Sovereign & States Disputes and Enforcement

Recognised by The Legal 500 as a “rising star” “headed for the very top”, Jon specialises in high-value, complex international commercial disputes with particular expertise in civil fraud, enforcement and asset recovery (including both commercial and sovereign debt), and he has obtained a number of ground-breaking orders in this regard. The Legal 500 has called Jon a “bright young gun with a shrewd mind and a calm approach” and states there is “complete trust and faith in Jon’s advice and his expertise”. It recognises him as a Next Generation Partner in Civil Fraud and Banking Litigation, and Who’s Who Legal identifies Jon as a future leader for commercial litigation. Jon has an international practice with clients including sovereigns, financial institutions, corporate clients, high-net-worth individuals and insolvency practitioners, and has acted on a number of complex and high value Russian/CIS cases.

For nearly 20 years, Baiju has focused exclusively on international arbitration matters.

He has served as counsel and arbitrator (sole, wing, and chair) in international arbitrations involving ICSID, ICC, LCIA, ICDR, SIAC, HKIAC, UNCITRAL Rules, bilateral investment treaties (BITs), the Energy Charter Treaty, NAFTA, DR-CAFTA, and public international law. He has also advised states on the negotiation and drafting of investment treaties, and investors on the (re)structuring of their investments for maximum treaty protection consonant with tax and corporate governance strategies.

Nikos Asimakopoulos joined Alaco in 2008.  He focuses on dispute-related assignments on behalf of law firms and their clients, working internationally. 

He has developed specific expertise in the extractive industries, particularly in Russia, Central Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.  Nikos holds a BSc and an MSc in Economics from the universities of York and Bath, respectively.  He speaks Greek and Russian.

Sylvia Tonova is a Global Disputes partner in the London office of Jones Day.  She focuses on the resolution of complex, high-stakes international disputes, with a particular emphasis on disputes between foreign investors and governments. She acts as both counsel and arbitrator and is appointed to the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators and the HKIAC List of Arbitrators.

Sylvia's experience spans Europe and the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia in a range of industries, including mining, oil and gas, energy, and telecommunications. She has represented clients under all the major arbitration rules and advises clients on arbitration clauses, sovereign immunity, and protecting investments against political risk.

Sylvia is recognized in The Legal 500, Chambers, Who's Who Legal: Arbitration, and Who's Who Legal: Mining. She serves on the International Bar Association's Arbitration Committee as co-chair of the international commercial arbitration case law subcommittee and teaches enforcement of awards at Roma Tre Law School.

Laure-Hélène Gaicio-Fievez focuses on complex real estate, commercial, corporate and financial disputes. Laure-Hélène has extensive experience in all forms of international and domestic dispute resolution including litigation and arbitration, as well as enforcing and obtaining freezing injunctions in international arbitration, enforcements of ICSID awards, and more generally in the recovery of assets. In addition, she has experience in real estate and commercial contracts, drafting and negotiating a number of complex agreements.

Tomas is the Founder of Vail Dispute Resolution, an independent disputes practice advising on investor-state arbitration and international commercial arbitration under the ICSID, LCIA, ICC, SCC, NAI and UNCITRAL rules.

With over a decade of experience in the world’s top arbitration practices, Tomas is recognised by Chambers and Legal 500, and by Who’s Who Legal as among the “most highly regarded” arbitration practitioners in EMEA.

He is currently acting as lead counsel in an ICSID arbitration against Belarus and in other investment treaty disputes under bilateral and multilateral investment treaties, including under the Energy Charter Treaty. Tomas is also acting as lead counsel in several commercial arbitrations, and has experience representing clients in commercial arbitrations involving sovereigns and state-owned entities.

Tomas regularly sits as arbitrator and is listed in the arbitration panels of the LCIA, ICC, SCC and SIAC, among others. He is fluent in English, Russian and French.

