Launched early 2021, Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes houses a sizeable and international team and has offices in Paris, London and New York. The fully dedicated arbitration firm offers a full-service practice, from advisory work and early-stage case management to final enforcement proceedings, representing leading French and international clients. It manages high-profile investment and commercial arbitration disputes, acting for state entities and leading companies in strategic and geopolitically sensitive cases (some matters involving corruption and international security issues), in connection with various industry sectors including oil and gas, nuclear and telecoms. The team's caseload spans global disputes involving Russia, China and Latin America (notably Colombia and Brazil). It has a particularly strong footprint handling matters concerning the Middle East and Africa through a dual qualified team able to handle cases in Arabic, including headline disputes in Egypt and Algeria. Practice head Yas Banifatemi is a high-profile figure in the field, with other top names including Mohamed Shelbaya, Coralie Darrigade, Maude Lebois, and Thomas Parigot who was promoted to partner in early 2023. In Benjamin Siino, the firm has remarkable arbitration exequatur expertise in France and across the globe, notably for cases involving state entities.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘A very united and extremely competent team. Excellent strategic approach and explanations to clients. The best arbitration firm.’
- ‘Yas Banifatemi and Mohamed Shelbaya are exceptional arbitration lawyers. Competent, strategisers, educators, available and very pleasant. Their teams are also remarkable and have a great team spirit.’
- ‘Great versatility of the team which is able to advise on negotiations prior to a dispute. Very regular communication with the client. The team is capable of managing a large volume of documents and technical documentation. Finally, I think the firm achieves a good level of gender parity.’
- ‘Maude Lebois is proactive and has a practical approach to issues. She always takes into account the commercial aspects of a case, navigates easily between the various technical questions and quantification of damages, which are often complex. She seems to have a real interest in technical issues relating to construction projects. She does not hesitate to propose creative solutions.’
Key clients
- Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei)
- Sanofi
- Electricité de France
- Dassault S.A.
- Mubadala
- Majority shareholders of former Yukos Oil Company
- Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS)
- Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation
- Sonatrach (Algeria)
- Sonangol (Angola)
- Georgia
- Algeria
- Egypt
- Lithuania
- Colombia
Work highlights
- Defeated $30 billion worth of claims in an arbitration on behalf of the Arab Republic of Egypt initiated by four Saudi investors.
- Secured the dismissal, on behalf of an affiliate of Mubadala, of EUR 550 million claims brought in an ICC arbitration by Real Madrid Football Club.
- Representing Huawei in an investment arbitration against Sweden regarding measures that have resulted in Huawei’s exclusion from Sweden’s 5G network.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Mohamed Shelbaya
Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya DisputesPractice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Yas Banifatemi