About

Provided by Lalive

LALIVE is a leading international arbitration practice with a strong European platform, recognised for handling complex, high-value commercial and investor‑State disputes. The firm acts for states, state-owned entities and multinational corporates across ICSID, UNCITRAL and ICC proceedings, often in the energy, construction and mining sectors. Its team is particularly noted for large-scale treaty arbitrations and for Geneva-seated cases, while also acting in proceedings seated across Europe. Many partners also sit as arbitrators, bringing tribunal-level insight to their counsel work.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Arbitration (International) - Europe-wide

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Lalive is an outstanding Swiss firm operating out of Geneva, Zürich and London, with the experience and reputation to compete at the pan-European level. Its team is praised for its prowess in large-scale investor state arbitrations on behalf of states as well as state-owned and private companies. The firm is particularly active in the energy, construction and mining sectors, with a strong caseload of ICSID and UNCITRAL arbitrations relating to disputes between European and Middle Eastern or Asian parties. The firm is recognised as a superb choice to handle Geneva-seated commercial cases, with additional experience in cases seated in London or Helsinki. It is also well reputed for the numerous prominent arbitrators within its ranks.

Work Highlights

  • Lalive represented Romania in a USD6.7 billion ICSID arbitration brought by investors from the UK and Canada under BITs arising from a gold mining project.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Domitille Baizeau
1
Domitille Baizeau
1
Band 1

Domitille Baizeau demonstrates prowess in acting as counsel in various investor state and commercial disputes governed by different arbitration rules, such as those of the ICC and ICSID. She is also noted as an arbitrator, acting as president or co-arbitrator in European-seated tribunals.

Domitille Baizeau is excellent and whatever she does is quality. If you have her on a tribunal, things will go right. She has high standards and is a class act.

Matthias Scherer
2
Matthias Scherer
2
Band 2

Clients appreciate Matthias Scherer for his expertise in high profile investor state arbitrations under ICSID rules, where he mostly acts for European states. He is also in demand as an arbitrator, sitting in ICC and SCC tribunals in Switzerland and Stockholm.

If my life were at stake and I needed an arbitrator or counsel, he would be my choice. He has so much charisma and is very clever. Astonishing.

Michael E Schneider
3
Michael E Schneider
3
Band 3

Michael Schneider is particularly appreciated for his role as an arbitrator in ICSID and ICC tribunals across the continent, overseeing construction-related and BIT disputes.

He is very big picture. I think he is brilliant.

Joachim Knoll
5
Joachim Knoll
5
Band 5

Joachim Knoll advises a wide range of clients from the mining world, oil and gas companies and the construction sector. He has experience of UNCITRAL and ICSID arbitrations as well as ECT and BIT matters.

Melissa Magliana
5
Melissa Magliana
Head of Arbitration (International)
5
Band 5

Melissa Magliana represents clients in the pharmaceutical, energy and construction sectors in post-M&A and contract proceedings, often under ICC rules with seats in various jurisdictions.

Melissa is really pragmatic, diplomatic and well prepared.

Noradèle Radjai
5
Noradèle Radjai
5
Band 5

Noradèle Radjai has extensive experience handling BIT claims under ICSID rules as well as European-wide ICC arbitrations. Her expertise includes proceedings involving the energy and manufacturing sectors.

Noradèle is very diligent and well-prepared, acting on two fronts at the same time. She is very organised and cogent in her thinking.

Ranked Lawyers at
Lalive

Provided by Chambers
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Band

Europe-wide

Arbitration (International)

Matthias Scherer
3
Matthias Scherer
3
Band 3
Domitille Baizeau
4
Domitille Baizeau
Head of Arbitration (International)
4
Band 4
Joachim Knoll
5
Joachim Knoll
5
Band 5
Melissa Magliana
5
Melissa Magliana
Head of Arbitration (International)
5
Band 5
Noradèle Radjai
5
Noradèle Radjai
5
Band 5
International Arbitration: Most In Demand Arbitrators

Domitille Baizeau
1
Domitille Baizeau
1
Band 1
Matthias Scherer
2
Matthias Scherer
2
Band 2
Michael E Schneider
3
Michael E Schneider
3
Band 3

Members

Provided by Lalive

Augustin Barrier

Catherine Anne Kunz

Domitille Baizeau

Domitille Baizeau

Head of Department

Genevieve Poirier

Jaime Gallego

Laura Azaria

Lorraine de Germiny

Melissa Magliana

Melissa Magliana

Head of Department

Robert Bradshaw

Sam Moss

Industries

Provided by Lalive

Art & Cultural Property

Banking & Finance

Construction & Infrastructure

Energy

Mining

Pharma

Sports

Technology

Technology