Before joining Twenty Essex in February 2023, Philippa was the Head of International Arbitration at Stewarts in London; the UK’s largest disputes-only practice. She was a law firm partner for 15 years.
She specialises in complex, high-value cross-border arbitration disputes, and has 24 years’ experience of proceedings before the major arbitral institutions. As solicitor/solicitor-advocate she has acted for clients including sovereigns, state owned entities, major global corporations in the aviation, pharmaceutical, power, sports and oil and gas industries, and high net worth individuals.
Philippa has accepted appointments as arbitrator for a number of years and has sat as sole, chair and party-appointee in ICC, LCIA, SIAC, SCC, FAI, AAA-ICDR and ad-hoc arbitration. She has particular experience as arbitrator in energy, technology and general commercial disputes.
Philippa has experience in mediation and other ADR formats as well as arbitration, High Court and appellate proceedings in jurisdictions including England, the United States, France, Sweden, the UAE, and Nigeria.
Privacy noticeArbitrator experience
Philippa’s current / recent experience as arbitrator includes:
- Appointment as sole arbitrator (by joint party nomination) in an ICC proceeding concerning a contract for the distribution of solar panels in the Middle East (parties Israeli/Chinese, governing law English, settled prior to determination of interim relief application).
- Appointment as sole arbitrator (by party nomination) in an ICC proceeding concerning a property management arrangement in relation to property in London (parties English, governing law English, settled prior to determination).
- Appointment as chair (by co-arbitrator nomination) in an ad hoc proceeding under English law concerning a West African Fintech project (parties English/Togolese, governing law English, ongoing).
- Appointment as co-arbitrator (by party nomination) in a Finnish Arbitration Institution proceeding concerning an LNG contract (parties Finnish, governing law Finnish, ongoing).
- Appointment as co-arbitrator (by party nomination) in an SCC proceeding concerning supply of goods by a Russian entity and sanctions issues relating to payment (parties English/Russian, governing law English, ongoing hearing October 2023).
- Appointment as chair (by co-arbitrator nomination) in a SIAC proceeding concerning insurance sales arrangements between an insurance entity and three banking entities in South-East Asia (parties Singaporean/Malaysian; seat Singapore; applicable law Singapore (ongoing, hearing September 2023)).
- Appointment as chair (by co-arbitrator nomination) in an ICC proceeding concerning hotel licensing arrangements in France (parties US/Hong Kong/French; seat Paris; applicable law English (ongoing, hearing June 2023)).
- Appointment as chair (by National Committee nomination) in an ICC proceeding concerning a software usage dispute (parties Indian/US; seat London; applicable law English (ongoing, hearing March 2023)).
- Appointment as chair (by the institution) in an ICC proceeding concerning a port concession agreement and concerning issues of competition law/restraint of trade and illegality (parties UAE/EU Member State government; seat London; applicable law English) (ongoing, hearing took place December 2022)).
- Appointment as Emergency Arbitrator (by the institution) in an ICC Emergency Arbitration proceeding concerning the potential termination of an association to an international brand of a hotel business in Russia (parties Danish/Russian; seat London; applicable law English); process concluded within 15 days including a virtual hearing of submissions in July 2021.
- Appointment as chair (by co-arbitrator nomination) in an ICC arbitration concerning a pharmaceutical agreement dispute (parties English/Egyptian; seat Paris; applicable law English (settled prior to determination)).
- Appointment as co-arbitrator (by the institution) in an LCIA arbitration concerning the management of a €1 billion investment fund (parties Austrian/English; applicable law English (settled prior to determination)).
- Appointment as sole arbitrator (by party agreement) in an ICC arbitration concerning a franchise agreement in the food industry (parties English/Bangladeshi; seat London; applicable law English) concluded following a three-day fully virtual hearing of witnesses appearing from three jurisdictions in 2020.
- Appointment as sole arbitrator (by party agreement) in an ICC arbitration concerning claims and counterclaims arising out of a gas turbine installation project in the Middle East (parties Italian/Saudi; seat Geneva; applicable law English) and undertook a three-day fully virtual hearing of witnesses appearing from five jurisdictions in 2020).
- Appointment as chair (by co-arbitrator nomination) in an ICC arbitration arising out of a contract for the supply of fuel cells for a power plant in the Far East (parties US/Korean; seat Singapore; applicable law English (settled prior to determination)).
- Appointment as co-arbitrator (by party nomination) in an ICC arbitration arising out of a fuel supply contract (parties US/Brazilian; seat London; applicable law English (settled prior to determination)).
