The International Arbitration and Enforcement Forum 2025 - 2nd Annual

Katrina is a senior associate in Allen & Overy’s International Arbitration and Public International Law team. She has acted for a range of State clients in cross-border investment-treaty and commercial arbitrations under the ICSID, UNCITRAL, LCIA, ICC, CIArb and SIAC rules. Before joining Allen & Overy, she studied Law at the University of Cambridge and French Law at the Université Paris II (Panthéon-Assas), and worked as a legal advisor to the Legal Affairs, Disarmament and Terrorism Committees at the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, New York. 

Her State clients in investment treaty claims have included the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Slovenia.

She has also acted on enforcement and challenge proceedings before the UK courts, including defending enforcement proceedings against a State on the basis of sovereign immunity.  

Pavini Emiko Singh is a dual qualified partner in White & Case's Dispute Resolution group based in London, whose practice focuses on international arbitration.

Emiko has a broad range of experience representing states, companies, and individuals on high value cross-border arbitrations under the LCIA, ICC and UNCITRAL Rules. She has represented clients in the energy, construction, financial services and regulatory sectors on matters ranging from shareholders' and financial services disputes to investor-State disputes.

Emiko also has substantial experience with advising and representing corporate and financial services clients before the English courts, particularly in relation to the challenge and enforcement of arbitral awards arising out of investor-state and commercial disputes.

Stuart is the Global co-head of our international arbitration practice.

Stuart has drafted complex choice of law clauses and multi-tier and multi-party arbitration and jurisdiction agreements for many transactions, including multi-million dollar M&A deals and international oil and gas projects in the Middle East, Nigeria, India and South America.

Stuart has conducted arbitrations under both common law and civil law in England, mainland Europe (including Sweden, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic), the Middle East, Africa and Australia. He has acted for and against parties from the UK, mainland Europe, Central Europe, Asia, North and South America, Australia and Africa.

Alejandro has 20 years of dispute resolution experience. His practice focuses on international commercial arbitration and investment treaty arbitration. Alejandro is recognised as a “global leader” in international arbitration (Who’s Who Legal) and a leading directory describes him as a “brilliant mind [who] always finds a way around a problem”.

Jonathan Lim is a triple-qualified English solicitor, Singapore advocate, and New York lawyer with a focus on complex international disputes. He has a broad practice representing clients in all types of commercial and investment treaty arbitrations seated in common law and civil law jurisdictions worldwide, including England, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong, France, Brazil, The Netherlands, and Switzerland. His experience also includes ad hoc and institutional arbitrations under the rules of the HKIAC, ICC, ICDR, LCIA, PCA, SIAC, UNCITRAL, and others. He has represented both private sector and government clients in the aerospace, construction, energy, financial services, insurance, telecommunications, technology, and retail sectors, among others. Mr Lim has also worked on WTO dispute settlement matters and advised international organisations and governments in Africa and Asia on public international law issues.  

Nick works across a broad range of high-value, multi-jurisdictional disputes involving civil fraud, asset recovery, enforcement, banking litigation, arbitration, insolvency and shareholder claims. He has particular expertise in obtaining freezing, search, and disclosure orders.

Nick is consistently singled out for his work in international fraud and banking litigation, including high-profile cases for CIS banks. His hands-on approach and measured demeanour are welcomed by clients, who turn to Nick as a trusted manager of large-scale litigation.

Lucy is a partner in the Global Commercial Disputes Group. She has a broad international arbitration practice with particular expertise in investor-state dispute settlement and public international law. Lucy also advises clients on foreign investment protection.

Lucy has experience of acting in arbitrations for both claimants and respondents under all major arbitral rules and particularly on disputes arising in the mining, energy, construction, and commodities sectors. Lucy’s recent experience includes disputes over the transfer of licenses, the alleged nationalization of strategic assets, the alleged state expropriation of mineral and petroleum assets, and breaches of other commercial agreements and international law.

