North America - United States • Dispute resolution
Three Crowns LLP
Three Crowns LLP focuses exclusively on international arbitration and international law, where it represents multinational corporates and sovereign states in high-stakes disputes. The team’s US offering, which in centered in Washington DC, has extensive expertise across a mix of commercial, investor-state and state-to-state cases and it further benefits from its ability to draw on its international lawyers for additional cross-border firepower. A co-founding partner of the firm, Luke Sobota enjoys a prominent reputation globally for his activity in headline-grabbing cases, with a focus on the energy, financial and technology spheres. Another seasoned specialist, Liz Snodgrass contributes deep experience in acting on commercial and investor-state cases and recently represented Burford Capital in a $140m arbitration brought against Sysco Corporation. Rounding out the partners is Scott Vesel, who brings to bear significant international prowess following stints in London and Bahrain. Vesel acted alongside the London office to represent the Sultanate of Oman in ICSID arbitration and annulment proceedings concerning a $180m claim brought by Turkish construction company, Atilla Dogan. The group also leans on a strong second line of non-partners, including Buenos Aires-qualified special legal consultant, Agustin Sanz; associate Simon Consedine; and English-qualified special legal consultant, Nicola Peart.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘A strong international arbitration practice providing robust strategic and detailed advice.’
‘Liz Snodgrass provides excellent strategic legal advice and is very responsive.’
‘Three Crowns is active in some of the largest cases globally, few firms would have the critical mass to handle those cases—this team certainly has the capacity.’
Key clients
- ExxonMobil
- ConocoPhillips
- Sultanate of Oman
- Chevron Corporation
- Elliott Associates
- Boeing
- Rio Tinto
- Burford Capital
- Viorel Micula
- Eni
- Vitol
Work highlights
- Represented Elliott Associates in bringing an investment-treaty claim against the Republic of Korea, securing a more-than-$100m award.
- Represented the Sultanate of Oman in defending a $180m award following a BIT arbitration against Turkish construction company, Atilla Dogan, concerning a contract for the construction of an oil and gas pipeline.
- Successfully acted for ContourGlobal Kosovo against the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, and various publicly owned enterprises of Kosovo, in an ICC arbitration seated in London.
Lawyers
Rising stars
Leading lawyers
Liz, a partner in the Washington, DC office, has twenty-five years of experience as an advocate and adviser in international arbitration matters. She has acted in arbitrations around the world, with notable experience of disputes arising in Africa, India, and Asia. Her practice is a mix of commercial and investment treaty arbitration, with a focus on the upstream energy, power, and mining sectors. Liz has particular expertise handling disputes involving States and State entities, including investment treaty cases, fiscal disputes under long term-contracts, and disputes that implicate both contract and treaty implications. Liz is recognised in leading legal directories. The Legal 500 describes her as “the real deal at the elite level of intellectual analysis and experience”, who provides “excellent, timely advice, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the business”.
A founding partner of Three Crowns, Luke represents private and sovereign clients in some of their largest and most important commercial, investor-State, and inter-State arbitrations, including the successful prosecution of one of the largest ICC cases in history. He also has more than 20 years of experience litigating international issues in U.S. courts. Luke’s practice experience spans a variety of sectors, with a focus on the energy, financial, and technology industries. The Legal 500 writes that Luke “is extremely smart and a great strategic thinker” and is “an excellent draftsman”.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Luke Sobota, Liz Snodgrass, Scott Vesel