Arbitration

High Value & Strategically Significant

We act as counsel in complex, high value, strategically significant commercial and investment arbitrations, across a broad spectrum of industries. Our arbitration lawyers have deep experience handling arbitrations under all major institutional rules, in all of the world’s major arbitral centres.

We maintain a complete focus on achieving our clients’ commercial objectives through arbitration, including building strategies around enforcement and recovery. Our experience spans the entire lifespan of an arbitration, including discovery actions, challenges to arbitrators, set aside of awards and multi-jurisdictional enforcement. We lead our own advocacy, with deep understanding of our clients’ case and strategy.

Our international arbitration team has received widespread recognition from the leading legal directories. In Legal 500 UK, clients praise our team for being “nimble and highly responsive” and for being “a few chess moves ahead of their opponents”, while in Chambers UK, clients note that our lawyers “have consistently displayed the highest levels of intellectual sophistication, creativity and flexibility in dealing with issues.”

Representative Experience

“Clients don’t just get the star partners – they get an all-star team.”
Legal 500 UK 2024

*Some of the matters listed above are matters on which members of our team were involved at previous firms.

Acting for a UAE-based multinational healthcare and education company in a DIAC claim arising out of the failure to complete the acquisition of an educational holding company.

Acting for an ultra-high net worth individual in defending ICC and ad hoc arbitration claims alleging fraud in relation to a telecoms joint venture.

Acting for an Asian state-owned oil corporation against two joint venture partners in an ICC pre-emption dispute relating to an exploration project in Africa.
Acting for a UK-listed mining company in an expedited LCIA arbitration against an African state in a USD 3 billion claim.

Acting for a New York-listed European gaming company in a EUR 500 million LCIA arbitration against an EU state for breaches under a concession agreement.

Acting for a US investor in relation to a bilateral investment treaty claim against the Russian Federation arising out of the inequitable tax treatment of a bank investment.
Acting for a telecoms company and its shareholders in multiple ICC, Lebanese Arbitration and Mediation Center and ad hoc arbitration claims alleging fraud alongside contractual and statutory claims in relation to a collapsed telecoms joint venture with a value of over USD 2 billion.

Acting for the majority shareholders in a Spanish-headquartered, international gaming group, in the successful defence of an LCIA emergency arbitration claim.

Acting for Ukrainian investors in a complex multi-party LCIA arbitration arising from the sale and purchase of shares in a tobacco company against six respondents in eight separate claims.
Acting for a Saudi Arabian investment company in an ad hoc, Mauritian-seated arbitration claim under the UNCITRAL rules in relation to a debt claim arising out of an option agreement in a pan-African telecoms company.

Acting for a Hong Kong trust company in two complex LCIA arbitration claims valued at approximately EUR 300 million seeking to enforce the rights of noteholders against a nationalised Ukrainian bank.
Acting for two prominent international arbitrators in the English Commercial Court in their successful defence to an application seeking their dismissal as arbitrators pursuant to Section 24 of the UK Arbitration Act (BSGR v Vale [2019] EWHC 2456 Comm).

Acting for Greek shipowners and successfully defending a settingaside application under Section 68 of the UK Arbitration Act.
Acting for a leading European surface-mount technology giant in an ICC arbitration against a Japanese multinational company for breach of distributorship and related agreements.

Acting for a hotel owner in the MENA region in an SIAC arbitration against an international hotel group in relation to wrongful termination and loss of profits of USD 70 million.

M&A

Acting for a UAE-based multinational healthcare and education company in a DIAC claim arising out of the failure to complete the acquisition of an educational holding company.

Acting for an ultra-high net worth individual in defending ICC and ad hoc arbitration claims alleging fraud in relation to a telecoms joint venture.

Acting for an Asian state-owned oil corporation against two joint venture partners in an ICC pre-emption dispute relating to an exploration project in Africa.
Shareholder Disputes

Acting for a telecoms company and its shareholders in multiple ICC, Lebanese Arbitration and Mediation Center and ad hoc arbitration claims alleging fraud alongside contractual and statutory claims in relation to a collapsed telecoms joint venture with a value of over USD 2 billion.

Acting for the majority shareholders in a Spanish-headquartered, international gaming group, in the successful defence of an LCIA emergency arbitration claim.

Acting for Ukrainian investors in a complex multi-party LCIA arbitration arising from the sale and purchase of shares in a tobacco company against six respondents in eight separate claims.
Enforcement, Annulment & Related Litigation

Acting for two prominent international arbitrators in the English Commercial Court in their successful defence to an application seeking their dismissal as arbitrators pursuant to Section 24 of the UK Arbitration Act (BSGR v Vale [2019] EWHC 2456 Comm).

Acting for Greek shipowners and successfully defending a settingaside application under Section 68 of the UK Arbitration Act.

Investor-State Arbitration

Acting for a UK-listed mining company in an expedited LCIA arbitration against an African state in a USD 3 billion claim.

Acting for a New York-listed European gaming company in a EUR 500 million LCIA arbitration against an EU state for breaches under a concession agreement.

Acting for a US investor in relation to a bilateral investment treaty claim against the Russian Federation arising out of the inequitable tax treatment of a bank investment.
Finance

Acting for a Saudi Arabian investment company in an ad hoc, Mauritian-seated arbitration claim under the UNCITRAL rules in relation to a debt claim arising out of an option agreement in a pan-African telecoms company.

Acting for a Hong Kong trust company in two complex LCIA arbitration claims valued at approximately EUR 300 million seeking to enforce the rights of noteholders against a nationalised Ukrainian bank.
Others

Acting for a leading European surface-mount technology giant in an ICC arbitration against a Japanese multinational company for breach of distributorship and related agreements.

Acting for a hotel owner in the MENA region in an SIAC arbitration against an international hotel group in relation to wrongful termination and loss of profits of USD 70 million.

“Clients don’t just get the star partners – they get an all-star team.”
Legal 500 UK 2024

*Some of the matters listed above are matters on which members of our team were involved at previous firms.

Key Contacts

Nelson Goh

Partner

Nelson focuses on international commercial and investment arbitration, public international law, and complex multi-jurisdictional litigation.
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Natasha Harrison

Founder & Managing Partner

Founding partner and legal powerhouse, Natasha is a barrister and solicitor who focuses on complex commercial litigation and arbitration disputes.
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Duane L. Loft

Partner

Duane leads Pallas’s New York practice. He represents clients in complex commercial litigation, with a particular focus on restructuring disputes, contested issues in bankruptcy, and cross-border litigation.
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