Thomas is a political and business strategist who over the past two decades has advised dozens of CEOs, political leaders, prominent individuals worldwide on their strategy, reputation, dispute resolution, communications, ESG and crisis management.

His past and current sovereign clients include the Presidents or Prime Ministers of France, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Georgia, Thailand, Lebanon, Djibouti, Nigeria and Zambia. He has also advised numerous CEOs and ultra-high net worth individuals on high-stake issues.

He began career as a French civil servant working in the French Prime Minister’s office in Paris and later served as senior political adviser to the Bulgarian Prime Minister in Sofia and to the Georgian President in Tbilisi. He worked for five years in Kyiv as Chief of Staff to Victor Pinchuk, one of Ukraine’s most prominent investors.

Before setting up Highgate, Thomas served for two years as Managing Director at Mercury, a US high-stake public strategy firm, and six years as Executive Director at APCO Worldwide, where he successfully created and led the agency’s global geopolitical, reputation and litigation practice out of London.

Thomas has a longstanding passion for environment, ESG and philanthropy. He majored in environmental science, worked for the French Ministry of Environment and established the position of the French Government for the creation of the first international Emissions Trading System (ETS). As a student in Paris, he was the National Secretary of the Action Sociale Etudiante, a student NGO. In 2006, he designed and created the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, the then largest philanthropic foundation in Eastern Europe, and became its President. Thomas is an Aspen Institute alumnus and led the creation of an Aspen Institute in both Ukraine and the UK.

He graduated from the Ecole des Mines de Paris and the Corps des Mines.

Solomon Ebere is a New York attorney and French avocat whose practice encompasses advising on international dispute resolution, international law and general commercial matters. Solomon advises multinational corporations as well as sovereign States and private clients. He has considerable experience in investor-state arbitration, litigation and mediation with a particular focus on emerging markets. Solomon has practiced in London, New York, Paris and Geneva at leading international arbitration practices, and has represented clients under most major arbitral rules systems. His recent experience includes acting for sovereign States and private clients in multiple ICSID and commercial arbitrations across sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Solomon is also the Director of Communications at the Africa Arbitration Academy, a critically-acclaimed advanced training programme provided to young African practitioners.

Clara Poglia is a partner in Schellenberg Wittmer’s Geneva office, where she co-heads the dispute resolution group. Clara's key areas of expertise and practice focus on white-collar crime, international mutual legal assistance both in criminal and tax matters, extradition, asset tracing and recovery, and internal corporate investigations. Clara is also specialized in regulatory and compliance issues. Clara regularly acts as counsel for both individuals and prominent corporate entities in criminal and administrative proceedings before cantonal and federal authorities and courts, including the Swiss Supreme Court.

Alberto Fortún has represented private investors against public authorities, particularly in Africa and Latin America.

He is recognized nationally and internationally as a promoter of arbitration in Spain, and is an expert in resolving commercial disputes relating to energy projects, joint ventures, engineering and construction. He has participated in over 100 arbitrations and alternative dispute resolutions (including mediation, adjudication and dispute resolution boards).
He is a fellow and an approved trainer of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He has acted as arbitrator at the LCIA, the Court of Arbitration of Madrid and the European Arbitration Association. He is a listed arbitrator in the ICDR roster of the AAA, in the Hispanic-Moroccan Court and the Dubai International Arbitration Center. He is a member of the LCIA, AIPN, ABA (International Law Section, international litigation and arbitration committees) and an affiliate member of the Inter–American Affairs Committee of the New York City Bar.

Cathalijne conducts an international practice that consists for the main part of international judgement enforcement and civil asset tracing & recovery, with an accent to financial crime matters.

In addition, because of her special expertise on private international law, Cathalijne van der Plas is frequently called in as ‘lawyer’s lawyer’ by fellow professionals in order to render opinions or give advice on complex issues concerning the international jurisdiction of courts, the applicable law and the recognition and enforcement of foreign decisions or arbitral awards. She has a unique knowledge of the intersections of private international law, public international law and international sanctions law, with regard to among other things supermandatory rules and immunity from jurisdiction and from execution.

