Some examples of the matters Cécile has worked on are set out below.

Construction Arbitration

  • Acting for an international energy services company against an international joint venture in ICC arbitration proceedings seated in Paris in relation to claims totalling over US$400 million arising out of a gas pipeline project in North Africa (local law)
  • Representing a European contractor in ICC arbitration proceedings seated in London concerning claims valued at over US$100 million arising out of the construction of a major aircraft maintenance hangar for the Hamid International Airport in Qatar (English law)
  • Acting for an international joint venture and the operator / employer in UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings seated in London brought by international contractors regarding claims and counterclaims totalling over US$1 billion in connection with the construction of pumping facilities in East Africa (local law / mixed legal system including civil law, common law and Sharia law)
  • Acting for an international joint venture contractor in relation to an ICC arbitration seated in Oman concerning a high value dispute arising out of the development of an airport in the Middle East (local law)
  • Acting for a contractor in ICC arbitration proceedings seated in London arising out of the construction of an airport in a Former Soviet Union State (local law)

Commercial Arbitration

  • Acting for a large downstream petroleum group in two sets of ICC arbitration proceedings seated in Paris in relation to claims and counterclaims totalling over US$400 million arising out of a JV dispute following the acquisition of strategic assets in Western Africa (lex mercatoria / OHADA / Panamanian law)
  • Acting for a West African petroleum distributor in LCIA administered UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings seated in London against an oil and gas major in relation to a contractual dispute arising out of the purchase of regional assets (English law)
  • Acting for a surveyor in ad hoc arbitration proceedings seated in London defending a professional negligence claim relating to a portfolio of properties in Germany (English law)

Investment arbitration, public international law and State immunity

  • Acting for a North African State in ICC arbitration proceedings seated in Geneva in relation to an investment dispute under a bilateral investment treaty arising out of suspension of works during the Arap Spring
  • Representing a Turkish construction company in court proceedings before the Jersey courts and the Privy Council in relation to the enforcement of several ICC awards arising out two sets of arbitration proceedings seated in Paris, securing “arrêts entre main” over shares in companies incorporated in Jersey and successfully defending complex State immunity arguments
  • Acting for a pharmaceutical company in arbitration proceedings under the UNCITRAL Rules seated in the Hague against an Eastern European State in relation to an investment dispute under a bilateral investment treaty arising out of the State’s withdrawal of marketing authorisations

Project Support / Contract Management

  • Advising contractors and employers in relation to sensitive construction and manufacturing projects, assessing live project risks, advising on key legal principles, assisting with the administration of contracts and drafting key project correspondence

Experience