Georges Chalfoun
Call: Call: 2014; 2010 (Solicitor)
Practice Overview
Georges is an experienced commercial practitioner. Prior to transferring to the Bar in 2014, he spent six years at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP. In his time at Freshfields, he also spent time on secondment to the legal team of ExxonMobil Corporation.
Georges is ranked in all the leading directories:
- Chambers and Partners describe him as “an impressive junior .. a great team player … detail-oriented and incredibly smart”; “great at grappling with the commercial intricacies of the matter”; “incredibly hard-working, he spots the important detail quickly and he leaves no stone unturned”; “highly intelligent”; “tactically astute, very conscientious and extremely affable”; “extremely bright … particularly strong on quantum issues”.
- Legal 500 describe him as; “a great team player with a phenomenal work rate – always adds value, and will always be in high demand for big-ticket cases”; has “a terrific grasp of detail while maintaining a clear view of the overall picture.. well beyond his year of call”; “one of the strongest barristers, both technically and commercially. He works at a speed I have not come across, has a phenomenal ability to retain knowledge and apply it”.
- Who’s Who Arbitration Future Leaders 2023, where he is described as an “excellent mind who is really smart and hardworking”.
In recent years, Georges has developed a thriving Commercial Court practice, with a particular specialism in large civil fraud claims. Recent highlights include:
- Suppipat v. Narongdej, led by Jonathan Davies Jones KC, acting for SCB bank. This was one of the Lawyer’s top 20 cases of 2022, a mammoth ongoing fraud claim relating to a large renewable company in Thailand, listed in the Commercial Court, with the 6 month trial concluding in March 2023. All the claims against SCB failed: [2023] EWHC 1988 (Comm).
- 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 as an advocate in a series of interlocutory applications both in the Commercial Court and the Court of Appeal: [2021] EWHC 2364 (Comm); [2022] EWHC 1121 (Comm)); [2022] EWHC 2266 (Comm); [2023] EWCA Civ 886. The proceedings are ongoing.
- Lakatamia Shipping v Nobu Su, led by David Head KC. 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).
Georges is also a junior with a “multifaceted” arbitration practice and “regularly handles significant disputes for clients” (Chambers & Partners); his “acumen in international arbitration is hugely impressive, and he is a joy to work with”; he has a practice which “many silks would envy” (Legal 500). In recent years, he has been instructed by or co-instructed with Shearman & Sterling, Debevoise & Plimpton, the Kingdom of Morocco, Jenner & Block, Bird & Bird, Latham & Watkins, Akin Gump and Brodies in a number of large-scale arbitrations and arbitration-related proceedings, both commercial and investment treaty (in ICSID Cases No. ARB/16/19 and ARB/18/29), including in the DIFC Courts. He has also been appointed as sole arbitrator or as a member of a panel by the ICC Court, the LCIA and the DIAC Executive Committee.
Commercial Litigation / Civil Fraud
- Acting for the defendant (instructed by Osborne Clarke, led by David Head KC) in Taha Pharmaceuticals v Capsugel Belgium NV. This is a significant civil fraud claim in the pharmaceutical industry.
- 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 6 month trial concluding in March 2023. All the claims against SCB failed: [2023] EWHC 1988 (Comm).
- 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 both in the Commercial Court and the Court of Appeal: [2021] EWHC 2364 (Comm); [2022] EWHC 1121 (Comm)); [2022] EWHC 2266 (Comm); [2023] EWCA Civ 886.
- 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.
International Arbitration (counsel)
- Acting for the Respondent (led by Christopher Harris KC) in a very large consolidated set of appeals in the DIFC Courts, relating to the recognition and enforcement of an ICC award relating to a major salvage contract, currently awaiting permission to appeal.
- 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.
Prior Experience (as a solicitor)
- 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.
Languages
Georges is bilingual French.
