Public international law

Latham & Watkins

Client Satisfaction

According to one client, Latham & Watkins is ‘simply the best law firm around when it comes to investment treaty arbitration’. The London team advises on a range of public international law issues, including international boundary law and Law of the Sea disputes, as well as investment treaty and international trade law, sanctions, sovereign immunity, international humanitarian legislation, and human rights law. It also acts for states in major investment treaty arbitrations. The practice is headed by Charles Claypoole, who is ’one of the London market’s most knowledgeable and experienced public international law practitioners’. Claypoole is particularly focused on investment treaty arbitration, international trade law, and state immunity issues. The team also includes Sophie Lamb KC, who has an enviable track record in successfully representing investors and sovereign states in investment treaty disputes; Robert Price, whose workload encompasses investment treaty arbitrations, international trade, export control law and international trade sanctions; and investment treaty arbitration expert Samuel Pape. Other names to note are Thomas Lane, ‘a star of the future’; and Isuru Devendra, who acts in disputes concerning investment treaties, free trade agreements, national investment laws, and joint venture agreements.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Simply the best law firm around when it comes to investment treaty arbitration.’
‘The firm has exceptional capabilities and experience in the most complex investment treaty work - can handle virtually any dispute.’
‘Charles Claypoole is one of the London market’s most knowledgeable and experienced public international law practitioners.’
‘Charles Claypoole has great strategic acumen, is driven and focused, and delivers outstanding results for clients.’
‘Charles Claypoole is a highly sophisticated lawyer with terrific communication skills. He has an unparalleled knowledge and is the go-to partner for the subtlety of his legal advice and his strategic skills.’
‘Charles Claypoole is very good and easy to work with. He knows what he is doing and this gives comfort to clients.’
‘The team, led by Charles Claypoole, includes some of the best associates in London for public international law, such as Thomas Lane and Isuru Devendra.’
‘Thomas Lane is surely one of the cleverest associates in the City of London. Superb analysis and technical knowledge, coupled with a prodigious work rate. A star of the future in this area.’

Key clients

The Republic of Ukraine
The Republic of Colombia
The Republic of Croatia
Mason Capital
Strabag
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Total
ArcelorMittal
IPEK

Work highlights

Successfully acted for the Republic of Colombia in an arbitration, which was initiated by Red Eagle Exploration, before the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.
Successfully defended Ukraine against a landmark arbitration brought by three Cypriot companies before the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (under the Energy Charter Treaty).
Represented the Republic of Croatia in an ICSID arbitration brought under the Netherlands - Croatia bilateral investment treaty, which concerns a proposed real estate and tourism development in Croatia.

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.