International Arbitration: Investor-State Arbitration
UK Guide 2025 : UK-wide
Band 3
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+44 (0)207 380 3890About
Provided by Volterra Fietta
Volterra Fietta has one of the world’s largest investor-State arbitration practices. It represents States and foreign investors in investment treaty arbitrations before ICSID and other arbitral institutions. In addition, the firm regularly represents governments in State-to-State arbitrations under the PCA and UNCLOS Annex VII rules as well as private and public entities in commercial arbitrations before the ICC, the LCIA and other arbitration centres.
In two ICSID arbitrations against Venezuela, Volterra Fietta recently secured a USD 455 million award for OI European Group and a USD 370 million award for Koch Minerals and Koch Nitrogen International. Led by Robert Volterra and Álvaro Nistal, the firm then successfully represented OI European Group in ICSID annulment proceedings initiated by Venezuela. The annulment application was rejected in its entirety and Venezuela was ordered to bear the entirety of the proceedings’ costs.
Equally, led by Robert Volterra and Graham Coop, the firm successfully represented Barbados in an UNCITRAL arbitration brought by a Canadian investor. The firm achieved the complete dismissal of all claims and USD 3 million in costs to Barbados.
The firm is currently representing Croatia in five ICSID arbitrations. Among other clients, the firm also is representing Egypt, Nigeria and subsidiaries of Koch Industries in multiple high-profile arbitrations and annulment proceedings.
Chambers Review
Volterra Fietta is a formidable boutique specialising in PIL and investor-state arbitrations. It regularly represents international corporations and sovereign states in oil and gas BIT disputes. The firm also provides advice on treaty interpretation and state responsibility.
Work Highlights
- Volterra Fietta represented KN-Holding and Severgroup LLC in an ad hoc arbitration against the French Republic, under the France-Russia bilateral investment treaty.This case concerns the termination of a gold mining project in French Guiana.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Volterra Fietta is intellectually exceptionally strong."
"Volterra Fietta have always been available and on time."
"The overall strategy that was adopted by Volterra Fietta proved the effectiveness and their real ability to grasp complex issues and anticipate early the direction of the case."
"Volterra Fietta is intellectually exceptionally strong."
"Volterra Fietta have always been available and on time."
"The overall strategy that was adopted by Volterra Fietta proved the effectiveness and their real ability to grasp complex issues and anticipate early the direction of the case."
Notable Practitioners
Robert Volterra is a formidable arbitration specialist with long-standing expertise in investor-state arbitration. He attracts an impressive international client base with a broad caseload of complex investment treaty claims, and is experienced in acting as both counsel and arbitrator.
"Robert Volterra is fantastic, he performed excellently."
"Robert is very knowledgeable, straightforward, drafts effectively and thinks super strategically."
Ranked Lawyers at
Volterra Fietta
UK-wide
Members
Provided by Volterra Fietta
Clients
Provided by Volterra Fietta
Barbados
Koch Industries Inc., United States
Owens-Illinois Inc., United States
The Arab Republic of Egypt
The Dominican Republic
The Federal Republic of Nigeria
The Republic of Croatia
The Republic of Lithuania
Industries
Provided by Volterra Fietta
Agriculture
Banking and financial services
Construction
Energy and natural resources
Food production and distribution
Heavy and light manufacturing
Hydrocarbon concessions
Lotteries and gaming
Petrochemicals
Power and electricity
Shipping
Sovereign debt
Telecoms
Tourism
Water and sewerage concessions