Biography
Tsegaye is a partner specialising in international arbitration.
With over 12 years’ experience of international arbitrations as counsel, Tsegaye has advised and represented companies, States and State-owned entities in arbitrations conducted pursuant to the arbitration rules of many of the major arbitration institutions including the LCIA, ICC, ICSID, CRCICA, HKIAC and UNCITRAL, with a particular focus on disputes in the oil and gas, energy, mining, construction and telecoms sectors.
Tsegaye has also developed an expertise in arbitrations involving complex corporate structures, financial products, accounting and tax issues and handles all matters relating to quantum in international arbitrations. While Tsegaye’s practice focuses exclusively on international arbitration, he began his career in the Project Finance group of a magic circle firm, acting for financial institutions and international corporates in relation to the financing and development of large energy and infrastructure projects in the MENA region and Sub-Saharan Africa.
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”.
Prior to joining Signature Litigation, Tsegaye was a partner at international arbitration boutique law firm Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes, and before that he was a member of Shearman & Sterling’s international arbitration group where he practiced for over ten years, first in Paris, then in London from 2015.
Tsegaye is admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales and the Paris Bar. He is a fluent English speaker and a native speaker of Amharic and French. He is also conversant in Spanish.
Experience
International commercial arbitration
- Representing a private equity fund in ICC and HKIAC arbitrations initiated by alleged investors in the fund, as well as in related domestic court proceedings in multiple jurisdictions. The arbitrations each concerned the transfer of assets worth over USD$1.5 billion managed by the fund. Hong Kong and Cayman Islands law applied.
- Acting for a North American multinational information management company in a SIAC arbitration in Singapore against a South Asian private equity firm. The dispute concerned the valuation of a company and involved the interpretation of IFRS and GAAP standards in financial statements. English law applied.
- Advising a private investment company in a USD$2 billion ICC arbitration in a claim relating to the acquisition of a commodity producer in Brazil. This dispute concerned the closing conditions under a Brazilian law governed Share Purchase Agreement and the valuation of the target company.
- Representing the claimant, a group of shareholders of a holding company, in an ICC arbitration in Paris against two shareholders in the same company. The dispute concerned the interpretation of a put option provision and underlying accounting standards in connection with the acquisition of shares in a holding company. The law of the Netherlands applied and over the matter value exceeded USD$1 billion.
- Representing a major European retail group in its claim against its Brazilian joint venture partner. Seated in São Paulo, the ICC arbitration concerned breaches of a shareholders’ agreement concluded between the parties relating to the control of Brazil’s largest retailer. In this dispute, Brazilian law applied.
- Representing an international accounting firm in an arbitration brought under the Rules of Arbitration of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre. The dispute arose from the audit of a Southeast Asian conglomerate and involved International Standards on Auditing and accounting issues. Vietnamese law applied.
- Representing a multinational energy company in an ICC arbitration brought against its joint venture partners in relation to a nuclear power project in China. The dispute relates to the contractual profit-sharing framework and involves complex accounting and financial issues. Chinese law applies.
- Advising an African telecom infrastructure company in a dispute with an African telecom provider. The dispute arose from an infrastructure license agreement governed by New York law and providing for ICC arbitration in Paris.
- Representing a Middle Eastern fund who is the respondent in an ICC arbitration in Paris arising from a sports sponsorship agreement. The law of the claimant’s State applies and over €530 million is at stake.
- Acting for a North American heavy equipment supplier and contractor in relation to delays, disruption, defects and other disputes arising out of two energy construction projects in Africa with claims and counterclaims of over USD$2 billion.
International arbitrations involving states and state-owned companies
- Advising Cairn Energy PLC in a USD$5.5 billion UNCITRAL arbitration against the Republic of India. The claims were brought under the UK-India bilateral investment treaty. The dispute related to retrospective tax measures adopted by the Indian Government.
- Acting for two international construction contractors who were respondents in a USD$3.7 billion ICC arbitration in London initiated by a Middle Eastern State-owned company. The dispute concerns the development of a world-class medical facility in the Middle East.
- Acting for an international logistics company in an ICC arbitration in Paris brought against the Port Authority of an African State. The dispute arises from a concession agreement related to the management and operation of a container terminal.
- Representing the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Respondent in an ICSID arbitration initiated by Orascom TMT Investments S.à r.l. (ICSID Case No. ARB/12/35). This multi-billion US dollar dispute related to alleged breaches of the Algeria-Belgium-Luxembourg bilateral investment treaty in relation to the operation of a mobile telephone company in Algeria.
- Acting for the Arab Republic of Egypt who was the Respondent in an ICSID arbitration initiated by Ampal-American Israel Corporation and other investors (ICSID Case No. ARB/12/11) concerning alleged violations of investors’ rights under the Egypt-U.S. and the Egypt-Germany bilateral investment treaties. The investment concerned a long-term contract for the supply of natural gas.
- Representing the Respondent in two CRCICA arbitrations, a Middle Eastern State-owned gas company, respectively seated in Cairo and in Madrid, brought by a European energy company. The dispute arose from a gas supply agreement. Egyptian law applied.
Selected experience as arbitrator
- Co-arbitrator appointed by the LCIA in a dispute arising from a Share Purchase Agreement in relation to oil and gas assets located in Kenya. In this dispute, English law applies, and it is seated in Nairobi, Kenya, and held under LCIA Rules.
- Sole arbitrator appointed by the LCIA in two related arbitrations in a dispute arising out of a loan agreement. English law applies to this dispute and it is a London seated arbitration under LCIA Rules.
- Co-arbitrator appointed by the LCIA in a dispute between an American financial institution and an African state entity arising out of an international money transfer agreement. English law applies to this dispute and it is a London seated arbitration under LCIA Rules.
Publications
Multijurisdictional dispute resolution in M&A transactions – Financier Worldwide’s Managing and Resolving Commercial Disputes 2023 – 28 April 2023
PAW2023: Keeping arbitration fit for purpose – Commercial Dispute Resolution – 3 April 2023
Nigeria launches appeal of $11bn P&ID arbitration bill – African Business Magazine – 25 January 2023
Quinn and Mishcon Do Battle in $11B Nigeria Damages Bill Case – Law.com International – 24 January 2023
L’Éthiopie, nouvel eldorado des banquiers africains ? – Jeune Afrique – 5 December 2022
SIGNATURE LITIGATION—TSEGAYE LAURENDEAU – New Law Journal – 12 September 2022
Signature Litigation sees revenue growth slow to 1.4% this year after bumper 2021 – The Global Legal Post – 7 September 2022
Slower growth at Signature Litigation but staff see increased profit share – Legal Business – 6 September 2022
Signature hires from GBS Disputes – Global Arbitration Review – 5 September 2022
Signature Litigation Posts £28M Revenue In Latest Results – Law360 – 5 September 2022
Signature move for international arbitration specialist – CDR News – 5 September 2022
Areas of Expertise
Latest news
@SignatureLitLLP
We are pleased to announce that Ela Barda has been promoted to Counsel - many congratulations, Ela! Read more here: bit.ly/3XMqd7A #Litigation #CommercialLitigation pic.twitter.com/JxZLKh1qN2
Sylvie Gallage-Alwis and Gaëtan de Robillard discuss the impact of recent legislative change on the green industry in Option Droit & Affaires
7 December 2023
Sylvie Gallage-Alwis and Gaëtan de Robillard discuss the impact of recent legislative change on the green industry in Option Droit & Affaires
7 December 2023
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.