- Appointment as sole arbitrator (by the institution) in LCIA arbitration concerning three parallel aircraft lease arrangements (parties Russian/Hong Kong; seat London; applicable law English) (concluded, hearing took place in February 2022).
- Appointment as chair of a three-member LCIA tribunal (by co-arbitrator nomination) in a case arising out of an oil and gas drilling contract (parties Scottish/Romanian; seat London; applicable law English) (settled prior to determination).
- Appointment as sole arbitrator (by joint party agreement) in ad hoc arbitration proceedings concerning alleged breaches of a pharmaceutical distribution contract (parties Indian/Turkish; seat London, applicable law English). Involved a three-day fully virtual hearing of live witnesses in three jurisdictions in 2021.
- Appointment as co-arbitrator (nominated by Claimant) in AAA-ICDR arbitration concerning claims arising out of a European gas pipeline project (parties Italian/Irish; seat Dublin; applicable law Irish) (did not proceed).
- Appointment as sole arbitrator under LCIA Rules by joint party nomination for a claim concerning royalties due in a data licensing contract. Involved a five-day hearing of live witnesses in London (parties English/American; seat London; applicable law English).
- Appointment as chair of a three-member Tribunal under LCIA Rules for the determination of claims arising for commissions due under a long term defence procurement contract. Claim determined on the papers (parties Turkish/German; seat London; applicable law English).
- Appointment as sole arbitrator under LCIA Rules in a matter concerning payments due under a distribution agreement for alcoholic beverages (parties Russian/Scottish; seat London, applicable law English). Involved a three-day hearing of live witnesses (fully virtual) in 2020.
- Appointment as co-arbitrator under LCIA Rules for a claim for commission under the long term defence procurement contract referred to above. Award delivered within 60 days of appointment of the Tribunal.
- Appointment as sole arbitrator under LCIA Rules to determine a claim for sums due in a chemicals supply contract (parties Egyptian/English; seat London; applicable law English).
- Appointment as sole arbitrator under LCIA Rules to determine a claim for sums due in a contract for the operation of a foreign exchange bureau (parties American/Jordanian/Iraqi; seat London; applicable law English).
- Appointment as sole arbitrator under LCIA Rules to determine claims for relief arising out of termination of an agency arrangement for the marketing of currency and passport services (parties English/Dominican; seat London; applicable law English; claim determined on the papers).
Counsel experience
Recent experience as counsel includes:
- Representing a cryptocurrency services provider in relation to a settlement dispute relating to a loan and investment in a crypto currency trust instrument, in ad hoc London arbitration proceedings.
- Representing an EU state in proceedings in London arising out of the proposed enforcement in London of an intra-EU Bilateral Investment Treaty award in excess of £100 million, which is subject to challenge proceedings at the seat (Sweden) by reason of the CJEU decision in Achmea.
- Representing an Asian government in proceedings in London arising out of a challenge to the jurisdiction award of an ISDS tribunal in a claim under a BIT relating to a port development project.
- Representing an EU state government in Swiss arbitration proceedings for recovery of c.$10 million in subrogated damages for steel supplied but not paid for to a buyer in India.
- Representing a Nigerian oil and gas services operator in challenge proceedings arising out of 32 arbitration awards against it in the English Courts, and working with co-counsel in BVI, Singapore and Nigeria in related proceedings.
- Representing a Nigerian oil and gas entity in related proceedings in arbitration and in English Court proceedings for anti-suit relief, arising out of contracts worth c. $900 million concerning the funding of participation in certain exploration and production activities in Nigeria.
- Representing the company in shareholders’ disputes:
- concerning issues of unfair prejudice, under LCIA Arbitration Rules, relating to a Russian retail business and advising in connected court proceedings in BVI and Cyprus.
- concerning shareholder funding and related party transactions in the telecoms industry in West Africa (also LCIA).
- Representing the claimant in on-shore Dubai-seated ICC arbitration proceedings arising out of agreements concerning the allocation and valuation of assets in the UAE, India and the UK.
- Representing the respondent in proceedings concerning the repayment of a loan allegedly denominated in cryptocurrency (parties English/American).
- Representing a number of entities engaged in investment and development in power projects in Africa (in Mauritius, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Zambia) in respect of various disputes arising with local shareholders, state bodies, lenders, and others.
- Industries: automotive, forestry, paper and pulp manufacture, power projects, oil and gas production, ship-owning, charters, ferry operations, defence manufacturing and procurement contracts, mining, aviation IT supply, cable internet/TV/telephony, retail.