William Kirtley, International Arbitration Lawyer

• Counsel in a multi-party ICC arbitration under English law for a Canadian client against a Saudi Arabian company, obtaining full damages while defeating USD 131 million in counterclaims.
• Counsel in a USD 254 million SCC arbitration under Uzbek law in the petrochemical sector, where essentially all claims against a publicly listed company were dismissed.
• Counsel in a multi-billion ICC arbitration under English law against a South American State, concerning the enforcement of a settlement agreement linked to unlawful detention and human rights violations.
• Arbitrator in significant UNCITRAL investor-State arbitration in the mining sector under the ASEAN–Australia–New Zealand FTA (PCA Case No. 2024-48).
• Counsel for French magnate and investor in ICSID arbitration against Kuwait in the media sector (Kiwan v. Kuwait, ICSID Case No. ARB/20/53).
• Counsel in an ICSID arbitration against Hungary concerning the waste management industry (MacKenzie v. Hungary, ICSID Case No. ARB/21/66).
• Counsel for successful Claimant in ICSID proceedings against Kazakhstan involving expropriation of a telecommunications company.
• Member of successful defense team for Turkey in a major ICSID arbitration.
• Counsel in ICSID proceedings against Tunisia concerning investments in the banking sector.
• Counsel in ICSID arbitration against a Central Asian State on behalf of a Turkish construction company.
• Counsel in arbitration under Nigerian law concerning a breach of a gas processing agreement, resolved in client’s favor.
• Counsel in LCIA arbitration under English law for a Chinese supplier dispute, with client awarded USD 28.7 million plus interest and costs.
• Counsel for West African Claimant in ICC arbitration under Swiss law concerning cement plant construction, obtaining both Partial and Final Awards and recovering 70% of all costs.
• Arbitrator in ICC arbitration under Turkish law concerning obligations of a Turkish manufacturer in bankruptcy protection.
• Counsel for Croatian Claimant in multi-million USD ICC arbitration under Swiss law against Italian Respondent concerning piping construction works.
• Represented Claimant in ICDR arbitration under New York law concerning blockchain investments, securing USD 35 million plus interest and all arbitration costs.
• Counsel in multi-million USD SIAC arbitration under Singapore law concerning construction of a desalination plant in Oman, with client recovering full damages and costs.
• Arbitrator in PCA Case No. 2024-48.
• Counsel in successful UNCITRAL investment treaty arbitration between Poland and a French pharmaceutical company concerning licensing of generic drugs.
• Counsel for a State in UNCITRAL arbitration under Angolan law, winning full damages and most costs in a World Bank-financed infrastructure project while defeating all counterclaims.
• Arbitrator in DIFC-LCIA arbitration under Saudi law involving a major Middle Eastern construction dispute.
• Legal expert in Canadian court proceedings on the prospects of success of a time-barred investor-State arbitration.
• Counsel in LCIA arbitration under Kenyan law for Austrian investor against East African State entity over smart card supply; all damages and costs recovered.
• Counsel in three consolidated SIAC arbitrations under Japanese law involving nine parties in a failed joint venture, successfully resolved for French client.
• Counsel in successful HKIAC arbitration under Hong Kong law concerning commodity sales between South American seller and Chinese buyer, including parallel litigation in China.
• Counsel for French Respondent in successful ICC Emergency Arbitrator proceedings brought by Italian company, and ensuing ICC arbitration under French law, concerning an intellectual property dispute in the engineered wood products industry.
• Counsel for Hong Kong company in ICC arbitration under Seychelles law concerning multimillion-dollar cryptocurrency losses due to technical failings, securing full victory and costs.
• Counsel for Claimant in LCIA arbitration under English law concerning cancellation of an offshore drilling contract, with damages for gas-well programme losses.
• Counsel for Turkish company in ICC arbitration against Chinese company under the CISG concerning a large sale of ductile iron pipes for an infrastructure project.
• Counsel to Kuwaiti company in KCAC arbitration under Kuwaiti law against Indian contractor in a USD 26 million construction dispute regarding delays and disruption.
• Counsel for subcontractor in multi-million USD ICC arbitration under Saudi law against Spanish contractor subsidiary, securing compensation.
• Counsel for Claimant in WIPO arbitration concerning music royalties from an online platform and related copyright infringement claims.
• Counsel in ICC arbitration under Russian law for an Eastern European contractor in a delay and penalties dispute with Italian counterpart, securing compensation.
• Counsel for Omani subcontractor in successfully resolved ICC arbitration concerning a large-scale energy infrastructure project in Oman.
• Counsel for Canadian Respondent in ICDR arbitration under Washington State law brought by a Delaware e-commerce company, successfully resolved.

