Georges Chalfoun

• Acting for one of the defendants (instructed by RPC, led by Jonathan Davies Jones KC) in Suppipat v. Narongdej.  This is one of the Lawyer’s top 20 cases of 2022, a mammoth ongoing fraud claim relating to a large renewable company in Thailand in the Commercial Court, with the 4 months trial currently ongoing.
• Acting as sole counsel  for four Defendants (instructed by Jenner & Block, sole counsel) in Crane Bank v DFCU Bank, as sole counsel for four of the Defendants.  This is a major civil fraud claim relating to a large banking undertaking in Uganda.  Georges appeared in a series of interlocutory applications ([2021] EWHC 2364 (Comm); [2022] EWHC 1121 (Comm)), and recently appeared in a heavy application resulting in permission to serve out being set aside in relation to three of his four clients: [2022] EWHC 2266 (Comm).  A two and a half day appeal is listed in early April 2023.
• Acting for the Defendant (instructed by Baker McKenzie, led by David Head KC) in Lakatamia Shipping v Nobu Su.  This was an unlawful means conspiracy claim in the Commercial Court which was tried in 2021, and generated a series of collateral battles including in the Court of Appeal: [2019] EWHC 1145 (Ch); [2020] 2 All E.R. (Comm) 359; [2020] EWHC 3201 (Comm); [2021] EWHC 203 (Comm); [2021] EWHC 1907 (Comm).
• Acting for the Claimants (instructed by CYK law, led by Farhaz Khan KC) in Ward v Clydesdale, a c. £23 million claim arising out of the sale of certain financial products to the Cs in 2008 and 2009.  The claim is continuing.
• Acting for the Defendants (instructed by Gardner Leader, led by David Head KC) in a major fraud claim in the Commercial Court relating to the ownership of a port and associated facilities in Moldova (New Ventures Capital NV and Eastern Capital NV v Thomas Moser and RMU Capital Limited [2018] EWHC 2067 (Comm)).
• Acting for the Sixth Defendant (instructed by Brown Rudnick, led by David Head KC) in a claim by a minority shareholder alleging unfair prejudice, fraud and breach of contract in relation to the restructuring of a bank finance and dilution of a minority interests in a substantial UK hotel group holding structure (Re TPD Investments Limited/Destiny v TH Holdings & Ors [2017] EWHC 657 (Ch)).
• Acting for UBS (instructed by Herbert Smith Freehills, led by Sonia Tolaney KC) in the Court of Appeal, successfully defending UBS in a substantial claim brought by Kaupthing in relation to a payment made by mistake (Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander v UBS AG [2016] EWCA Civ 319).
• Instructed by RBS in the RBS Rights Issue Litigation.
• Advising an international development bank (instructed by Bird & Bird, as sole counsel) in considering a High Court claim and a summary judgment application for payment under a performance bond.
• Acting for Sonatrach (instructed by Bracewell Law, led by Christopher Harris KC) in a dispute arising out of a Joint Shippers Agreement for LNG heard over 7 days in the Commercial Court (BP Gas Marketing v Sonatrach [2016] EWHC 2461).
• Advising for a large pension fund (instructed by Eversheds, led by Sonia Tolaney KC) in a potential claim for professional negligence against its investment advisors, including consideration for a Beddoes application.
• Regularly instructed as sole counsel, appearing in the County Court on a variety of commercial matters, including an application for pre-action disclosure, a two-day trial arising out of unpaid invoices for professional services, a one-day trial for unpaid professional invoices and an application for a charging order against property.

• Acting for the Nova Group (led by Christopher Harris KC, alongside Debevoise & Plimpton) against the government of Romania in a EUR 350 million ICSID claim relating to the expropriation of a large insurance undertaking (ICSID Case No ARB/16/19).  The claim is ongoing.
• Acting for the Kingdom of Morocco (led by Christopher Harris KC) in a US$ 400 million ICSID claim relating to the insolvency of a major refinery in the Kingdom (ICSID Case No. ARB/18/29).  The claim settled in the summer of 2022.
• Acting for a large US multinational (sole counsel, instructed by Shearman & Sterling) in a USD 150 million private equity financial valuation dispute relating to shares in a joint venture vehicle in India.  Georges appeared at the final hearing in June 2021, with the final award being issued thereafter.
• Acting (led by Tariq Baloch, instructed by Brodies LLP) for a large spirits distributor in an LCIA arbitration against a leading spirits manufacturer arising out of a distribution agreement.
• Acting (as sole counsel, instructed by Bird & Bird) for a large multinational data storage corporation in a SIAC arbitration arising out of a joint venture in India.
• Acting (as sole counsel, alongside Latham & Watkins) in a large LCIA arbitration arising out of a put option agreement.
• Acting for a large national oil company (instructed by Akin Gump, led by Ali Malek KC and Christopher Harris KC)   defending claims of over US$ 150 million relating to the sale and marketing of base oil in UNCITRAL proceedings.
• Acting for an agent (instructed by Vinson & Elkins, led by Christopher Harris KC) in a large claim for commission arising out of an oil and gas infrastructure project.
• Acting for a middle-eastern state (led by Ali Malek KC) in a large UNCITRAL commercial arbitration arising out of alleged expropriations.
• Acting for an oil & gas company (sole counsel, instructed by Bird & Bird) in a large UNCITRAL commercial arbitration relating to the re-development of mature oil and gas fields.
• Instructed in a potential ICC arbitration arising out of an agency and consultancy contract in the oil & gas sector (sole counsel, instructed by Bird & Bird).

International Arbitration (arbitrator)

• Appointed by the ICC Court as sole arbitrator in a dispute arising out of bank guarantees.
• Appointed by the DIAC Executive Committee as sole arbitrator in a dispute in the hospitality sector in the United Arab Emirates.

• Acted for a leading investment bank in a €400 million ICC arbitration arising out of a project financing.
• Acted for a major multinational pharmaceutical company in an ICC arbitration arising out of a licensing agreement relating to one of the “blockbuster” drugs of the 21st century.
• Acted for a Luxembourg investor in a multi-billion dollar investment treaty dispute against the government of Algeria relating to an investment in the telecommunications sector.
• Acted for a multinational chemical producer in a US$ 200 million London seated ICC dispute arising out of a long term chemical supply contract with a state-owned European counterpart.
• Advising multiple oil majors on the effects of the EU, UK and UN sanctions regimes on their operations in Libya, Syria, Iran and Russia.
• Acting as ad hoc secretary to a Court of Arbitration for Sport tribunal in a dispute relating to the governance of the World Chess Federation.
• Advising a number of oil major, mining majors, and international charities as the structuring of investments to benefit from bilateral investment treaty protection, and/or as to the merits of contemplated international arbitration proceedings in relation to, amongst others, investments in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Mozambique.

Georges is bilingual French.