Jenny has long-standing experience in data protection, privacy and cybersecurity matters and is a CIPP/E. She advises multinational clients, including those developing, deploying and investing in ML/AI technologies, on related UK and European Union (EU) legislation and regulation. Her practice includes assisting clients who operationalize innovative technologies such as facial recognition.

Alejandro Escobar practises in public international law and arbitration. He advises businesses and states in disputes arising out of investment protection treaties and in arbitrations arising out of project agreements. He has handled numerous claims of expropriation and abusive regulation in various industries, including power, oil & gas, telecommunications, and public concessions and procurement. Alejandro advises on other international law issues, including boundary disputes, relevant to international business.

Charles Claypoole, a leading arbitration and international trade law practitioner, advises governments and investors on public international law, with a particular focus on investment treaty arbitration and trade sanctions. A seasoned advocate with an impressive track record, he draws on more than two decades of experience representing clients before a range of international courts and tribunals.

Oliver is a specialist in international arbitration.  He advises and represents companies and state governments in arbitrations under commercial contracts and investment treaties and related court proceedings. 

Oliver has experience across a broad range of sectors, encompassing energy (including renewables), banking/finance, insurance, pharma/biosciences, defence/aerospace, industrials, healthcare and entertainment. In particular, he has extensive experience of tax-related disputes against States and post-M&A disputes.  He conducts advocacy before arbitral tribunals and in the English courts, where he holds higher rights of audience.

Dr. Kabir Duggal is an attorney in Arnold and Porter's New York office focusing on international arbitration and public international law matters, serving both as arbitrator and mediator.  He is recognized as a “Chartered Arbitrator” (the highest ranking for arbitrators) by both the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution.  He also frequently serves as an expert on international arbitration and public international law matters. He is also a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion issues and frequently writes and speaks on these issues. Dr. Duggal is also a Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia Law School, an adjunct Professor at Fordham Law School, and a Course Director and a Faculty Member for the Columbia Law School-Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Comprehensive Course on International Arbitration. 

Noor Kadhim is a Solicitor Advocate of the English Courts, with 15 years’ experience in international dispute resolution. She has First Class (Undergraduate Honours and Masters level) degrees in the areas of Law, French, and International Dispute Settlement. Her areas of focus are commercial and investment arbitration, litigation financing, art and cultural heritage law, and international law.

Noor has established her legal consultancy, Kadhims, with global clients on matters ranging from representing individuals to States and State entities, in high value investor-State actions in the projects or financial sectors. Having worked for international law firms in London, Paris, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Noor is well versed in international law and cross-border disputes, notably those in the French and Arab-speaking regions of the world and those with a civil law element. In addition, Noor has in-house experience at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris (ICC) where she worked as Deputy Counsel in the Eastern Mediterranean team, and at a global litigation fund, Vannin Capital (now part of the Fortress Group). She currently advises Axia Funder on cases for funding.

I am ranked as a 'Rising Star' for Civil Fraud in the Legal 500, where I've been described by clients as a "really dynamic, skilful litigator" and "a superstar in the making" who is "dedicated to providing an excellent client service, obtaining great results against the odds".

I was recently the lead associate in the case of AA v The Family Officer Limited in which I acted for a high-net worth individual to recover monies following a €15 million push payment fraud. The case spanned multiple jurisdictions and utilised 'Persons Unknown' freezing injunctions in the English High Court as well as evidence of mobile phone triangulation and spoofed emails. This case was a rare example of a fraud claim succeeding at the summary judgment stage.

I have conducted a number of internal investigations for large multinational corporate bodies involving fraud, corruption and bribery. My investigation work often overlaps with claims for breach of confidence resulting from the theft and use of confidential business information.

David is the Head of Arbitration and Investment Manager in Deminor’s London office.  David focuses on litigation funding opportunities in international arbitration and UK litigation.  He sources potential opportunities, carries out diligence on cases, and monitors funded cases.  David has more than ten years of experience in international commercial arbitration and investor state arbitration, having practised as an international arbitration solicitor and as in-house legal advisor for litigation funders.

