Sylvia Noury KC

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

Individual Editorial

Sylvia Noury KC is head of the firm's international arbitration practice in London. She is highly visible in investor-state arbitration, with extensive expertise acting for clients across South Africa, Eastern Europe and India in complex BIT disputes.

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Dispute Resolution - Africa-wide

Band 2

Individual Editorial

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

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Arbitration (International) - Global Market Leaders

Band 3

Individual Editorial

London-based Sylvia Noury KC serves as head of Freshfields' African Disputes Group. Noury remains a popular choice for clients seeking robust counsel in commercial and investment treaty arbitrations involving energy and natural resources as well as telecommunications.

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Arbitration (International) - Europe-wide

Band 4

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.

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International Arbitration - UK

Foreign expert in Africa-wide

Individual Editorial

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Sylvia is top of her game. She is a world-class lawyer. She is exceptionally bright, a hard worker and has a good rapport with clients.

International Arbitration respondent
Chambers Global Guide

Sylvia has immense knowledge of international law and is a great advocate.

International Arbitration respondent
Chambers Global Guide

Sylvia is an outstanding team leader, who has a clear understanding of the client's needs as well as a keen sense of how a tribunal may look at a case. Her advocacy is very effective.

International Arbitration respondent
Chambers Global Guide

Sylvia is very thorough, analytical and cuts to the chase.

International Arbitration respondent
Chambers Global Guide

She's a formidable cross-examiner, someone you'd always want on your side rather than against you. She is also very approachable and nice to deal with.

Dispute Resolution respondent
Chambers Global Guide

Sylvia is a fantastic lawyer with a laser-like attention to detail who masters every aspect of a case.

Dispute Resolution respondent
Chambers Global Guide

Sylvia is a very good team leader in large complex proceedings. Her advice is very impressive. She is brilliant in negotiations and with her temperament she wins cases.

Arbitration (International) respondent
Chambers Global Guide

Sylvia has a clear understanding of our needs as well as a keen sense of how a tribunal may look at a case. In addition to her effective advocacy, she is able to extract the best out of the team.

Arbitration (International) respondent
Chambers Global Guide

I have taken a lot of confidence from her being so involved in everything and abreast of the details.

Arbitration (International) respondent
Chambers Global Guide

Sylvia is very thorough and analytical and cuts to the chase quite quickly concerning your issues.

Arbitration (International) respondent
Chambers Global Guide

She is at the top of her game – she is exceptionally bright, a hard worker and has a good rapport with clients.