Steptoe UK LLP

Investor-State Arbitration, Trade Policy & Negotiations, International Arbitration, Public International Law

Partner

Christophe Bondy has more than 20 years of experience as an investment treaty counsel, and his work includes taking a leading role in some of the highest profile cases yet decided in investment treaty arbitration. Through his work as lead counsel to Canada in multiple NAFTA Chapter Eleven arbitrations and as private sector counsel to multiple sovereigns and private claimants, he has addressed and considered in depth virtually all procedural and substantive issues arising in international investment law both from the state and the investor perspective. His cases have made a substantial contribution to the development of international law in this field. In addition to his busy counsel practice, Christophe sits as an arbitrator in investment treaty cases.

Christophe also has deep experience as counsel in the negotiation of international trade and investment agreements.  He was senior counsel to Canada in the negotiation of the Canada – European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), with particular emphasis on services and investment chapters. He has negotiated treaties with countries around the world and advised States on both strategic and compliance issues, up to the highest levels of government, and provides capacity building and advisory services to States around the world.

Christophe has extensive experience as counsel in international commercial arbitrations under all major rules, as well as in advisory work on multiple aspects of public international law, including the law of state responsibility, sovereign and diplomatic immunities, and international intellectual property law. 

Bar & Court Admissions

Registered Foreign Lawyer, England and Wales Barrister and Solicitor, Law Society of Upper Canada Avocat, Paris Bar

English, French, Spanish, German

Adjunct Professor of International Investment Law and International Dispute Resolution, Centre for Transnational Legal Studies (Georgetown University – London campus)

UNCITRAL Practitioners Group, Working Group III: Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform

European Society of International Law

Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

International Association of Economic Law

London Court of International Arbitration 

International Arbitration Institute (Paris)

British Institute of International and Comparative Law 

Advocate's Society (Ontario)

M.A., University of London, Courtauld Institute J.D., University of Toronto Faculty of Law M. Phil., University of Cambridge, International Relations D.E.A., Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris Université d’Ottawa, Honors, History