LAWYER PROFILE
Sylvia Noury KC

Sylvia Noury KC

Global 2026

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Ranked in 3 practice areas

About

Provided by Freshfields

Career

Sylvia Noury KC is head of the firm’s International Arbitration Group in London as well as head of the firm’s African Disputes Group. She advises clients on the resolution of international disputes focusing on emerging markets, notably in Africa, India and Latin America, and particularly in the energy, natural resources, infrastructure and telecoms sectors. She has advocated before ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, AAA and LCIA tribunals in English and Spanish. She also advises on investment protection and risk mitigation. Sylvia was appointed King's Counsel (KC) in 2022, and she was one of only five solicitor advocates to be included in the 101 silk appointments that year. Sylvia holds a first class law degree from Cambridge University, where she received the Clive Parry scholarship for Public International Law.

Professional Memberships

International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) Governing Board Member;

Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC) Board Member;

Africa Arbitration Advisory Council Member;

Founder and Co-Chair of ERA Pledge;

Member of the Steering Committee of the Equal Representation for Expert Witnesses;

Member of the ICCA Diversity and Inclusiveness Committee and the Cross-Institutional Taskforce;

Member of the Editorial Board of Global Arbitration Review;

Member of BIICL, IAI, ICC, ITA, LCIA.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Global Guide

International Arbitration - UK

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial

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.

Dispute Resolution - Africa-wide

Band 2
Band 2

Individual Editorial

Sylvia Noury KC is based in London, where she is frequently sought out for her counsel on investor-state and commercial arbitration proceedings, regularly acting for corporates in the mining and energy sectors.

Arbitration (International) - Global Market Leaders

Band 3
Band 3

Individual Editorial

Sylvia Noury KC is based in London and currently heads the firm's African disputes group. She has broad ranging expertise, with particular strengths in energy and natural resources and telecommunications related investment treaty and commercial arbitrations. She is fluent in English and Spanish, and often acts before ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, LCIA and AAA tribunals.

Arbitration (International) - Europe-wide

Band 3
Band 3

Individual Editorial

Sylvia Noury KC is highly respected for her investor-state practice, often acting for investors in complex BIT claims against European and African states.

International Arbitration - UK

Foreign Expert
Foreign expert in Latin America-wide

Individual Editorial

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 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.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

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

    International ArbitrationChambers Global Guide
  • She is very commercial and thinks outside the box.

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

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

    International ArbitrationChambers Global Guide
  • Sylvia is outstanding. She is an extremely good lawyer, who is very hard-working and prompt. She is one of the best in the business.

    Dispute ResolutionChambers Global Guide
  • I would recommend her. She is very smart and experienced.

    Dispute ResolutionChambers Global Guide

Ranked Individuals at Freshfields (268)

Africa-wide

Austria

Bahrain

Belgium

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