I have considerable experience helping stressed and distressed companies address their financing requirements. My specialism is working in syndicated lending situations and negotiating consensual financing agreements between companies and financial stakeholders.

For more than 15 years, I've advised lenders and companies on multiple challenging and high-profile projects including: JJB Sports, Aston Martin, Amtel Vredestein, Opal Property Group and Alternative Hotel Group.  My clients tell me that my skills are most suited to challenging situations that require innovative solutions.  

I have worked extensively on international assignments and have recently taken on the role of head of the firm's Africa advisory desk. In this capacity, I coordinate the delivery of a broad range of advisory services to companies, lenders and investors in West and East Africa.

Outside work, I continue to be intrigued by the boundless joys of bringing up my two young daughters with my wife.

Wemimo is the Founder and Principal Counsel of the firm. Wemimo is a leading Senior Advocate of Nigeria as well as a former Attorney General of Ogun State. Since his call to the Nigerian bar in 1983, he has practised as a lawyer and over the years, he has distinguished himself in the legal profession as an intelligent and experienced lawyer who achieved excellence through dedication and integrity.  Wemimo has successfully argued several cases in all courts of record in Nigeria including landmark cases pursued at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Wemimo is well known for his sound advocacy skills and the ability to proffer practical and innovative solutions to complex legal matters. Notably, a Supreme Court judge, Honourable Justice Esho J.S.C (as he then was) commended a brief solely written by Wemimo when he was only four (4) years at the bar as "brilliant". Wemimo is also an established Arbitration lawyer who currently acts for the Nigerian Government in several international commercial Arbitrations.

Paolo Di Giovanni is a partner in the BonelliErede’s Milan office. He has a broad-ranging dispute resolution practice, which encompasses international and domestic arbitrations, and cross-border commercial litigation.

Paolo focuses primarily on disputes concerning M&A transactions and postclosing claims, joint ventures, complex EPC/construction projects and an extremely wide range of other international commercial contracts (including agency, franchising, supply, and securitization) in an array of different industry sectors, e.g., infrastructure, energy, oil & gas, chemical products, banking, telecommunications, fashion and luxury goods. He has also acquired specific expertise in matters concerning securities, first demand guarantees, contractual fraud and environmental liability claims.

Paolo has conducted arbitrations before major arbitral institutions and under different sets of rules (ICC, LCIA, CAM, DIAC, VIAC, etc.). He built up his international experience during his time as a visiting foreign lawyer at the London Office of Slaughter and May (2005) and at 20 Essex Street (2008).

Paolo graduated summa cum laude from the LUISS University in Rome in 1998 and was admitted to the Italian Bar in 2002. He became a partner in 2012.

Nicolas C. Herren is a partner at Pestalozzi Attorneys at Law, Geneva Office. He specializes in white collar crime, international mutual assistance in criminal matters and asset recovery. In addition, he has a broad experience in national and cross-border commercial/finance disputes, in particular stemming out of contractual and regulatory issues. His activity also covers also enforcement proceedings such as complex cross-border bankruptcies or recognition of foreign judgments.

He was until recently the President of the Commercial Fraud Commission of the International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA) and his name is mentioned on various ranking websites.

Benoît A. Mauron joined LALIVE in 2015. He practices in litigation, representing clients in both civil and criminal Swiss proceedings, with a focus on domestic and cross border commercial disputes and fraud litigation, including asset recovery. He is a member of the founding committee of FIRE Starters, an international platform for fraud, insolvency, recovery and enforcement practitioners and frequently represents the firm as a speaker on these topics.

Before joining LALIVE, Benoît A. Mauron worked as an associate in the dispute resolution group of a leading Swiss firm in Geneva (2012-2014) where he also trained (2010-2012).

