International Arbitration
Our team is comprised of specialist arbitration lawyers who have substantial experience representing clients in high value and complex international arbitrations, whether pursuant to institutional rules or in ad hoc proceedings.
We also have extensive experience in bringing ancillary or enforcement proceedings before national courts.
Our expertise in international arbitration has been recognised in legal directories:
The Legal 500 UK 2021
Specialist dispute resolution firm Signature Litigation LLP focuses on complex, high-value and frequently cross-border cases. The ‘cohesive, agile, close-knit, hardworking team’ is particularly active in the energy, financial services, telecoms and technology sectors. Group head Ioannis Alexopoulos is experienced in cases involving Greece, the Balkans, Russia and Central Asia, the Middle East, Brazil and sub-Saharan Africa; and Josh Wong is an expert in security, asset tracing and enforcement actions involving multiple jurisdictions. Daniel Spendlove and counsel Neil Newing provide further support.
The Legal 500 UK 2020
“Signature Litigation LLP’s ‘tactical and strategic vision is unparalleled, and the practice has a great range of partners and associates’. It fields specialist arbitration lawyers who are experienced in high-value, complex international arbitrations. Natalia Chumak has a particular focus on CIS-related matters; Ioannis Alexopoulos is well known for joint venture and shareholder disputes, business break-ups and fraud and banking disputes; and Josh Wong is recommended for security, asset tracing and enforcement actions that involve multiple jurisdictions. Counsel Neil Newing and senior associate Nick Storrs are also key advisers.”
The Legal 500 UK 2019
“Signature Litigation LLP ‘has a strong and experienced arbitration team‘. The practice has substantial experience acting for clients in high-value, complex international arbitrations; and is particularly noted for disputes work involving Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. The key contacts are Natalia Chumak, Ioannis Alexopoulos, Adam Rooney and Josh Wong. Counsel Neil Newing, who joined from Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP, and senior associate Nick Storrs are also highly regarded.”
Our depth of experience and conflict free platform means we are well-placed to provide expert representation and advocacy in complex international matters.
We are able to advise on all stages of the arbitral process including: drafting of arbitration agreements; choice of law and jurisdiction; conducting the arbitral proceedings including acting as advocates before arbitral tribunals; enforcement of arbitral awards; and connected court matters such as anti-suit injunctions, freezing orders and other emergency measures. Our team is also experienced in investment treaty arbitration under the ICSID, ICC and UNCITRAL Rules.
We regularly act in arbitration matters for corporate clients and high net-worth individuals in the construction, energy, financial services, insurance, manufacturing, telecoms and technology sectors. Our recent experience includes acting for claimants and respondents in claims under the following rules:
- London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
- International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
- United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
- Swiss Chamber of Commerce Rules of International Arbitration (SCIA)
- Arbitral Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC)
- Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC)
- Dubai International Finance Centre-London Court of International Arbitration (DIFC-LCIA)
- Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)
- China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC)
We have a team of highly experienced experts in international arbitration with in depth knowledge of all areas of arbitration law and practice as well as its interplay with national courts.
Ioannis Alexopoulos has comprehensive experience in international arbitration across a broad range of sectors. The Legal 500 UK recognises Ioannis for having “great experience, clear thinking and iron logic”.
Natalia Chumak is ranked in Chambers and Partners for her work in the field of international arbitration. Natalia has also been recommended in The Legal 500 UK Guide for international arbitration.
Josh Wong is 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. He is also regarded as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 UK 2021 for his international arbitration expertise.
Daniel Spendlove has extensive experience acting for clients in arbitral proceedings, particularly in disputes relating to the oil and gas, mining and natural resources sectors.
Neil Newing has extensive experience as counsel in both international commercial arbitration and investment treaty arbitration. Neil has been recognised in The Legal 500 UK Guide as a key contact for international arbitration and public international law, and is co-author of the leading international arbitration textbook, “International Arbitration: A Practical Guide”.
International Arbitration Team
“Signature’s arbitration practice is high-powered and nimble.“
The Legal 500 UK 2021
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.”
Neil Newing
Neil is regarded as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 UK 2021 for International Arbitration, and is recognised 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 2021 Guide as a ‘future leader’.
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”.
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.
International Arbitration Experience
Acting for a Russian investment bank in SCC arbitration proceedings relating to an alleged breach of an Agency Agreement.
Advising on investment treaty claims under the ICSID Rules and applicable BITs in relation to the exploration of a metallurgical plant in the CIS region and breaches of investment protection rights.
Representing the infrastructure arm of one of Canada’s largest pension funds in relation to a US$1 billion shareholder dispute concerning the exercise of pre-emption rights.
Representing a BVI company in an arbitration relating to the recovery of a defaulting loan.
Acting for a Serbian investor in LCIA proceedings brought by a high net-worth Russian businessman relating to the financing of various investments in Serbian companies.
Advising on claims arising out of the expropriation of high profile media assets by an Eastern European State.
Acting for a major NOC in a Swiss Rules arbitration arising out of a cooperation agreement concerning upstream and downstream projects in Algeria.
Acting 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.
Acting 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 for a Middle East drilling contractor in a SIAC arbitration in Singapore concerning a dispute over the hiring of rigs in Iranian waters.
Acting for an international oil major in an LCIA arbitration in London concerning the sale of assets in Cameroon and the enforcement of warranties and indemnities, involving issues of both English and Cameroonian law.
Acting for the respondent State in defending ad hoc arbitration proceedings brought by an Asian investor under the auspices of a Bilateral Investment Treaty relating to alleged losses suffered on the termination of its investment in construction and infrastructure projects in the host State.
Acting for a Kazakh high net-worth individual in LCIA arbitration claims against a Chinese company concerning investments relating to oil and gas exploration activities.
Acting for a group of high-net worth individuals in LCIA arbitration claims relating to share options in a series of Russian automobile companies.
Representing a major natural resources conglomerate in complex, multi-party LCIA proceedings.
Acting for a Russian investor in ICC arbitration claims concerning disputes arising from an investment management agreement with a Cayman Islands registered company.
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Associate Thibaud Roujou de Boubée highlights the 13th key #arbitration development from 2020, examining the @iccwbo revised rules in relation to disclosure of third-party funding, here: bit.ly/3sBoC4G pic.twitter.com/Vesgkd3DK5