Eraldo is a partner and solicitor advocate with over 15 years’ experience in dispute resolution. His main area of focus is international commercial arbitration. According to the Legal 500, Eraldo “stands out for his exceptional litigation and arbitration knowledge.”

Eraldo has acted on LCIA, ICC, SIAC and ad hoc arbitrations seated in all major centres, including London, New York, Paris, Singapore and Geneva. He has also worked on some of the largest cases in the Technology and Construction Court.

Prior to joining HK, Eraldo was at the London office of Clifford Chance and had spent time on secondment in their Madrid office. He also has in-house experience having been on secondment to General Electric and Barclays.

Eraldo is available for appointment as arbitrator in administered or ad hoc arbitrations.

Member of the Paris and New York Bars and partner at TALMA Dispute Resolution.

His practice focuses on international arbitration as well as commercial and corporate litigation.

Alexandre Reynaud has acted as counsel in numerous arbitration proceedings under the auspices of leading arbitral institutions (International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), OHADA Common Court of Arbitration (CCJA), Paris Mediation and Arbitration Center (CMAP), etc.), in particular in the defence, aeronautics, energy, hotel and construction sectors.

He also sits as an arbitrator. 

Alexandre Reynaud has developed a cutting-edge expertise in arbitration-related judicial proceedings (appointment and disqualification of arbitrators; annulment, review and third-party proceedings, exequatur) as well as in the enforcement of arbitral awards against private persons or foreign States (Loi Sapin II).

In addition to his practice in arbitration law, he often acts as counsel, in France and abroad, in complex litigation concerning commercial and corporate disputes.

Alexandre Reynaud began his career in the Paris office of an international law firm. He then took part in the creation of a leading business law firm dedicated to the resolution of international disputes, as an associate before becoming a partner. 

Natascha has a wide range of experience in commercial litigation and international arbitration. Her practice is focused on complex multi-jurisdictional disputes arising out of commercial contracts, shareholders agreements, as well as disputes involving financial institutions and high net-worth individuals. She specialises in the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards.

She regularly advises shareholders, insolvency practitioners, banks and energy companies in cross-border proceedings. Natascha also has extensive experience acting in section 238 fair value appraisal proceedings.

Prior to joining Collas Crill in 2021, Natascha spent nearly three years at Maples and Calder in the Cayman Islands. Before moving to the Cayman Islands, Natascha practised at Akin Gump and DLA Piper in London and New York.

Natascha is a member of Ciarb, RISA and IWIRC.

Chiraag Shah is an international disputes partner in the London office of Morrison Foerster. He has over 2 decades of experience representing clients in domestic and cross-border disputes including commercial and investor-state arbitrations around the world. Chiraag also has significant experience of cross-border multi-jurisdictional commercial litigation and sanctions related disputes.

Recognised in the Arbitration Powerlist: UK, Chambers UK and as a leading individual in the Legal 500 UK, Chiraag is ‘commended for his ability to handle disputes involving the engineering and technology sectors. Recent work includes advising on proceedings related to arbitral awards, as well as ICC and SIAC arbitrations.’. Clients describe him as “breathtakingly hard-working and as a result provides exceptional results for his clients. He always has a good sense of what is best to do. He has dealt with so many arbitrations he knows exactly how it works.” “He is very responsive and provides excellent guidance and advice… is very conscientious and a pleasure to work with.” “He is cool, calm and collected... and in control all of the time.”

Maurice is an international disputes lawyer focused on the energy and natural resources sectors and head of our international arbitration and transnational litigation practice. He is also known for his experience in complex insurance coverage issues where he has acted for various clients in numerous high profile matters over the last 20 years.

Educated in both South Africa and England, he has worked across five continents and handled disputes in the mining, oil and gas, renewables, power generation, telecommunications, infrastructure and insurance sectors. He has built a track-record leading teams and arbitrating cases under the ICC, LCIA and UNCITRAL rules, as well as at ICSID and in the English High Court. Maurice is described in Legal 500 as a “world-class litigator” with “particularly impressive” work in Africa.

Ruth Byrne KC specialises in international commercial and investment disputes, with a particular focus on energy, life sciences, fraud and enforcement. 