He holds an LL.M. degree from Columbia Law School (Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar with Honors, 2015) as well as a Master in Swiss law from the University of Lausanne (major in Business Law, magna cum laude, 2009). He is admitted to practise in Switzerland (2012) and in New York (2019).

Benjamin Siino is a founding partner of Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes. Prior to founding Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes he was a partner at Shearman & Sterling where he practiced for more than ten years.

Benjamin acts as counsel in ad hoc and institutional arbitrations under UNCITRAL, ICC and ICSID rules. His experience includes energy arbitrations, investor-state arbitrations and general commercial arbitrations.

Benjamin’s other area of focus is arbitration-related proceedings before national courts. He regularly acts as counsel in proceedings to seek the setting aside, recognition or enforcement of arbitral awards and foreign judgments. Notably, Benjamin is heavily involved in the enforcement of the USD 50 billion award on behalf of the majority shareholders of the former Yukos Oil Company against the Russian Federation, across multiple jurisdictions.

Author of several publications on arbitration-related litigation, Benjamin has co-edited the Second Edition of the GAR Guide to Challenging and Enforcing Arbitral Awards (2021).

Hakim Boularbah is partner at Loyens & Loeff Brussels where he heads the International Litigation and Arbitration Practice. He is an expert in cross-border litigation and international arbitration.

Hakim focuses on civil and corporate litigation (class actions, shareholders’ disputes, post-acquisition claims, ...) and asset recovery. He has broad experience both as (sole, chair or co-) arbitrator as well as counsel in national and international commercial arbitrations, especially in contract and corporate disputes. He has an extensive practice in arbitration-related court proceedings, especially setting aside and enforcement of international arbitral awards, including investment treaty awards against sovereign states, and in obtaining interim reliefs and protective measures or resisting to them. He is also one of the most renowned specialists of collective redress.

Hakim is Professor of Civil Procedure Law at the Université the Liège, and the author of numerous publications on class actions, civil procedure, private international law and arbitration law.

Mikhail is an experienced dispute resolution lawyer. His expertise includes international arbitration, and he conducted arbitrations under the major arbitral institutions and rules, including LCIA, ICC, SCC and UNCITRAL, as well as commodities arbitrations, including under the FOSFA rules. Mikhail regularly acts in disputes concerning assets in or clients from the emerging markets.

In addition to arbitration, Mikhail’s practice includes financial sanctions. Mikhail’s experience includes challenging an OFSI fine in a ministerial review and obtaining sanctions authorisations from the relevant authorities.

Prior to joining Cooke, Young & Keidan LLP, Mikhail was part of the arbitration team at Linklaters LLP for over 7 years. Mikhail read Law at the University of Bristol. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and holds a Diploma in International Arbitration. Mikhail is a Solicitor Advocate and is also registered as an Advocate with the Cyprus Bar Association.

International litigator Stéphane Bonifassi directs actions in the areas of complex white-collar crime and asset recovery. Over nearly 30 years representing individuals, corporations and states victimized by economic crimes, he has often acted as a strategist behind the scenes in high-stakes litigation.

Who’s Who Legal: Asset Recovery 2019 recommends him as “one of the premier figures in the European asset recovery market, known for his remarkable ability when it comes to criminal investigations requiring asset recovery.”

Valued for his progressive and creative approach to international parties and complex, cross-border issues, Stéphane regularly assumes a leading role in cases of business crime and fraud, economic sanctions, corruption, forfeiture and confiscation, as well as transnational enforcement of judgments and internal investigations. The Best Lawyers in France© 2020, in partnership with Les Échos, highlights his criminal defense practice.

Dr Dominik Milani’s main practice areas are civil procedure, debt collection and bankruptcy law, labour law and commercial and contract law. 

Dr Dominik Milani acts in an advisory capacity and represents his clients before all authorities. 

He is a lecturer in the fields of labour and civil procedure law at FFHS (the Swiss Distance University of Applied Sciences). 

