Professor Stavros Brekoulakis

Professor Stavros Brekoulakis

"One of the great minds in the international arbitration world.”

WWL Arbitration 2022

"Highly recommended for his impressive experience in commercial and investment arbitration."

WWL Arbitration 2022

“Extremely intelligent, hard-working and highly respected arbitrator.”

WWL Arbitration 2022

“A powerhouse in international arbitration."

WWL Arbitration 2020

“He is highly respected and is making a name for himself as one of the great minds in the international arbitration world."

WWL Arbitration 2020

Practice Overview

Stavros is a Professor in International Arbitration at Queen Mary University of London and an arbitrator practicing at 3 Verulam Buildings (Gray’s Inn).

He has been involved in international arbitration for more than 20 years and is widely recognised as a leading authority in the field. He is regularly listed in Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration, Who’s Who Legal: Construction and Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leader, being included in the Legal 500 Arbitration Power List and ranked as a WWL Arbitration: Global Elite Thought Leader and one of the 25 most highly regarded arbitrators in the EMEA region.

He has been shortlisted twice for the Global Arbitration Review Best Prepared and Most Responsive Arbitrator Award and received the 2020 GAR Award for Best Public Speech.

His professional expertise focuses on both contract and investment treaty arbitrations in major infrastructure and investment projects, energy and natural resources projects, corporate and M&A disputes and commercial disputes. He has been appointed in more than 80 arbitrations (investment and commercial) as chairman, sole arbitrator, co-arbitrator and emergency arbitrator under all the major arbitral institutions and the UNCITRAL Rules.

Stavros serves or has served in several public positions and commissions of trust including as a member of the LCIA Court, ICC Commission on Arbitration, Investment Expert Trade Advisory Group of the UK Department for International Trade, Steering Committee of the UNCITRAL Academic Forum on ISDS, drafting committee of the Africa Arbitration Academy Model BIT, Co-Chair of the ICCA-Queen Mary Task Force on Third Party Funding, Academic Council of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration, Lagos Court of Arbitration, Expert Committee of the Permanent Forum of China Construction Law, Rapporteur in the International Law Association Committee of International Commercial Arbitration, Selection Panel of the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund.

He is the Editor-in-Chief of CIArb’s International Journal of Arbitration, Mediation and Dispute Management; General Editor of Journal of International Dispute Settlement; Co-editor of Kluwer’s International Arbitration Law Library Series; a member of the Editorial Board of the Arbitration International, the ICC Bulletin and the Advisory Board of the Indian Review of International Arbitration.

Stavros is widely regarded as a leading academic in the field of international law and arbitration and has been invited to give the prestigious Summer Course on Private International Law at the Hague Academy of International Law in 2026. His academic work includes the leading publications on Third Parties in International Arbitration, Arbitrability, ICCA-Queen Mary Report on Third Party Funding and numerous publications in leading international law journals and reviews. His academic work has been cited with approval by international arbitral tribunals and national courts in several jurisdictions, including the UK Privy Council, High Court of England and Wales, US Southern District of New York and Supreme Court of India.

One of the foremost arbitrators practising in England”; “Stavros is one of the best arbitrators of his generation – a brilliant mind”; “He is tremendously intelligent and hardworking”; “Stavros is just fantastic, combining legal expertise with practical knowledge”; “He consistently explores boundaries in international arbitration, always coming up with interesting ideas”: WWL Arbitration 2023 ranked as a Global Thought Leader and one of the 25 most highly regarded arbitrators in the EMEA region

One of the great minds in the international arbitration world”; “Extremely intelligent, hard-working and highly respected arbitrator”; “Has established a reputation as the go-to in arbitration”; “Highly recommended for his impressive experience in commercial and investment arbitration”: WWL Arbitration 2022 ranked as a Global Thought Leader and one of the 25 most highly regarded arbitrators in the EMEA region

He is excellent and very active in construction work”; “He is a critical and novel thinker as an academic, and is pragmatic as counsel or arbitrator”; “He has a complete command of the applicable law and of best practices in international arbitration”; “He is an excellent arbitrator and academic”: WWL Arbitration 2021

