Zannis is a barrister, French avocat and arbitrator specialising in international commercial and investment arbitration. He also sits as a FIDIC Dispute Board Member.
He has acted, as barrister and arbitrator, in international arbitration proceedings for governments and corporations all around the world but with particular expertise in disputes connected to Central and Eastern Europe (in particular, Romania) and the Commonwealth of Independent States. He has lived and worked in France, Romania and Japan, as well as the United Kingdom. He graduated in Law from St. John’s College, Cambridge where he was also a Choral Scholar.
Privacy noticeInternational investment arbitration
- Counsel to the governments of Balochistan and Pakistan in parallel ICC and ICSID arbitration proceedings against Australian investors, mining sector, value US$1 billion plus.
- Counsel to the government of Romania in relation to a BIT claim brought by a Greek investor, ICSID arbitration, food retail sector, value US$150 million.
- Counsel to Turkish investors in relation to an ICSID arbitration under a BIT against Turkmenistan, construction sector, value US$500 million.
- Counsel to Swedish investors in relation to a BIT claim against Bulgaria, ICSID arbitration, arising out of the termination of a waste management concession, value US$75 million.
- Counsel to a Dutch investor in relation to an ICSID arbitration under a BIT against Panama, financial services sector, value US$60 million.
- Counsel to UK investors in relation to an ICSID arbitration under a BIT against Hungary, agricultural sector, value US$20 million.
- Counsel to a US company in relation to an ECHR and BIT claim against Moldova, ICSID arbitration, telecommunications sector, value US$30 million.
- Counsel to a US NGO in relation to a BIT claim against the government of Vietnam, ICSID arbitration, threatened expropriation of an animal sanctuary.
- Counsel to a Russian HNW individual in ad hoc arbitration proceedings against a Georgian State Entity under the Georgian Foreign Investment Law, value US$22 million.
- Counsel to a Central Asian company in Energy Charter Treaty proceedings against a neighbouring Central Asian State arising out of a gas supply agreement.
International commercial arbitration (examples)
- Counsel to a Sultan in relation to ad hoc and ASEAN arbitration proceedings against a State in South East Asia seeking the alteration of a colonial era lease of land, value US$1 billion plus.
- Counsel to investors in relation to SCC arbitration proceedings, and BIT/ECT arbitration proceedings, against Ukraine arising out of a gas product sharing agreement, value US$1 billion plus.
- Counsel to a Swiss company (Bulgarian/Georgian owned) against a Swiss multinational, Swiss arbitration (seat Zurich, Swiss governing law), mining sector, value US$100 million.
- Counsel to a Swiss company (Bulgarian/Georgian owned) against a Swiss multinational, ICC arbitration (seat Zurich, Swiss governing law), mining sector, value US$350 million.
- Counsel to a US company against a Caribbean Government, ICC arbitration (seat Toronto, Trinidad governing law), oil & gas sector, value US$100 million.
- Counsel to a US company against a Caribbean Government, LCIA arbitration (seat Bermuda, Trinidad governing law), oil & gas sector, value US$220 million.
- Counsel to an Israeli chemicals company against a US gas company, LCIA arbitration (seat London, Israeli governing law), oil & gas sector, value US$100 million.
- Counsel to an Irish/Hungarian bioethanol producer against a Japanese conglomerate, LCIA arbitration (seat London, English governing law), oil & gas sector, value €60 million.
- Counsel to an English company against Romanian companies, ICC arbitration (seat Vienna, English governing law), construction sector, value US$20 million.
- Counsel to an Austrian construction company in a DAB application and ICC arbitration proceedings against a Romanian State Railway company (FIDIC Red Book).
- Counsel to a German construction company in ICC arbitration proceedings (FIDIC Red Book) arising out of the construction of a shopping mall in Bratislava, Slovakia.
- Counsel to a Swiss construction company in five sets of CACI arbitration proceedings (seat Bucharest, Romanian law) against a Romanian State Infrastructure company arising of a motorway bridge construction project (FIDIC Red Book).
