Laetitia Souesme
Biography
Overview
Laetitia is a partner in the Firm's top-ranked International Arbitration group based in the London office.
Laetitia represents clients in complex disputes, typically with a multi-jurisdictional element. She has acted in arbitrations worldwide under the rules of major arbitral institutions (including ICC, LCIA and SIAC). Laetitia has experience in a wide range of sectors, with a particular focus on oil & gas, energy, infrastructure as well as on post-M&A, private equity and finance. Laetitia is a Solicitor Advocate and undertakes her own advocacy at arbitration hearings.
While English-law qualified lawyer who regularly acts in arbitrations under English law or the laws of common law jurisdictions, Laetitia also has substantial experience acting in disputes involving the laws of civil law countries (including France, Belgium, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Morocco, Egypt, the UAE, Congo, the DRC, Brazil and Kazakhstan), both in English and in French.
In addition, Laetitia has significant experience in relation to expert determination processes, mediations and litigation in the English courts, including seeking measures in support of arbitration.
University of Law, London
University of Law, London
Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne University
Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne University
Paris 3 Sorbonne Nouvelle University
Paris 3 Sorbonne Nouvelle University
Experience
Laetitia's representative experience includes:
Oil & Gas
Acting in a series of LCIA arbitrations and expert determinations under English law between joint venture partners in a multi-billion dollar oil and gas project in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which concerned joint venture rights, contingent payment obligations, field development planning and reserves estimation and certification.
Acting in a dispute under Swiss law relating to oil & gas assets in the Russian Federation, involving an expert determination process and an ICC arbitration.
Energy / Infrastructure
Representing Brazilian contractors in an LCIA arbitration against insurers, in a dispute relating to one of the largest hydroelectric power projects in the world.
Acting for a major contractor in a dispute (in French) relating to a construction project in Morocco.
Representing an Eastern European utility in a billion-dollar ICC arbitration relating to a nuclear power plant project.
Acting for TECO Guatemala Holdings, LLC in ICSID resubmission proceedings against Guatemala relating to an investment in an electricity distribution company, leading to a significant award.
Acting in an ICC arbitration concerning the design and construction of a nuclear power plant.
Mining
Acting in an ICC arbitration (in French) in the mining industry relating to the development and exploitation of mining assets in Central Africa under a cooperation agreement.
Acting for the claimant in LCIA proceedings in London relating to a dispute under a shareholders' agreement regarding investments in the mining industry in Central Africa.
M&A / Private Equity
Acting in a billion-dollar post-M&A ICC arbitration involving contracts under both English law and French law.
Acting in a private equity dispute under English law and the LCIA rules, including successfully seeking injunctive relief before the English courts.
Acting in a SIAC arbitration concerning a post-acquisition dispute in India under an English law-governed agreement.
Financial Services
Acting for a major financial institution in ICC proceedings relating to a total return equity swap transaction.
Acting for a sovereign fund and a financial institution in a dispute arising out of a restructuring in Central Asia.
Assisting a leading financial institution and coordinating its defence in connection with investigations by the US Department of Justice, the UK FCA and the UK Serious Fraud Office relating to the setting of LIBOR.
Paris Chancellerie des Universités Prize, 2008