A powerhouse in international arbitration”; “He is highly respected and is making a name for himself as one of the great minds in the international arbitration world”; “A very well-regarded academic and arbitrator”: WWL Arbitration 2020

Stavros has a seemingly encyclopaedic recall of jurisprudence”; “Stavros is extremely intelligent, a true team player and a pleasure to work with”; “a reigning thought leader in the arbitration space”: WWL Arbitration 2019

Stands out as a first-rate arbitrator regularly engaged in matters arising out of major infrastructure projects around the world”: WWL Arbitration 2018

Very thorough and professional”; “Held in the highest regard”: WWL Future Leaders: Arbitration 2017 ranked as one of the 10 most highly regarded future leaders

Investment treaty

  • Chairman under the UNCITRAL Rules and the Permanent Court of Arbitration in a multi-million investment treaty arbitration claim arising out of the China-Ghana international investment treaty in relation to a major infrastructure project (seat in London).
  • Co-arbitrator under the UNCITRAL Rules and the Permanent Court of Arbitration in a multi-billion investment treaty arbitration claim arising out of the US-Vietnam international investment treaty in relation to a major infrastructure project (seat in Paris).

Infrastructure, Construction, & Engineering

  • Chairman under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration in a US$ 260 million dispute arising out of a subcontract for the construction of a desalination plant in Saudi Arabia (seat in London, Saudi law including Sharia law).
  • Chairman under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration in a dispute arising out of an EPC Contract between a Chinese and a Ghanaian party (seat in London, Ghanaian law).
  • Chairman under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a US$ 250 million dispute arising out of a contract for the construction of a hydropower plant between a German construction company and a Romanian employer (seat in Paris, Romanian law).
  • Co-arbitrator under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a US$ 350 million dispute arising out of an EPC contract for the construction of a desalination plant between a UAE party and a Spanish party (seat in Dubai, UAE law).
  • Chairman under the UNCITRAL Rules concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of a transport and road infrastructure project (FIDIC conditions) between an Italian party and a Moldovan party (seat in Paris, Moldovan law).
  • Chairman under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of a licence and distribution agreement between an Irish and Finnish party (seat in Dublin, Finnish law).
  • Co-arbitrator in a consolidated case under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce, concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of an EPC contract and subcontract between a French, a Spanish and a German party (seat in France, French law).
  • Chairman under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of a subcontract for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant (FIDIC conditions) between a Romanian party and a German party (seat in Bucharest, Romanian law).
  • Chairman under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of a construction project between a Brazilian and a US party as Claimants, and a Brazilian party as Respondent (seat in New York, Brazilian law).
  • Chairman under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a multi-million dispute between a German contractor and a Romanian State entity arising out of the construction of a major infrastructure project (FIDIC Rules, seat in Bucharest, Romanian law).
  • Chairman under the Rules of Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre concerning a multimillion dispute arising out of an engineering project in Kazakhstan between a Turkish engineering company and a UAE contractor (seat in Abu Dhabi, Kazakh law).
  • Sole Arbitrator under the Rules of Stockholm Chamber of Commerce concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of a construction project between a Moldovan JV and a State entity (seat in Stockholm, Russian law).
  • Co-arbitrator under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a US$ 500 million dispute arising out of an engineering subcontract (seat in Doha, law of Qatar).
  • Co-arbitrator under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a US$ 220 million dispute arising out of the construction of a desalination plant in UAE (seat in Dubai, laws of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and UAE federal laws).
  • Co-arbitrator under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce, concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of the construction of a major infrastructure project between a multi-national construction consortium and a State entity (seat in Athens, Greek law).
  • Co-arbitrator under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce between German contractor and State entity arising out of the construction of a major infrastructure project (FIDIC Rules, seat in Bucharest, Romanian law).

