16/05/2013
Zannis Mavrogordato and Mahnaz Malik
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The members of 20 Essex Street are delighted to announce that Zannis Mavrogordato and Mahnaz Malik (both formerly of 12 Gray’s Inn Square) have joined Chambers with effect from 16 May 2013. Head of Chambers, Iain Milligan QC says :”We are delighted to welcome Mahnaz and Zannis to chambers. Their fields of expertise complement and strengthen the recognised position of chambers in international arbitration and particularly in investor-state disputes.”
Zannis is a specialist in international commercial and investment arbitration. He is dual qualified as an English barrister (1999) and French avocat (2007) and has conducted international arbitration proceedings in English and French on behalf of governments and multinational corporations in the construction, energy, mining, finance and telecommunications sectors. He has a particular focus on disputes with a connection to CEE and CIS. He has lived and worked in London, Paris and Bucharest. He also sits as an arbitrator.
Recent cases
- Counsel to a Bulgarian-owned mining company in two ongoing sets of arbitration proceedings (Swiss Rules and ICC) against a Swiss mining giant, value US$100m and $350m respectively.
- Counsel to a US oil and gas company in ICC and ongoing LCIA arbitration proceedings against a Caribbean Government, value US$200m.
- Sole Arbitrator in a French-language ICC arbitration between Romanian individuals and a French construction company arising out of a share sale agreement.
Mahnaz specialises in international law and international dispute settlement. She routinely conducts arbitrations for sovereigns and corporations governed by ICC, ICSID, UNCITRAL, LCIA and other procedures. She is often sought for her expertise in investor-state disputes arising under bilateral investment treaties (BIT) and contracts, drafting and negotiating investment treaties, sovereign guarantees and the training of government officials. Mahnaz is currently representing 3 Governments in significant investor-state claims and has appeared as Counsel in 5 BIT disputes in the last year alone. She is a member of the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators. She is qualified as an Attorney at Law (New York), Solicitor (England & Wales) and an Advocate of the High Court in Pakistan. She is also called to the English Bar (Lincoln’s Inn)*
Recent cases
- Successfully represented the Government of Albania in an UNCITRAL arbitration brought by Sky Petroleum Inc. by obtaining the dismissal of a claim worth US$1 billion arising from an oil exploration contract with full costs awarded in her client’s favour.
- Successfully represented the Governments of Pakistan and Balochistan in ICSID and ICC proceedings in relation to interim relief applications over gold and copper deposits
- Counsel to the Government of Indonesia in two ongoing investment treaty disputes (ICSID and ad hoc) arising from the bail out of a major bank (instructed by KarimSyah in Jakarta)
* Mahnaz is currently practising from Chambers in her capacity as a foreign qualified lawyer.
