Sylvia is a partner in our International Arbitration Group and Global Head of our African Disputes Group, based in London.
Specialising in commercial and treaty arbitrations, particularly in emerging markets in Latin America and Africa, Sylvia has advocated before ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, LCIA and AAA tribunals in English and Spanish. She has particular expertise in the energy, infrastructure, natural resources and telecoms sectors, and advises corporate and government clients.
She has acted in major disputes in a variety of jurisdictions, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Congo, Ghana, India, Iran, Libya, Kenya, Mauritania, Nigeria, Oman, Peru, Poland, South Africa, Syria, Tanzania, Turkiye, Uganda, the UK, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Outside the hearing room, Sylvia advises clients on how best to mitigate risk and avoid disputes altogether. As a CEDR accredited mediator, she also advises clients on how best to amicably resolve and settle disputes once they have arisen.
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- Securing a $130m UNCITRAL award for Deutsche Telekom in its arbitration against the Government of India arising under a bilateral investment treaty in respect of the expropriation of its investment in a satellite-terrestrial hybrid communications business.
- Securing a $100m ICSID award for Vestey in an arbitration against the Government of Venezuela relating to the expropriation of its cattle farming business.
- Settling an ICSID arbitration for Tullow Group with the Government of Uganda arising from the imposition of a $470m capital gains taxation assessment in relation to its production sharing agreements.
- Settling an ICSID arbitration for MTN Group with the Government of Yemen arising from the imposition of a significant taxation assessment in relation to its mobile telecommunications licence.
- Representing Anglo American in its bilateral investment treaty arbitration against the Government of Venezuela relating to the expropriation of certain mining assets and other unfair treatment.
- Representing Akfel Commodities in its high profile investment treaty arbitration against Turkiye arising from the expropriation of its businesses, including the largest private natural gas importer in Turkiye, on the basis of arbitrary terrorist allegations made by the Erdogan regime.
- Representing Greater Pacific Capital in its investment treaty arbitration against India arising from its stake in a ground handling business holding concessions in seven airports in India.
- Acting for the Government of Kenya on the successful settlement of two parallel arbitrations in claims brought by two companies operating in the defense sector, involving highly political claims of corruption.
- Acting for an IOC in a high stakes arbitration arising from a long-term LNG supply contract following the announcement by the LNG supplier of its intention to divert significant volumes of LNG to third parties as a result of gas price increases following the war in Ukraine
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Education
- Cambridge University, UK (law LLB, first-class honours)
- Awarded the Clive Parry Scholarship for Public International Law
Professional memberships
- CEDR Accredited Mediator
- Governing Board Member of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) and Member of ICCA's Nominations Committee and Diversity and Inclusiveness Commitee
- Founder and Co-Chair of the Global Steering Committee of the Equal Representation in Arbitration (ERA) Pledge
- Member of the Global Steering Committee of the Equal Representation for Expert Witnesses (ERE) Pledge
- Member of the Advisory Council of Africa Arbitration
- Former Board Member of the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC)
- Former Member of Arbitration and ADR Commission of ICC and Arbitral Appointments Sub-Committee, ICC UK
- BIICL, IAI, ICC and LCIA
Additional responsibilities
- Speaker at conferences organised by the ABA, AIJA, AIPN, BIICL, CDR, CILS, CRCICA, GAR, IAI, IBA, ICC, ICSID, ITA, LCIA, LIDW, Kings College, Queen Mary SIA, various Chambers and YAS
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