Energy & Natural Resources

  • Co-arbitrator under the ICC Rules in a US$ 1,2 billion dispute concerning the development of a nuclear plant in Northern Europe (seat in Geneva, English law).
  • Chairman under the UNCITRAL Rules concerning a dispute arising out of a gas pricing agreement in Eastern Europe (seat in Stockholm, English law).
  • Chairman under the UNCITRAL Rules in a multi-million dispute arising out of an EPC contract for a refinery and terminal project between a Saudi Arabian and an English party (seat in London, English governing law).
  • Co-arbitrator under the Rules of Stockholm Chambers of Commerce in a US$ 150 million dispute arising out of the development of a major gas-condensate field in the Republic of Uzbekistan between a Malaysian and an Uzbek party (seat in Stockholm, law of Uzbekistan).
  • Co-arbitrator under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a US$ 200 million dispute arising out of a contract for the delivery of crude oil between a State entity and a group of buyers from Switzerland, the UK and UAE (seat in Singapore, English law).
  • Chairman under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce in a dispute arising out of an energy-related contract between a Brazilian and a US party (seat in London, English law).
  • Chairman under the UNCITRAL Rules concerning a dispute arising out of a contract for the construction of underground natural gas storage between a Polish and Italian party (seat in Warsaw, Polish law).

Corporate and M&A

  • Chairman under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration in a breach of warranties and indemnities dispute arising out of Share Purchase Agreement (seat in London, English Law).
  • Chairman under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce in a dispute arising out of a Shareholders Agreement between English and Swiss Parties (seat in London, Swiss law).
  • Co-arbitrator under the Rules of the International Chamber of Commerce concerning a Shareholders Agreement dispute between a Turkish party and a UAE party (seat in Istanbul, Turkish law).
  • Sole Arbitrator under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration concerning a post-M&A dispute between a Singaporean and a Swiss party (seat in London, English law).
  • Co-arbitrator under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a dispute in the field of hospitality between a Cypriot and a Greek party (seat in Cyprus, English law).
  • Chairman under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a post-M&A dispute between two Greek parties (seat in Athens, Greek law).
  • Co-arbitrator under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration concerning a post-M&A dispute between a BVI party and a US party (seat in London, English law).
  • Sole Arbitrator under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration concerning a multiparty dispute between a number of Kuwaiti and Swiss parties arising out of an M&A and investment agreement (seat in London, English law).

Commercial

  • Chairman under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration, concerning a dispute arising out of a sale of goods contract (CISG) between an English and a Dutch party (seat in London, English law).
  • Co-arbitrator under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of a concession contract between a Greek construction company and a State entity (seat in Athens, Greek law).
  • Co-arbitrator under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules concerning a dispute between an Irish and a Singaporean party arising out of a coal supply contract (seat in London, English law).
  • Co-arbitrator under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules concerning a consulting agreement for a major concession contract in Botswana (seat in Johannesburg, law of Botswana).
  • Chairman under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration concerning a dispute arising out of a supply contract between an English and a Lebanese party (seat in London, English law).
  • Chairman under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a multi-million pharmaceutical dispute between a UK and Swiss Party (seat in Paris, English law).
  • Sole Arbitrator under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration concerning a dispute arising out of a finance agreement between an English party and a UAE party (seat in London, English law).
  • Sole Arbitrator under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration concerning a dispute arising out of a finance agreement between an English and a Swiss party (seat in London, English law).
  • Sole Arbitrator under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration, concerning a dispute arising out of a sale of goods contract between a Swiss and a US party (seat in London, English law).
  • Co-arbitrator under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration concerning a dispute arising out of a finance agreement between a US and a Jordanian party (seat in London, English law).
  • Co-arbitrator under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration, concerning a dispute arising out of a carbon credit project development between an Australian Bank, and a German, a Chinese and a Swiss company (seat in London, English law).
  • Co-arbitrator under the Rules of Danish Institute of Arbitration, concerning a dispute between a Danish and a Greek party arising out of an exclusive distribution agreement (seat in Copenhagen, Danish law).
Winner: UK Bar Awards 2023
The Lawyer Awards 2022: Chambers of the Year