Ruth has advised clients on disputes arising in multiple jurisdictions and has appeared as counsel in 100+ arbitrations as well sitting regularly as arbitrator.  She also appears frequently in the English High Court, in particular in proceedings in support of arbitration, as well as more generally in international commercial litigation.  Recognised in several legal directories over the years, Ruth is described as “superb”, “an exceptional litigator”, “an excellent advocate wise beyond her years” and “a persistent, credible case builder”.  Clients note her “ability to marshal enormous doses of information, retain key facts, be diligent and patient, and follow through as if it were her personal matter – her analysis is always based on facts, the law and the cultural sensibilities of the jurisdictions involved” and that she is “very strategic in her thinking and able to pare down arguments to what's important”.

Ruth writes and speaks regularly on a variety of international arbitration topics.  Ruth is a member of the ICC UK Selection Subcommittee, the Delos ROAP faculty and a former YIAG Co-Chair.

Duncan Speller is a partner in the firm's Litigation Department, and Co- Chair of Willkie’s Arbitration Practice Group. Duncan is based in the London office, where he practices International Arbitration and English High Court Litigation.

Duncan is an English barrister. He has significant experience of conducting oral advocacy as a first chair and  has successfully represented clients as an advocate on some of the most challenging, high-value and complex cases over the past decade. Duncan has represented clients in over two hundred institutional and ad hoc arbitrations, sited in both common and civil law jurisdictions, including England, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, France, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Austria and Germany.

Andy is a partner in the Baker McKenzie Dispute Resolution team based in London. He advises clients on international, commercial and investment treaty arbitration as well as in complex, often multijurisdictional litigation, mediations and expert determinations. He also advises clients on issues pertaining to private and public international law.

Andy is recommended in Who's Who Legal: Arbitration 2018 and individually ranked in the field of International Arbitration by Chambers UK, who describe him as "a 'superb' practitioner," and "very commercial" and also recognized by Legal 500, who call him "an arbitration doyen."

Conway Blake is a partner and member of the firm’s International Dispute Resolution Group, based in London.

Dr. Blake represents corporate clients, sovereigns and international organisations on a range of contentious matters, particularly in investor-state arbitration, public international law disputes and commercial arbitrations governed by various substantive laws and conducted under the major arbitral rules. He is actively involved in the public international law and arbitration communities (including the YIAG, YPILG and YICCA), and has been recognised as a Future Leader in international arbitration by Who’s Who Legal (2022). Dr. Blake is recommended by Chambers UK (2024), where he has been described as “a star in the making” and “a brilliant mind.” He is also recommended by The Legal 500 UK (2024), where clients describe him as “a fantastic legal strategist” and “a great communicator.” He also receives praise for his “exceptional legal knowledge, attention to detail, and ability to think outside the box.” Sources have highlighted his “outstanding judgement and extraordinary dedication whether on high profile commercial work or on pro bono human rights work.”

Raeesa is an Of Counsel based in London, specialising in International Arbitration and Construction.

Raeesa has a wide range of experience advising clients in the energy, infrastructure and construction sectors, from the provision of initial advice on claims under contract and throughout the dispute resolution process.  Her practice focuses on high-value and complex international construction and engineering disputes, in both the public and private sector.

Raeesa has experience of construction projects, involving renewable energy, gas power plants, LNG mega projects, vessels for offshore oil and gas, light rail terminals and railways, aircrafts and water treatment plants.  

Sophia is a Senior Associate in the London office and is a construction lawyer, specialising in the management and resolution of disputes arising out of construction, energy and infrastructure projects.

Sophia has represented owners and contractors in disputes concerning a number of complex, high value projects around the world, with particular focus on oil, gas, power, offshore and shipbuilding projects.

Sophia’s experience comprises acting under a variety of dispute resolution mechanisms including arbitration, courts, adjudication and DABs/DRBs in the UK, the Middle East, Europe and Asia. She also has experience of a number of ADR procedures including mediation, conciliation and early neutral evaluation.