GBS Disputes

Experience as counsel includes representation of:

• A European contractor in an ICC arbitration in Paris initiated against a major international oil company. The dispute arises from an Engineering, Procurement, Supply, Construction and Commissioning (EPSCC) contract for facilities associated with an oil exploration project. The law of our client’s State applies.
• An African company in an ICC arbitration against a joint venture of European companies. The dispute arises from an EPC contract for the construction of a co-generation power plant. The law of our client’s State applies.
• The Republic of Lithuania, Respondent in an ICSID arbitration brought by Veolia Environnement S.A. and others in relation to district heating and power generation systems in Lithuania (ICSID Case No. ARB/16/3). The claims are brought under the Lithuania-France bilateral investment treaty. The dispute revolves around, inter alia, allegations of corruption, collusion, self-dealing, anti-competitive conduct and tariff manipulation. The total amount in dispute is in excess of EUR 500 million (including counterclaims that are now before the Lithuanian courts following Achmea).
• A State-owned entity in an ICC arbitration against a European joint venture. The dispute arises from an EPC contract for the construction of two chemical plants and relates to engineering issues and the effect of the pandemic on the project. The law of our client’s State applies.
• Vilnius City Municipality and the Municipality-owned district heating company in an SCC arbitration in Vilnius against Veolia Environnement S.A. and a Lithuanian subsidiary. The dispute concerned the operation and management of a 15-year district heating concession in Vilnius and Lithuanian law applied. Veolia initiated the arbitration and advanced claims in the region of EUR 50 million. Our clients counterclaimed and secured an award in their favour for a net value of approximately EUR 56 million.
• European investor Mr. Bedri Selmani in an ICC arbitration in Paris against the Republic of Kosovo. The dispute arose from investments in petrol stations and petrol storage facilities. The claims were brought, inter alia, under the 2014 Kosovo Foreign Investment Law.
• Sonatrach, Respondent in an ICC arbitration in Geneva brought by Saipem SpA and Saipem Contracting Algérie SpA. The dispute arose from a contract for the construction of gas liquefaction facilities. Algerian law applied. Over EUR 2.6 billion was at stake.
• Sonatrach, Respondent in an ICC arbitration in Paris brought by Saipem SpA and Saipem Contracting Algérie SpA. The dispute arose from the performance of an EPC contract related to the construction of an LPG pipeline. The Respondent was further seeking the reimbursement of certain sums following a breach of contract by Claimants. Algerian law applied.

Experience as arbitrator

Sole arbitrator in an expedited arbitration under the rules of the Milan Chamber of Arbitration between a Middle Eastern company and two Italian companies arising from the performance of a services agreement. Italian law applied.

Education

• Queen Mary University of London, Paris, LL.M. in International Dispute Resolution and Economic Law (with merits)
• Università Bocconi, Master of Science in Law (summa cum laude)
• Université Paris-Est Créteil, Diploma in International Business Dispute Resolution (first in class)

Admissions & Courts

Milan, Italy

Awards & Recognitions

Winner of the 2016 CEPANI Academic Prize with his master thesis on International Law of Indirect Expropriation

Languages

• Italian
• English
• French

Nationalities

• Italian
• French

• Chapter coordinator in Paris, AIA-ArbIt-40 (The Italian Under 40 Arbitration Group under the auspices of AIA and ArbIt)
• Member, International Bar Association (IBA)
• Member, ICC Young Arbitrators’ Forum
• Member, Young International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA)

• “Impartiality and independence of arbitrators in France and Italy: Where do we stand?,” 2023(4) Cahiers de l’arbitrage 775 (with F.G. Santacroce)

• “Arbitration and the Energy Transition,” 10th Harvard International Arbitration Conference, Boston, 3 February 2024 (moderator)