Dr Dominik Milani is the author and publisher of a commentary on bankruptcy law. Dr Dominik Milani regularly publishes in his practice areas. 

Dr Dominik Milani provides advice in German and English. 

Lastly, Dr Dominik Milani holds directorships in a variety of sectors.

Kian Meshkat is a California attorney who is Of Counsel with the law firm of Ferrari & Associates, P.C. in Washington D.C. He represents multinational corporations, small-businesses, financial institutions, and individuals, in economic sanctions and export controls matters related to the laws and regulations administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security ("BIS''). Such matters include providing routine transactional advice, regulatory licensing, internal investigations, self-disclosures, enforcement actions, compliance, and delisting requests. 

As a former Managing Consultant with Ernst & Young's Global Trade practice, he served as a subject matter expert to the court-appointed monitor for the largest monitorship in U.S. history for economic sanctions and export controls violations. 

David is a seasoned litigation funder having worked on a broad range of litigation financing transactions including international enforcement, commercial litigation, and arbitration globally.

David is a specialist in international disputes and previously worked in the arbitration teams at Arnold & Porter and Withers, including on a number of commercial and investment disputes for States and State entities.  David is named a Thought Leader by Who’s Who Legal Third Party Funding.

Jef Klazen focuses on international asset recovery, including the enforcement of judgments and arbitration awards. Described by the publishers of Global Arbitration Review as “renowned for his deep expertise in asset recovery” and his “excellent written advocacy,” he advises companies and individuals on how to monetize their legal claims and judgments and has particular experience with enforcement efforts arising from investor-state disputes that may involve state immunity. With degrees in both U.S. and international law, Mr. Klazen is able to help clients develop and execute a global asset-tracing and recovery strategy, which may include the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and offshore jurisdictions. Mr. Klazen also litigates commercial disputes in New York courts and across the United States and is an aggressive advocate for clients in matters involving complex financial products at both the trial and appeal levels. Before joining Kobre & Kim, Mr. Klazen worked at the International Court of Justice and at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands.

Rishab is a specialist in international arbitration, commercial litigation and public international law. He is qualified to practice in the UK, India and US. 

Before joining Twenty Essex, he was a partner at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas where he led the firm’s arbitration practice in Mumbai. Prior to that, Rishab spent several years at International law firms in London and New York. 

Rishab regularly represents clients in commercial and investor-state arbitrations brought under the auspices of a variety of institutional rules. His experience includes arbitrations seated in India, Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Paris, the Hague, Stockholm, New York, Washington D.C. and elsewhere, conducted under the ICC, UNCITRAL, SIAC, HKIAC, SCC, LCIA and ICSID Rules. The subject matter of these arbitrations have included long-term energy concessions, investment treaties, joint venture agreements, construction contracts, and intellectual property, among others and they have involved common law, civil law and Islamic law systems. 

Karthik Balisagar is a Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting and is based in London. He is a member of the Economic and Financial Consulting segment. He also leads the FTI Consulting Economic and Financial practice in India. Karthik has 16 years’ experience in valuation and transaction consulting. At FTI Consulting, Karthik specialises in valuation issues in the context of international arbitration and litigation.

Over the years, Karthik has advised banks, private equity firms, institutional investors and corporates in both contentious and non-contentious valuation matters across various industries, including financial services, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, mining and technology. Karthik has been appointed as an expert witness in numerous litigation and arbitration matters. Karthik has prepared or assisted with the preparation of expert reports for submission to Singapore, UK, Dutch and EU courts, as well as in arbitrations under ICC, HKIAC, ICSID, UNCITRAL and LCIA rules. Karthik also regularly delivers training courses to law firms on the quantification of damages, valuation, and cross-examining of expert witnesses.

In non-contentious matters, Karthik has advised clients in valuing their equity portfolios, loan books and management incentive structures, as well as conducting purchase price allocations, impairment reviews and valuations related to M&A transactions.

