Energy and Infrastructure Disputes
Energy, natural resources and infrastructure disputes are a fast growing practice at Signature and we act for a number of multinational companies, governments and ultra-high net worth individuals.
These disputes cover assets throughout the globe including Europe, Africa, CIS countries (including Kazakhstan and Ukraine), Asia and the Middle East.
Chambers UK Guide
The types of issues that have arisen in relation to these assets include shareholder disputes amongst JV partners, general contractual disputes including Trading Agreements and other offtake agreements, financial disputes with investors and banks, claims connected with fraud and bribery, claims connected with the collapse of deals where one party reneges on execution, expropriation of assets and other aspects of Bilateral Investment Treaties and EU Sanctions issues. In addition to local law aspects we are also highly experienced in dealing with the offshore elements connected with the disputes and have extensive experience in managing disputes in jurisdictions such as the BVI and Cayman Islands.
Our lawyers are highly experienced in the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Ioannis Alexopoulos is recognised as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 UK Guide for his litigation and international arbitration expertise and is described as having “great experience, clear thinking and iron logic”. His key industry sectors are infrastructure projects and disputes, including telecoms and IT projects, oil and gas disputes, natural resources and mining, shipping and international trade, including disputes in these sectors involving financing or business breakups and Joint Venture disputes and other ‘business divorces’. Ioannis’ practice is split between litigation and international arbitration. The Chambers UK and Global Guides highlights Ioannis’ arbitration expertise, noting he “brings long-standing experience in high-value commercial disputes seated across various jurisdictions.”
Josh Wong acts for a broad range of clients, focusing particularly on Chinese-based organisations, utilising his in-depth knowledge and experience of practicing in both China and Hong Kong. He is regarded as both an Expert Based Abroad in the UK and a Foreign Expert for China in Chambers Global. Chambers and Partners note that Josh is an “absolute international expert” with “notable expertise in the Chinese market”. Josh is also recognised as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 UK Guide for his international arbitration expertise.
Daniel Spendlove’s practice covers a range of industry sectors including financial markets, investment funds, mining, oil and gas and insurance/reinsurance. Daniel is regarded as a ‘Recommended Lawyer ’ in The Legal 500 UK Guide and he is described as “very smart, client focused and details-oriented” and “immerses himself in clients’ cases and takes a hands-on approach which reaps dividends”.
Natalia Chumak’s experience spans across many industry sectors including oil and gas, water, aluminium, metallurgical, electricity/infrastructure, argotrading and construction. She has been recommended in The Legal 500 UK for her litigation and international arbitration expertise, and is commended for having “extraordinary, high-quality analytical skills”.
Energy and Infrastructure Disputes Team
“The team attracts stellar work from a diverse range of international clients, resolving their most complex disputes.”
The Legal 500 UK 2023
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”.”
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“.
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”.
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.
Energy and Infrastructure Disputes Experience
Representing a Kazakh investor in LCIA Arbitration in a claim against a JV partner arising out of a hydrocarbon exploration contract worth several hundred million US dollars.
Acting for a major CIS natural resources conglomerate in relation to complex and multi-jurisdictional issues subject to US$500 million LCIA proceedings.
Acting for a group of offshore investment companies and their directors in an LCIA arbitration with claims in excess of US$1 billion following non-performance of a sale and purchase contract relating to a CIS based energy business.
Representing an investment bank in High Court proceedings against an African company in connection with the payment of fees which were due to the client for substantial M&A transaction work.
Representing a large oil and gas business group and related individuals in a series of High Court and LCIA proceedings against a bank in relation to the interpretation of loan agreements and related security documentation. The claim value was US$500 million with counterclaims worth US$4 billion.
Acting for an energy group in connection with a shareholder dispute regarding the development of a large hydro-electric project in southern Africa under the LCIA rules. The Group’s co-investors wish to introduce new equity partners into the project in breach of Loan Note provisions which protect it from dilution.
Representing a state owned bank in connection with a dispute regarding its interests in a Hungarian petrochemicals plant.
Advising the Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) on several matters. These include a costs claim against alleged overcharging by Dechert LLP over a £16m legal bill, and a civil claim being brought by the Serious Fraud Office regarding legally privileged material, relating to the SFO’s investigation into allegations of corruption and bribery (featured in The Lawyer’s top 20 cases of 2017).
Advising the family and estate of the late Badri Patarkatsishvili concerning ownership of interests of various assets, totalling approximately $2 billion in value.
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