Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes has announced the promotion of Pierre Viguier to Of Counsel, as part of the development of the firm’s international sports law & arbitration practice.
Pierre started his career in international arbitration in the team established by the late Emmanuel Gaillard. Ever since he joined the team, he worked closely with Professor Gaillard, Yas Banifatemi and Benjamin Siino in advising and representing States and companies in investment and general commercial arbitrations.
Founding Partner Benjamin Siino comments: “I am thrilled with Pierre’s well-deserved promotion. Throughout his career with our team, Pierre has shown himself to be an immensely dedicated and talented lawyer, and a great team player, who contributed to some of our major victories.”
Pierre was notably part of the team representing the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria in the ICSID arbitration initiated in 2014 by Orascom TMT Investments, regarding alleged breaches of the Algeria-Belgium-Luxembourg bilateral investment treaty in relation to the operation of a mobile telephone company in Algeria. In a precedent-setting award on abuse of process in investment arbitration, the arbitral tribunal dismissed the USD 4 billion claim brought against Algeria in its entirety. That award has been widely recognised as a landmark decision bound to become a reference in its consideration of investment arbitration as a system. Pierre continued to represent Algeria in the annulment proceedings. In 2020, an ICSID ad hoc committee dismissed the annulment request, which put an end to this long-running case.
Pierre also represented the majority shareholders in the former Yukos Oil Company in proceedings initiated in France to seek the recognition and enforcement of the USD 50 billion awards rendered in the arbitrations brought by the shareholders against the Russian Federation concerning the expropriation of their investments in Yukos, as well as in proceedings initiated by the Russian Federation before Dutch courts to set aside the awards.
In sports-related arbitrations conducted by the firm, Pierre advised and represented Sportfive EMEA (formerly Lagardère Sports) as Claimant in an ICC arbitration in Geneva against the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The dispute arose from the termination by CAF of a USD 1 billion exclusive television and marketing rights agreement. The case eventually settled prior to the hearings.
In 2019, Pierre decided to combine his passion for sports with his calling as a dispute resolution lawyer. In parallel with his work at the firm, he attended the Diplôme d’université in Sports law at the University Paris-Est Créteil, graduating with highest honours. He was then selected for the UEFA Football Law Programme, graduating in 2021 with the highest distinction. Since then, Pierre has participated as a speaker in several sports law events, and also became a lecturer on Sports Law & Arbitration at University Paris-Est Créteil, University Paris II Panthéon-Assas and Sciences Po Paris.
In 2022, Pierre was appointed to the list of UEFA pro bono counsel to assist individuals in proceedings before the Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body and the Appeals Body. In the summer 2024, as part of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Pierre was appointed by the Paris Bar to appear on the list of pro bono lawyers who assisted athletes in proceedings before the Ad Hoc Division and Anti-Doping Division established by the Court of Arbitration for Sport for the duration of the Games. In September 2024, he was appointed as a member of the Sport Resolutions pro bono service.
“To meet Pierre is to know his real and long-standing passion for sports in general, and football in particular” says founding partner Yas Banifatemi. “Pierre has the unique knowledge and skills to become one of the most recognized worldwide experts in the sports industry,” she adds. “In his new role, Pierre will continue to pursue his passion while developing the firm’s international sports law & arbitration practice.”
Founding partner Mohamed Shelbaya adds: “Pierre’s unbridled passion for football is only matched by his dedication to disputes work. Each of these aspects will greatly contribute to the development of our sports arbitration practice in Europe and globally, especially in the Middle East and Africa where sports arbitration is expanding to catch up to the fantastic growth that the sports market is witnessing there.”
Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes is an international firm focused on the management of international disputes. With offices in Paris, London, New York, Cairo and Abu Dhabi, the firm now includes 12 partners, 2 counsel, 2 of counsel, and 40 associates of 30 nationalities, collectively speaking 25 languages. The firm is known for its unparalleled track record of landmark victories, including the then largest commercial arbitration award ever rendered, the largest investment arbitration award in history, as well as the full dismissal of numerous multibillion-dollar claims brought against companies, States and State-owned entities.
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