Manish Aggarwal is a dual-qualified English solicitor and Indian advocate, and partner in the London office of Three Crowns. He has extensive experience of representing clients in both commercial and investment treaty arbitrations across a broad range of sectors (including energy, infrastructure, life sciences, telecommunications, and technology) and in arbitration-related court litigation.  Manish is consistently ranked as a leading practitioner by directories such as Who’s Who Legal and The Legal 500. He is a co-chair of the LCIA’s Young International Arbitration Group and teaches commercial and investment arbitration at law schools across the globe

Jagdish Menezes is a senior associate at the London office of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, one of the world’s largest law firms dedicated to litigation. He joined the firm in 2014. His practice focuses on international arbitration (investor-state and commercial), as well as multi-jurisdictional disputes involving issues of fraud and corruption. He has specific experience in disputes involving sovereigns as parties or counterparties, or raising government relations concerns.  He is admitted to practice in India and as a Solicitor of England & Wales with Higher Rights of Audience. 

Jagdish was recognised by the 2020 UK edition of Legal 500 as a key lawyer for commercial disputes and described in a testimonial as a “tremendous professional” with an “extremely impressive…degree of commitment and mastery of the case and applicable laws of multiple jurisdictions”. He is also listed among the Arbitration Future Leaders (Non-Partners) in the Who’s Who Legal Guide 2023.

Ashley leads the London disputes and sovereign debt advisory teams at JS Held and was a partner at GPW, a firm acquired by JSH last summer. Ashley is an acknowledged expert in asset recovery and global investigations with a particular focus on investor-state disputes and sovereign recovery.

Over the past 10 years she has worked with leading law firms, corporate counsel and award holders on complex, multi-jurisdictional enforcement matters including those in excess of £2B and has led a number of high-profile investigations involving debtors originating from Africa, Latin America, Europe and Central Asia.

Ashley is regularly engaged to provide evidence in support of enforcement measures as well as critical intelligence to support their timely application. Her work has been instrumental in successfully arguing alter ego and overcoming sovereign immunity hurdles; evidencing ownership and control of a variety of state assets including financial instruments, bank accounts, aircraft and vessels, companies, receivables, and oil cargos; and developing both lobbying and communications strategies to amplify enforcement measures. 

In addition, she regularly supports those investing in sovereign debt through pre-investment due diligence on recoverability as well as identifying and brokering award purchases.

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.

Charlene focuses her practice on international arbitration and multi-jurisdictional cross-border disputes. She enforces arbitral awards and foreign judgments in US courts and coordinates global asset recovery campaigns against sovereign and non-sovereign debtors. She is fluent in matters involving foreign sovereign immunity and other complex jurisdictional issues that arise when litigating foreign disputes in US courts. She has substantial experience with discovery under 28 U.S.C. § 1782 and other litigation tools in aid of foreign disputes. 

Charlene also represents clients in a broad range of contract and treaty-based conflicts in arbitration, including energy sector disputes that involve parties from Latin America, Europe and Asia. She advises clients concerning dispute risk related to foreign direct investment in developing nations. 

Charlene has spoken and published articles on issues related to sovereign immunity, the enforcement of arbitral awards, arbitral jurisdiction and other issues relevant to international arbitration and cross-border litigation.

Emilia Onyema is a Professor of International Commercial Law at SOAS University of London where she teaches international commercial arbitration, international investment law and commercial law in a global context. She is qualified to practice law in Nigeria, as a Solicitor in England & Wales, Fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and independent arbitrator. She is a member of the Cairo Regional CICA Advisory Committee, LACIAC Court member, among others. She convenes the SOAS Arbitration in Africa conference series and leads the SOAS Arbitration in Africa biennial survey research project; she co-authored the African Promise and founded the Arbitration Fund for African Students (AFAS) a registered charitable organisation in England. Her research interests focus on the development of international arbitration in Africa and the engagement of Africans in international arbitration. She publishes widely in her areas of expertise. She has experience as presiding, co and sole arbitrator, and acts as legal expert witness in international arbitration.