• Counsel in amicably resolved investor-State arbitration concerning a property development in the South Caucasus.
• Counsel in UNCITRAL arbitration under Bosnian law (PCA-administered) concerning a wastewater treatment plant, successfully resolved.
• Counsel for Canadian company in ICDR arbitration under New York law against Japanese cosmetics firm regarding biotech collaboration.
• Counsel in LCIA arbitration under English law involving a USD 40+ million joint venture dispute in the West African oil & gas industry.
• Co-counsel in SCC arbitration on applicability of U.S. OFAC sanctions to oil & gas financial transactions.
• Arbitrator in PCA-administered arbitration between a UK company and an international organization regarding disclosure obligations.
• Counsel for Filipino Respondent in JAMS arbitration under California law concerning breach of a distribution agreement and related criminal proceedings.
• Counsel for Japanese company in two multi-million USD ICC arbitrations seated in Singapore against Bangladeshi company under Bangladeshi law, concerning joint venture disputes in the construction industry.
• Counsel for Respondents in ICDR arbitration under Texas law accused of statutory fraud in an airport expansion investment.
• Counsel for Mexican Claimant in ICC arbitration under Swiss law against German company regarding pre-contractual liability.
• Counsel for State-controlled entity in ICC arbitration under French law in the cement industry, obtaining EUR 26 million in compensation.
• Counsel for Respondents in successfully resolved ICDR arbitration under New York law concerning breach of a funding agreement and extension of the arbitration agreement to non-signatories.
• Presiding arbitrator in ad hoc arbitration under Egyptian law concerning construction dispute.
• Counsel in ICC arbitration in Paris under French law over post-acquisition IP disputes between French and Italian companies.
• Counsel for UAE Respondent in successfully resolved arbitration under Swiss law and the Swiss Rules of International Arbitration concerning a factory project in Egypt.
• Arbitrator in ICC arbitration between Hong Kong claimant and Dubai respondent concerning breach of legal services agreement.
• Counsel in third-party funded ICC arbitration under French law for Singapore aviation company concerning agency payment disputes, with full compensation secured.
• Counsel in ICC arbitration under French law concerning an intellectual property dispute in the chemical industry between French and U.S. entities.
• Counsel for Claimant in successful multi-million USD ICC arbitration under Indonesian law against a State-owned construction company, with full costs recovered.
• Counsel in OHADA arbitration concerning the coffee and cocoa industry in the Ivory Coast against French multinational corporation.
• Counsel in ICC arbitration concerning a joint venture to develop an advanced gas turbine between French, Swedish, and British manufacturers.
• Counsel in ICC arbitration concerning sale of wind turbines by a Western European company to an Indian buyer.
• Counsel for Respondent subcontractor in ICC arbitration concerning defects in a pipeline construction project.
• Counsel in ICC arbitration under French law concerning breach of agency agreement between Northern Irish and Swiss companies.
• Counsel in ICC arbitration under French law for Iranian distributor against American manufacturer over oil & gas equipment.
• Counsel for Danish logistics company in ICC arbitration under French law concerning corporate misfeasance.
• Counsel in ICC arbitration in Madrid under Spanish law concerning public parking investments and EU financial regulations.
• Counsel in ICC arbitration with related interim measures on behalf of a Spanish company concerning an alternative investment fund.
• Counsel in ICC arbitration against an Iraqi State entity in a commercial dispute regarding commodity shipments.
• Counsel in ICC arbitration concerning the modernization of an African State customs agency.
• Counsel in CICA arbitration under Romanian law for a French contractor in a luxury residential project.
• Counsel in ICC arbitration concerning construction of a shopping center in Romania by Northern Irish and Lebanese joint venture.
• Counsel for Guinean contractor in SIAC arbitration under English law against mining company concerning contract termination.
• Counsel for American Respondent in successfully resolved LCIA arbitration under English law concerning the sale of wholesale chemicals.
• Counsel for Mexican Claimant in ICC arbitration under French law concerning the sale of agricultural equipment.
• Counsel for German telecom company in SCCA arbitration under Saudi law against Saudi operator concerning reciprocal carrier services.
• Counsel for UAE company in successful DIAC arbitration under English law regarding fuel sales.
• Counsel for Respondent in ICC arbitration under English law for Italian contractor in Iraq concerning delay, disruption, and breach claims, defeating claims.

