Matthew Coleman

Partner

• mcoleman@steptoe.com
• vCard
• London Office

Matthew Coleman is a Partner and Solicitor Advocate in the London office of Steptoe & Johnson practising in international arbitration, litigation and public international law. Matthew is recommended for public international law in the current editions of UK Legal 500, and UK Chambers where he is attributed with a "comprehensive knowledge of precedents" and being "excellent at marshalling and organising evidence."

Matthew’s arbitration and litigation experience is across a wide range of industries including banking & finance, commodities, energy, infrastructure, media and mining, often concerning disputes arising out of transactions in developing and emerging markets. Many of Matthew’s cases involve multi-jurisdictional issues, and have been in favour of, or against, international companies, state agencies and states. Matthew has acted as counsel, advocate, and adviser on commercial and investment treaty arbitrations in the leading arbitration forums. Matthew has also appeared as counsel in the Courts of England.

Matthew's public international law practice has a particular focus on acting as counsel in investment disputes between states and foreign investors, including at ICSID. His work for states has included advice relating to the investment chapters of free trade agreements and drafting treaties.

Representative Matters

• Lead counsel to investors in respect of an investment dispute with The Republic of Zimbabwe arising from alleged breaches of a bilateral investment treaty. Border Timbers Ltd & Ors v The Republic of Zimbabwe. ICSID arbitration.
• Lead counsel to nine investors in respect of an investment dispute with The Republic of Zimbabwe arising from alleged breaches of a bilateral investment treaty. Bernhard von Pezold & Ors v The Republic of Zimbabwe. ICSID arbitration.
• Lead co-counsel (from 10 September 2008) to investors in respect of an investment dispute arising from alleged breaches of a bilateral investment treaty. Trans-Global Petroleum Inc. v The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. ICSID arbitration.
• Co-counsel to investors who claimed against a state for various breaches of a bilateral investment treaty, which included expropriation without compensation, failure to accord fair and equitable treatment and full protection and security. An award was issued in favour of the investors. Funnekotter v The Republic of Zimbabwe. ICSID arbitration.
• A member of the Steptoe & Johnson team engaged on an ongoing basis by an Asian state to advise on bilateral investment treaty and free trade agreement investment chapter negotiations, and investment disputes.
• Drafting a treaty between two states covering the operation of a cross border infrastructure project.
• Co-counsel to investors on the enforcement of an ICSID award in England. Siag v Egypt. High Court England.
• Acting for an investor in relation to a $12 billion dollar freezing injunction against a state oil company in support of ICC arbitration. Mobil Cerro Negro Ltd v PDVSA. 
• Advising a state on its bilateral investment treaty programme.
• Advising a state in the negotiations for the investment chapter of its free trade agreement.
• Advising Chambers of Commerce on forthcoming investment treaty negotiations between the United States and an emerging economy.
• Lead counsel to a bank pursuing claims arising out of an alleged fraud concerning a trade finance transaction. SCC arbitration.
• Lead counsel to a bank in proceedings concerning the breach of a loan agreement. High Court England.
• Advising a carbon trading company claiming against an Indian company concerning carbon credit sales. ICC arbitration.
• Lead counsel to shareholders in a shareholder dispute in relation to a commodities business. Ad hoc arbitration under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules.
• 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 a bank on how to structure its investments across six emerging economies in order to minimise the effects of political risk.
• Advising a mining company on expropriations and the incorporation of public international law into contracts.

Noteworthy

• Leading Individual : Public International Law - Chambers UK (2012 edition)  
• UK Legal Experts: Arbitration (2011 edition)

Select News & Events

• C5’s Investment Treaty Arbitration Conference, September 22, 2010
• International Tribunal Rules against Zimbabwe
• Matthew Coleman Speaks at Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Conference, February 25, 2008
• Matthew Coleman Interviewed on Voice of Africa Regarding Zimbabwe, October 11, 2007

Selected Publications

• The Use of Bilateral Investment Treaties in Oil & Gas
  March 2010, Middle East Insurance Review
• Quoted in relation to Steptoe's victory for Dutch clients at the ICSID against Zimbabwe
  April 23, 2009, Investment Arbitration Reporter
• Quoted in relation to the case of Agri South Africa v The Minister of Minerals and Energy
  March 23, 2009, Investment Treaty News
• Quoted in relation to the SADC decision on expropriation
  December 1, 2008, IA Reporter
• Anti-suit injunctions ECJ incompatible
  September 12, 2008, Insurance Day
• Quoted in relation to the von Abo diplomatic protection and expropriation case
  August 1, 2008, Global Arbitration Review
• Quoted in relation to the non-ratification by South Africa of the ICSID treaty
  May 9, 2008, Global Arbitration Review
• South Africa's Bilateral Investment Treaties, Black Economic Empowerment and Mining: a Fragmented Meeting?
  February 2008, Business Law International

Professional Affiliations

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