Anya George is a partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's dispute resolution group. As a trilingual and dual qualified lawyer (Switzerland and England & Wales), she represents states, state-owned entities and private companies in complex multi-jurisdictional disputes across a wide range of sectors, with particular emphasis on energy infrastructure, commodities and natural resources, insurance and reinsurance contracts, and manufacturing and sales agreements.

Anya has acted in over 60 arbitrations under the ICC, LCIA, CAS, UNCITRAL and Swiss Rules, as well as in ad hoc proceedings. She has special expertise in arbitration-related litigation, including enforcement and setting-aside proceedings before the Swiss Supreme Court, in both French and German. She also advises clients on ESG-related issues.

Anya is a lecturer in International Commercial Arbitration at the University of Zurich. She is also a member of the ICC Swiss Commission of Arbitration and ADR and of the Board of the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA).

Nicolae’s work includes complex litigation support projects, asset recovery assignments as well as strategic investigations focused on understanding decision-making at different levels of state administration.  He assists commercial and sovereign clients at various stages of disputes, from initial strategy to enforcement.  Nicolae’s primary focus is the FSU (mainly Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Moldova).  He has also managed projects in Africa and Central & Eastern Europe.

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.

Samantha J. Rowe is a partner in Debevoise & Pimpton’s International Dispute Resolution Group. Ms. Rowe has represented private clients and States across multiple jurisdictions in arbitrations and litigations governed by various substantive laws and conducted under the rules of the ICC, LCIA, ICSID, UNCITRAL and SIAC. She is a solicitor (England & Wales) and admitted to the New York bar.

Ms. Rowe has been named to The Lawyer’s Hot 100 list, and was named a Rising Star for International Arbitration by Law360, and a UK Rising Star, and a Rising Star in the Commercial Arbitration practice category at the Euromoney Legal Media Group Europe Rising Stars Awards. Ms. Rowe was included in the inaugural The Legal 500’s International Arbitration Powerlist, and she is listed by Who’s Who Legal (2023) as a leading lawyer and thought leader. Chambers UK (2023) and The Legal 500 UK (2023) recommend her for International Arbitration.

Kiran Unni is an English barrister focused on complex cross-border disputes, and has acted in English High Court litigation and international arbitrations across a range of industry sectors including banking and finance, private equity, oil and gas, technology and telecommunications. Mr Unni has particular experience formulating and executing global strategies for enforcing arbitral awards or court judgments against sovereigns, state-owned entities or commercial entities. Mr Unni also formulates and executes offensive and defensive global litigation strategies for international private clients, including in relation to trusts, commercial and insolvency litigation, and international sanctions regimes

Steven Finizio is a partner in Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP’s international arbitration and dispute resolution group, based in London.  He has advised clients regarding disputes under the rules of most of the leading international arbitration institutions and in ad hoc proceedings, involving the laws of jurisdictions in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and the US, as well as disputes under bilateral and regional treaties.  He has assisted in drafting arbitration legislation and has been counsel in regional and other international courts.  He also serves as an arbitrator.   

Mr. Finizio is a member of the LCIA Court and the GIAC Advisory Council.  He teaches international arbitration, including as Professor of Practice at SOAS University of London, and he is also on the faculty of the Cologne Arbitration Academy as well as academies in Asia and Africa.  Mr. Finizio writes frequently on international dispute resolution issues. 

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.  

Rajan has had over 15 years of experience working across the globe with exposure in 58 countries and counting. Rajan works directly with heads of state and leading entrepreneurs.
He founded NazranRoth in 2017.

After more than a decade as a trial lawyer, prosecuting and defending in serious criminal cases, Rob Dalling now serves international companies in sectors including energy, extractive, financial services, medical, hospitality, and real estate across the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States and beyond.