• Counsel for American Respondent in ICC arbitration over alleged patent infringement in the agricultural machinery industry.
• Counsel for Mauritius-based investment company in LCIA arbitration under English law concerning fraudulent financial reporting and breach of warranty claims.
• Counsel in successful ICSID arbitration against Ukraine in the media industry.
• Counsel for Middle Eastern client in successful SIAC arbitration against Indian company concerning the sale of industrial chemicals.
• Counsel for Dutch company in successfully resolved dispute under English law over the development of wind farm projects in Ukraine.
• Counsel in AFA arbitration under French law concerning dispute over private equity partnership agreements.
• Counsel for Swiss company in UNCITRAL arbitration against a UN agency, resolved in client’s favor.
• Counsel for Kazakh and Russian Claimants in successful ICC arbitration under French law against African State-owned entity concerning the performance of works at an electricity-generating facility.
• Counsel for Barotseland in public international law dispute against Zambia concerning treaty violations.
• Member of legal team for Gibraltar-based claimant in large investment treaty arbitration against Russia concerning the oil & gas industry.
• Counsel in ad hoc arbitration over leaseback of aircraft between Portuguese and Angolan companies.
• Presiding arbitrator in OAC arbitration under Omani law concerning a construction dispute.
• Counsel in LMAA arbitration under English law for Emirati company concerning contaminated cargo.
• Counsel in ICC ADR proceedings between French company and African State concerning a telecoms joint venture.
• Counsel in ICC arbitration in Turkey over turnkey construction of sulfuric acid plant.
• Counsel for American company in a successful mediation preceding arbitration against a Chinese manufacturer of solar panels.
• Counsel in successful LCAM arbitration under Saudi law concerning construction works at a power plant.
• Counsel for California Claimant in UNCITRAL arbitration administered by the PCA concerning the shipment of military equipment to Ukraine.
• Counsel for Claimant in large, successful LCIA arbitration under Saudi law against a South Korean construction company.
• Counsel in LMAA arbitration under English law for UAE buyer concerning sale of industrial commodities, successfully resolved.
• Counsel in UNCITRAL arbitration administered by the PCA representing an Eastern European State in a road construction dispute.
• Counsel in investment treaty arbitration against Swaziland brought by a foreign investor in the mining sector.
• Counsel in successful SIAC arbitration against a global internet advertising company.
• Counsel for Mexican Respondents in SIAC arbitration concerning alleged breach of a bareboat charter agreement and issues of Mexican trust law.
• Counsel for UAE company in successfully resolved dispute concerning a major project in Mozambique affected by force majeure.
• Counsel in successful LCIA arbitration under English law against Thai company concerning a large supply contract for steel billets, with full compensation awarded.
• Counsel for Australian and Canadian Respondents in successful ICC arbitration with Russian mining company concerning nickel concessions.
• Counsel in successful ICC arbitration concerning the modernization of the customs agency of a Central African State.
• Counsel for Ghanaian Claimant in successfully resolved ICC arbitration under Liberian law in the mining industry.
• Counsel for Congolese Respondent in ICC arbitration in the aviation industry, initiated by the South African subsidiary of a European aviation company, with parallel proceedings in South African courts.
• Counsel for State ministry in successful MIAC arbitration under Maldivian law against UAE hospital equipment supplier, with full costs awarded.
• Counsel for American investors in mediation and expert determination concerning land purchases in Australia.
• Counsel in ICC mediation under French law for North African cement producer concerning O&M obligations, with full compensation obtained.
• Counsel for French client in successful ICC mediation regarding funding defaults in eco-tourism projects.
• Counsel in ICC arbitration against a Central African State concerning the expropriation of a hospital complex.
• Counsel in amicably resolved DAB proceedings under Georgian law involving Eastern European electricity power line project.
• Arbitrator in multiple DIAC arbitrations under UAE law concerning Dubai real estate transactions.
• Member of human rights legal team in ICJ proceedings concerning the extradition of an African head of state from Senegal to Belgium.

