Practices

Antoine Romanetti and Dimitri Iafaev have acted in more than 30 international arbitrations, both as counsel and arbitrator (sole arbitrator, emergency arbitrator). 

The arbitrations were seated in Geneva, Lausanne, Paris, Zurich, and Washington, D.C. (ICSID). The arbitrations were conducted under the rules of major international and regional arbitration institutions (ICC, ICSID, the Swiss Rules, and ad hoc). The arbitrations were subject to both civil or common law, including the substantive laws of Switzerland, Algeria, France, Russia, Gabon, and public international law. The language of these arbitrations were English, French, and Russian.

The arbitrations related to oil and gas disputes, construction, post-M&A disputes, insurances, shareholder agreements, telecoms, international sales of goods, trading, shipping, exclusive distribution agreements, pharmaceutical industry, and investor-State disputes.

The firm also advises clients in all-related arbitration matters before the Swiss Sates courts, such as enforcement proceedings of international awards, and setting aside proceedings of an award before the Federal Tribunal.

International commercial arbitration

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  Acting as sole arbitrator under the Swiss Arbitration Rules in a Geneva-based arbitration concerning a contract for the international sale of goods;

  
  

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  Advising a Swiss trading company against a West African company in pre-arbitral proceedings in a dispute arising from two sales agreements of fertilizers and a charter party;

  
  

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  Advising a European investment fund in the health industry against a Swiss company and a U.S. company in a Swiss Chambers' arbitration seated in Zurich;

  
  

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  Representing a Canadian individual regarding the recognition and enforcement of a foreign arbitral award in Switzerland and the attachment of bank accounts belonging to the award debtor;

  
  

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  Advising a U.S. company in arbitration proceedings in Switzerland in connection with the issues of specific performance and public policy;

  
  

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  Advising a Swiss oil trading company in potential CRCICA arbitration proceedings against a Middle Eastern State entity;

  
  

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  Acted as Counsel for a major U.S. I.T. company in an ICC arbitration arising from a Swiss law joint venture agreement;

  
  

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  Acted as Counsel for a U.S. financial services company in an ICC arbitration arising from a Luxembourg law share purchase agreement. Reviewing and summarising evidentiary documents;

  
  

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  Advising a U.K. company in relation to the recognition and enforcement of an international award in France;

  
  

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  Acted as administrative secretary to an ICC arbitral tribunal in a case arising from Swiss law consultancy agreements between a French company and a Middle Eastern company in connection with the construction of a telecom centre in a Middle Eastern country;

  
  

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  Acted as administrative secretary to an ICC arbitral tribunal in relation to a dispute between a German contractor and a Finnish subcontractor for the execution of a performance bond in the context of the construction of a pulp and paper plant in a Middle Eastern country.

  
  

Investor-State arbitration

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  Acting as Counsel for an Eastern State in ICSID arbitration proceedings against a Dutch oil company relating to a USD130 million dispute arising out of criminal investigations in the host State;

  
  

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  Acting as co-counsel for a West African State in annulment proceedings of an ICSID award relating to a USD 230 million dispute arising out of the termination of a railway concession;

  
  

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  Advising a Swiss investor in potential ICSID arbitration proceedings against a Latin American State;

  
  

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  Participated to the drafting of an expert opinion on the scope and effects of a notification to ICSID under Article 25(4) of the ICSID Convention in relation to an ICSID arbitration between a U.S. oil company and a Latin American State;

  
  

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  Advising a Swiss oil trading company in potential treaty-based arbitration proceedings against a Middle Eastern State;

  
  

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  Assisting in the drafting of a Handbook on Investment Arbitration for the Ministry of Justice of an Eastern European State;

  
  

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  Assisting in the drafting of a Handbook on the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) for an Eastern European State;

  
  

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  Acting as Counsel for a U.S. oil company in ICSID arbitration proceedings against a Latin American State;

  
  

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  Advising a German investor in potential ICSID arbitration proceedings against an Eastern European State;

  
  

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  Advising a major U.S. aircraft manufacturer in potential ICSID arbitration proceedings against a Middle Eastern State;

  
  

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  Advising a Dutch steel company in potential ICSID arbitration proceedings against an Eastern European State;

  
  

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  Advising a major German telecom company in potential ICSID arbitration proceedings against an Eastern European State. 

  
  

Domestic arbitration

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  Acting as Counsel for a French I.T. company in ad hoc domestic arbitration proceedings relating to a share purchase agreement and the non-payment by the purchaser of an earn-out to the sellers.