Rob offers well-informed, user-friendly, and pragmatic advice based on his knowledge of each client’s business. With his extensive courtroom experience, Rob’s counsel is invaluable in internal and external investigations into misconduct. He also advises on financial crime policies and procedures in areas including financial sanctions, anti-money laundering, and anti-bribery and corruption.

He has particular expertise in financial and trade sanctions and export controls, and regularly advises financial institutions and other companies on complex issues in these areas. Rob also helps clients assess business integrity and reputational risks presented by their operations and/or business partners in existing and new markets.

Raphael Kaminsky specialises in commercial litigation, international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

Raphael has acted as counsel in a large number of domestic and international commercial arbitrations, both institutional and ad hoc.  He also regularly sits as arbitrator.  His experience encompasses disputes in the telecommunications, defence, energy, aerospace and distribution sectors, relating to project in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.  Raphael also has a broad experience in pre- and post-arbitration litigation before the French courts and has been involved in dozens of set-aside proceedings, appeals against exequatur orders and in the enforcement of arbitral awards, including against sovereigns.

Raphael is also a recognised expert in domestic and international commercial litigation.  He has acted in a large number of proceedings before French courts and his experience includes post-M&A disputes, and disputes in the telecommunication, distribution and heavy industry sectors.

Lorraine de Germiny joined LALIVE in 2014. Her main area of practice is international arbitration, including commercial and investment treaty arbitration with particular experience in the mining and energy sectors. She has acted as counsel or arbitrator in a number of international arbitral proceedings, either ad hoc (including UNCITRAL) or administered (under the rules of the ICC and ICSID), governed by various procedural and substantive laws.

She is a member of several professional associations (including the CFA-40, ArbitralWomen, ICDR Y&I and LCIA YIAG) and one of the founding members of and Secretary and Legal Officer of Women in Mining Switzerland. She is also on the list of arbitrators with the Court of Arbitration for Art (CAfA).

Before joining LALIVE, Ms. de Germiny practiced international arbitration at King & Spalding in Paris (2009-2014) and at Dewey & LeBoeuf in Paris and New York (2006-2009). In addition, she completed secondments to the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre and to UNESCO in 2008 and 2012, respectively.

Ms. de Germiny holds a Licence with honors from the University of Rennes, a J.D. (Juris Doctor) cum laude from Tulane University Law School and an LL.M. from Columbia Law School where she was named a Harlan Fiske Stone scholar.

Marie Poirot specializes in white-collar and financial crime, with a focus on cross-border cases. Her practice also includes international enforcement and asset recovery. She has developed expertise in cases where freezing orders, forfeiture, international mutual legal assistance and extradition issues are at stake.

Before joining BONIFASSI Avocats, Marie practiced in a Paris-based boutique firm, where she specialized in international enforcement and asset recovery. She also worked in the Energy/Infrastructure department of a leading international law firm.

After volunteering for Amnesty International, Marie led projects on extractive industries’ transparency and anti-corruption in Africa with the Legal Resources Centre in South Africa and the Sciences Po Law School Clinic. Also at the Clinic, she was a tutor for several years and worked in partnership with The Carter Center in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In her leisure time, Marie has been actively involved in theater for almost 15 years, 9 of which she has spent with a semi-professional troupe that performs in local theatres and at national festivals. She is also an avid ballroom dancer.

Amy Lashinsky is CEO and co-founder of Alaco.  She trained on Wall Street as a securities analyst. She joined Kroll in New York in 1988, moving to London to help establish its first overseas office, where she became Managing Director of its business intelligence unit. In 1995 she set up her own business intelligence firm with Ambrose Carey, which they sold in 1998 to NYSE-listed Armor Holdings, remaining there until founding Alaco in 2002.

Amy is an Independent Non-Executive Director of FTSE 250 company Energean Oil & Gas plc. She is also a Trustee of the Rathbones Folio Prize. Amy graduated from the University of Michigan.