Matthew Coleman

Investment Treaty Arbitration – ICSID and ad hoc

• Acts as joint lead counsel to investors in a dispute with The Republic of Zimbabwe arising from breaches of a bilateral investment treaty, in Bernhard von Pezold & Ors v. The Republic of Zimbabwe. Concerned investments in agriculture projects. Our clients were awarded restitution and damages (alternatively $196 million in damages), plus their full legal costs and interest. We successfully resisted Zimbabwe's application for the award to be annulled. Currently leading a multi-jurisdictional enforcement process. ICSID arbitration. ICSID Case No. ARB/10/15. Ongoing.

• Acted as co-counsel to thirteen investors in a dispute with The Republic of Zimbabwe arising from breaches of a bilateral investment treaty, in Funnekotter v. The Republic of Zimbabwe. Our clients were awarded €8.22 million in damages, plus their arbitration costs and interest. ICSID arbitration, Case No. ARB/05/6.

• Acted as lead co-counsel (from 10 September 2008) to an investor in a dispute arising from alleged breaches of a bilateral investment treaty, in Trans-Global Petroleum Inc. v. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Case settled.  ICSID arbitration, Case No. ARB/07/25.

• Acts as joint lead counsel to a State in respect of an investment dispute arising from its alleged breaches of a bilateral investment treaty. A v. B State, ad hoc arbitration. Ongoing.
• Acted as counsel to Italian investors in respect of an investment dispute with the Tanzanian Government arising from breaches of a bilateral investment treaty. Concerned investment in an agriculture project. Award in favor of our clients, and paid following Steptoe-led enforcement action. Sunlodges Ltd and Sunlodges (T) Limited v. The United Republic of Tanzania. UNCITRAL arbitration. PCA Case No. 2018-9.

• Acted as co-counsel to a UK investor in respect of an investment dispute with Montenegro arising from alleged breaches of a bilateral investment treaty and domestic foreign investment legislation. Concerned investment in an upstream oil and gas project. The outcome is confidential. Medusa (Montenegro) Ltd v. The State of Montenegro. UNCITRAL arbitration. PCA Case No. 2015-39.

• Acts as lead counsel to investors in respect of an investment dispute with an Eastern European State arising from alleged breaches of a bilateral investment treaty. Concerns investment in a coal mine. UNCITRAL arbitration. A v. State B. VIAC Case No. OTH-3002. Ongoing.
• Acted as counsel to investors in a dispute with The Republic of Zimbabwe arising from breaches of a bilateral investment treaty, in Border Timbers Ltd & Ors v. The Republic of Zimbabwe. Concerned investments in agriculture projects. Our clients were awarded restitution and damages (alternatively $125 million in damages), plus their full legal costs and interest. We successfully resisted Zimbabwe's application for the award to be annulled. ICSID arbitration. ICSID Case No. ARB/10/25.

• Acts as lead counsel to investors in respect of an investment dispute with Tanzania arising from alleged breaches of two bilateral investment treaties. Concerns investment in a resort. ICSID Arbitration. Brian Thomson & Pennyroyal Limited v The United Republic of Tanzania. ICSID Case No. ARB/23/26. Ongoing.

Technical Assistance to States on Public International Law Matters

• Engaged by several Asian states to advise on their investment treaty negotiations.

• Appointed by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to the panel of law firms that will be instructed to defend it in investor-state disputes.

• Drafted a treaty between two African states covering the operation of a cross border infrastructure project.

Commercial Arbitration

• Acted as lead counsel to shareholders in a shareholder dispute in relation to a commodities business. Ad hoc arbitration under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules.

• Acted as lead counsel to an African Bank in a dispute with its former Chief Executive over the alleged breach of an arbitration agreement. Ad hoc arbitration under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules.

• Acted as lead counsel to a bank pursuing claims arising out of an alleged fraud concerning a trade finance transaction. Swiss Chambers' Arbitration Institution.

Court Litigation

• Acted as lead counsel to an African Bank seeking an anti-enforcement injunction for alleged breach of an arbitration agreement. High Court and Court of Appeal England.

• Acts as counsel to investors on the enforcement of various ICSID awards in England.

• Acted as co-counsel to investors on the enforcement of an ICSID award in England. Siag v. Egypt. High Court England.

• Acted as lead counsel to a bank in proceedings concerning the breach of a loan agreement. High Court England.

• Acted as lead counsel to a satellite broadcaster in the Middle East and Africa in proceedings to obtain injunctions in England in support of foreign proceedings. High Court England.

• Advising ExxonMobil Corp. on public international law issues in US litigation brought against certain Cuban state-owned entities under the Helms-Burton Act.

• Chambers Global, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration, UK (2020-2023)
• Chambers UK, International Arbitration (2017-2024) 
• Chambers UK, Public International Law (2011-2024)
• Legal 500 UK, "Leading Lawyer," Public International Law (2015-2024)
• Legal 500 UK, Public International Law (2013-2024)  
• Legal 500 UK, International Arbitration (2013-2024)
• Law360, International Arbitration "MVP" (2016)
• The American Lawyer, "Global Dispute of the Year: Investment Arbitration (Africa)" (2016)
• Global Arbitration Review Award, "International Arbitration Practice that Impressed in the Past Year" (2016)

   

• LCIA
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
• International Bar Association
• International Law Association
• British Institute of International and Comparative Law