Christian Leathley

Practice Areas

Dispute Resolution

International Arbitration

Public International Law

Investment Arbitration and Treaty Protection

Business and Human Rights

Personal

Christian is the Co-Head of the Latin America Group, Co-Head of the Public International Law Group, as well as the US Head of International Arbitration. He is located in both the London and New York office at Herbert Smith Freehills.

Christian has over 25 years' experience specializing in international commercial and investment arbitration and dedicates much of his practice to our clients' interests in Central and South America. He represents corporations and sovereign states across all major industry sectors, and in particular energy (oil & gas, power), mining, engineering, technology, construction, sports and telecommunications.

Christian is recognised as an accomplished advocate and regularly appears before international arbitral tribunals, such as the ICC, LCIA, ICSID, AAA (ICDR) and UNCITRAL.

Christian has particular knowledge of the practice of public international law, having successfully represented the Kingdom of Spain, Republic of Costa Rica and other sovereign states, as well as gaining experience at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), Washington, DC. He sits as Co-Chair of the firm's Public International Law Group, with a focus on ESG – having advised multiple clients across the energy and mining sector in Latin America.

Languages Spoken

Christian is fluent in English and Spanish, and is qualified in both England & Wales, and New York.