Department profile
Freshfields

International Arbitration

Global Guide 2026 : UK

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Freshfields

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About

Provided by Freshfields

Please visit the Freshfields website for more details about our work in this category:

https://www.freshfields.com/en-gb/capabilities/services/international-arbitration/

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

International Arbitration - UK

What the Team is Known For

Freshfields has an experienced team handling commercial arbitrations for well-known multinational companies in the energy, natural resources, financial services, telecoms and pharmaceutical sectors. The firm manages an active caseload of disputes arising around the globe, including high-profile matters involving African, Latin American and Asian companies and states. It is respected for its work advising on investor-state disputes, including those governed by BITs, and for handling commercial disputes involving state-owned entities. The team regularly handles arbitrations involving leading arbitral institutions such as the ICC, the LCIA and UNCITRAL.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Freshfields represented Warburg Pincus in a bilateral investment treaty arbitration against Poland regarding regulatory changes in the pharmaceutical sector.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Freshfields demonstrate excellent judgement, and a highly commercial and proactive approach.

    International Arbitration respondentGlobal

  • The Freshfields' partners are very knowledgeable and tactically astute, and provide an excellent full-service client offering.

    International Arbitration respondentGlobal

  • They respond to matters quickly and are quick to provide well thought-out, reasoned legal advice.

    International Arbitration respondentGlobal

  • Freshfields demonstrate deep expertise, strong relationships and knowledge of others in the industry, resulting in a high-quality product.

    International Arbitration respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Sylvia Noury
    Sylvia Noury

    Sylvia Noury

    Sylvia Noury KC is highly visible in investor-state arbitration, with extensive expertise acting for clients across South Africa, Eastern Europe and India in complex BIT disputes. She is also extremely well regarded for her work in the commercial space.

    • Sylvia is intellectually top drawer, extremely articulate and a good advocate.

      International Arbitration respondentGlobal

    • She is very commercial and thinks outside the box.

      International Arbitration respondentGlobal

    • Her advocacy and knowledge in commercial arbitration is a real force in the space and in any given case.

      International Arbitration respondentGlobal

    • She knows absolutely everything, is on top of the facts and has great gravitas.

      International Arbitration respondentGlobal
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  • William Thomas
    William Thomas

    William Thomas

    William Thomas KC's arbitration practice includes complex disputes arising from the telecoms industry. He expertly acts for both claimants and sovereign states in big-ticket BIT disputes.

    • William provided great strategic insight, flair and advocacy.

      International Arbitration respondentGlobal

    • William is very commercially savvy and a great team leader.

      International Arbitration respondentGlobal

    • William is switched on to all of the strategically important elements of a case and is able to offer solutions.

      International Arbitration respondentGlobal

    • He is an extremely solid, dependable practitioner; he is unrufflable.

      International Arbitration respondentGlobal
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  • Oliver Marsden
    Oliver Marsden

    Oliver Marsden

    Oliver Marsden handles complex commercial and investor-state arbitrations in a broad range of sectors. He has particular expertise in handling post-M&A disputes for clients in the financial services and private equity spaces.

    • Oliver is meticulously prepared, thinks everything through and sees all the different angles.

      International Arbitration respondentGlobal

    • Oliver displays great technical expertise and matter-management skills.

      International Arbitration respondentGlobal

    • Oliver has a very sharp mind; he cuts and gets to the point very quickly.

      International Arbitration respondentGlobal
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Ranked Individuals at Freshfields (3)

UK

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