Eric Leikin is a partner in our Vienna office and a member of the firm's dispute resolution practice group.
Eric specialises in international arbitration, with a particular focus on commercial and post-M&A disputes, as well as investor-State claims. He has represented clients in proceedings under various procedural rules, most often in the aviation, energy, finance and technology sectors. Eric is also experienced in US civil litigation and cross-border compliance investigations, particularly in central and eastern Europe.
Before joining Freshfields in 2015, Eric worked for several years with another leading international law firm in Washington DC and clerked on the Constitutional Court of South Africa under Justice Madlanga. Eric is admitted to practice and is a member of the bar in New York and Washington DC (attorney-at-law). He speaks English, as well as intermediate German and Russian.
- Representing a leading aviation company in relation to a product delivery dispute, in two parallel ICC arbitration proceedings;
- Representing a renowned international financial institution in a post M&A dispute arising out of the sale of its subsidiary in Ukraine, in three parallel ICC arbitration proceedings and a number of parallel court proceedings in four jurisdictions;
- Representing a European chemical company in several disputes arising out the suspension and termination of high-volume supply contracts due to the imposition of EU, Swiss and UK sanctions;
- Representing an Austrian commodities company in a Swiss-seated arbitration relating to the delayed delivery of goods and the application of force majeure and liquidated damages provisions;
- Representing a major telecoms company in a post M&A, Swiss-seated ICC arbitration in relation to alleged technical deficiencies;
- Representing a leading European technology company in a Swiss-seated ICC arbitration arising out of a M&A earn-out clause;
- Representing a major European construction company in an ICSID arbitration against Germany under the Energy Charter Treaty, arising out of its investments in the renewable energy sector;
- Representing a leading Austrian energy company in an ICSID arbitration against Bulgaria in a dispute concerning its investment in the country’s electricity distribution sector;
- Representing the Republic of Albania in an ICSID arbitration under the Albanian Law on Foreign Investments initiated by a BVI-incorporated investor in connection with a privatisation programme;
- Representing an Austrian transportation company in a multi-faceted international dispute with a Central European State, including before the European Court of Human Rights; and
- Representing a leading gas import and distribution company in price revision negotiations with a major European gas exporter, involving a long term gas supply contract.
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