ONTIER

Partner

Claire Morel de Westgave is dual-qualified (England & Wales and New York) and has a mixed common and civil law background, having completed her legal education in Belgium and the USA. She practises international arbitration as counsel, advocate and arbitrator, whilst also conducting proceedings in both English and French.

She has particular expertise in disputes relating to technology, corporate transactions, licensing, cross-border sales or service agreements, as well as disputes involving secrecy, intellectual property and cybersecurity issues. Her practice covers a broad spectrum of industries, including IT, pharmaceuticals, retail, engineering, energy, agribusiness, media, art and defence.

Claire has experience in proceedings conducted under the arbitration rules of the LCIA,ICC, AAA/ICDR, UNCITRAL, WIPO, Cepani and CCJA as well as in ad hoc proceedings. These arbitrations have involved the laws of multiple jurisdictions, including England & Wales, New York, Texas, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Japan, China, Singapore, Pakistan,Qatar, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Romania, Saint Lucia and Senegal.

Claire regularly writes and speaks on arbitration-related subjects, including the use of technology and Al in arbitral proceedings, arbitrating technology disputes,cybersecurity in international arbitration and the preservation of trade secrets. She co-founded Global Arbitration Review's award-winning initiative' Mute Off Thursdays' in 2020. She is the Secretary of the Society of English and American Lawyers (SEAL).

English and French