• “Cleansing the (Un)clean: The Ongoing Saga of the Clean Hands Doctrine”, Kluwer Arbitration Blog (September 2018)
• “French courts redefine new test for violations of international public policy to set aside arbitral awards (Société MK Group c v S.A.R.L. Onix et Société Financial Initiative)”, LexisNexis (February 2018)
• “Arbitration in France,” Getting the Deal Through (January 2018).
• “The Future of International Arbitration,” lecture at University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas (2015-2018).
• “Comment Eviter Un Conflit Armé Au Barotseland,” published in the magazine Jeune Afrique (June 2014).
• Oxfirst webinar on intellectual property arbitration law and the enforcement of IP rights internationally (May 2014).
• “International Arbitration: France,” published in International Comparative Legal Guides (June 2013).
• “4^th Funding International Arbitration London Panel Debate, panellist in conference sponsored by The Judge (June 2013)
• “Should an Arbitral Tribunal Order Security for Costs When an Impecunious Claimant is Relying upon Third Party Funding?”, published in Kluwer’s Journal of International Arbitration (February 2013).

• “Arbitrating in West and Central Africa: An Introduction to OHADA,” published in the Kluwer Arbitration Blog (February 2013).
• “The Status of the Report of the Executive Directors on the ICSID Convention,” published in the ICSID Review-Foreign Investment Law Journal (Vol. 2, 2012).
• “Complex arbitrations: multi-party and multi-contract disputes under the new ICC Rules,” presentation given at LLB Seminar (November 2012).
• “International Arbitration: France 2012,” published in International Comparative Legal Guides (July 2012).
• “La gestion des contentieux en Afrique : Enjeux et Stratégies,” published in MEDEF : C’est à vous (August 2012).
• “Court-Ordered Discovery in the United States Under 28 USC § 1782 for Use in Foreign International  Arbitrations: Its Evolution, Current Trends, Strategic Use and Dangers,” published in the International Arbitration Law  Review (Vol. 2, June 2011).
• “The Transfer of Treaty Claims and Treaty-Shopping in Investor-State Disputes,” published in The Journal of World Investment and Trade (Vol. 10, No. 3, June 2009).
• “Bringing Claims and Enforcing International Arbitration Awards Against Sub-Saharan African States and Parties,” published in The Law and Practice of International Courts and Tribunals (Vol. 8, No. 1, May 2009).
• “The Tampa Incident: Does Australia’s Political Asylum Policy Violate International Law?”, published in the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law (Vol. 41, 2002).

2002

Columbia University School of Law, J.D.

• Dorsey & Whitney Prize
• Stone Scholar
• Tony Patiño Fellowship for Outstanding Character

2004

The Sorbonne (Paris I – Panthéon-Sorbonne), Maîtrise en Droit

• French J.D.-equivalent awarded with honours

1997

Harvard University, B.A.

• Degree awarded with high honors (magna cum laude)
• Dean’s list all semesters
• Magna cum laude thesis on the history of empiricism