a ‘Leading Individual’ in The Legal 500 UK 2024 for Commercial Litigation and a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for Banking Litigation: Investment and Retail. He is described as “highly regarded” and “an extremely experienced litigator who is utterly unflappable. Definitely someone you want in your corner in a tough spot.” Testimonials describe him as “super impressive” and “understated, authoritative, and effective“, “a clever lawyer whose quiet and calm manner inspires confidence“. Previous Guides have described Abdul as having “a grip of the big picture and the detail; very deft in client handling; tenacious and determined; swift, responsive and clear-thinking“. A commentator has noted that: “One of the best litigators I have had the privilege of working with is Abdulali Jiwaji.” He has also been 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”.
Philipp Kurek
Philipp is ranked in Chambers & Partners UK 2024 for International Arbitration, where he is recognised as a “top notch” investment arbitration specialist, with clients commending Philipp for being an “exceptional lawyer” and being “incredibly bright, hard-working and pay[ing] great attention to detail”, as well as having “great client management skills” and being “highly dedicated to delivering outcomes”.
Philipp has also been recognised by The Legal 500 UK 2024, and is included in The Legal 500’s Arbitration Powerlist, with clients describing Philipp as being “of superstar quality and a fantastic lawyer overall in the fields of commercial and investor-state arbitration”, and commending his “level of experience, knowledge and intellect required to win cases in this field”.
Philipp is furthermore recognised by Who’s Who Legal 2024 as a Future Leader in arbitration, as well as being included in LawDragon’s list of 500 Leading Global Litigators.
Tsegaye Laurendeau
Tsegaye is recognised in The Legal 500 UK 2024 as a Recommended Lawyer in the International Arbitration category, and is described as “a litigation powerhouse”, who is “commercial in his approach to problem solving” and “open and honest regarding the prospects of success in any case”. Tsegaye also features in The Legal 500 International Arbitration Powerlist UK, which showcases the UK’s leading arbitration practitioners. Tsegaye is recognised as a ‘future leader’ in the Who’s Who Legal Arbitration Guide. Peers and clients say he is “one of the best arbitration lawyers of his generation”.
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 2024 for banking litigation: investment and retail and is also recommended for commercial litigation. He is described as “unflappable, even under immense pressure” and as producing “consistently high quality work“, with a “real eye for making sure that the detail is right“. One commentator noted in a previous Guide 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“. Rory is a member of the Junior LSLA and LSLA.
Josh Wong
Described as a “an extremely experienced litigator with sound litigation instincts“, Josh is recognised as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 UK 2024 for international arbitration and banking litigation: investment and retail. He is commended for having a “very quick grasp of complex legal matters” and “excellent communication skills with clients, insurers and litigation funders“. He is further described as “an impressive operator who can attack a difficult situation with great energy, judgment and effectiveness“. One commentator notes that he is “very easy to work with” and a “superb strategist“. 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.