- Counsel to a Swiss construction company in a DAB application and CACI arbitration proceedings (seat Bucharest, Romanian law) against a South African developer in relation to a shopping mall construction project in Romania (FIDIC Yellow Book).
- Counsel to a major French bank in connection with a US$300 million ICC arbitration (seat London, Swiss governing law) against a Russian billionaire arising out of a SPA to purchase a 50% interest in a Russian bank. This case involved seeking and obtaining Freezing Orders and Anti-Suit Injunctions in London, Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands, and defending parallel proceedings commenced by the billionaire in Russia.
- Counsel to a major French insurance company in connection with a US$100 million ICC arbitration (seat Geneva, English governing law) against a Russian billionaire arising out of a joint venture agreement in the Russian insurance sector.
- Counsel to a Russian billionaire in a US$100 million LCIA arbitration (seat London, English governing law) against another Russian billionaire arising out of a non-performed SPA.
- Counsel to a pool of French, English and US insurers in the context of a US$300 million ICC arbitration (seat Paris, UAE governing law) against a US aerospace manufacturer arising out of the construction of a satellite.
- Counsel to a Japanese car manufacturer in the context of a US$75 million JCAA arbitration (seat Tokyo, Japanese governing law) arising out of an exclusive distributorship agreement.
- Counsel to a Finnish energy company in the context of a US$30 million ICC arbitration (seat Paris, Romanian governing law) against two Romanian State-owned energy companies arising out of the construction of a power plant in Romania.
- Counsel to a Turkish construction company in the context of a €100 million ICC arbitration (FIDIC Red Book) (seat Geneva, Ukrainian governing law) against a Ukrainian State-owned railway company regarding the construction of a bridge over the river Dnieper.
Other dispute resolution experience
- DB Member (appointed by a Spanish construction company) as part of a 3-Member Dispute Board for a water infrastructure project in Georgia (FIDIC Pink Book).
- Represented companies in 11 mediations (10 of which settled successfully).
Government advisory work (examples)
- Advising and training the government of Georgia on the reform of its BITs.
- Advising the government of Guinea on the termination of mining concession agreements.
Arbitrator appointments
- Chairman in ICC Case No. 22452/GR, seat Bucharest, Romanian governing law, French language, joint venture agreement, Romanian and Austrian parties (appointed by the ICC).
- Co-Arbitrator in LCIA Case No. 163485, seat London, English law, English language, sale of goods by sea, Ukrainian and Chinese parties (appointed by the LCIA).
- Co-Arbitrator in ICC Case No. 23584/GR, seat Milan, Hong Kong governing law, English language, SPA dispute, German, Italian and Hong Kong parties (party-appointed).
- Co-Arbitrator in LCIA Case No. 184121, seat London, English law, English language, freight services agreement, Bahraini and UAE parties (party-appointed).
- Emergency Arbitrator in ICC Case No. 25855/GR, seat Geneva, Iraqi governing law, English language, construction sector, Italian and Iraqi parties (appointed by the ICC).
- Sole Arbitrator in LCIA Case No. 194341, seat London, English law, English language, joint venture dispute in the Russian real estate sector, Israeli parties (appointed by the LCIA).
- Co-Arbitrator in LCIA Case No. 204662, seat London, Ukrainian law, English language, banking sector, Ukrainian and Cypriot parties (appointed by the LCIA, value US$ 270m).
- Sole Arbitrator in ICC Case No. 18870/MCP, seat Paris, Romanian governing law, French language), construction sector, Romanian and French parties (appointed by the ICC).
- Sole Arbitrator in an ad hoc arbitration, seat London, English law, English language, shipping sector, UAE and Iranian parties (appointed by the parties)
- Sole Arbitrator in ICC Case No. 20239/MHM, seat Bucharest, English law, English language, investment agreement dispute between Moldovan parties (appointed by the ICC).