Michael Lee

Associate, Steptoe International (UK) LLP

London

+44 20 7367 8097

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Areas of Work

International Arbitration, Investor-State Arbitration, Commercial Trials & Litigation

Languages

English

French

Chinese

Spanish (reading)

Overview

Michael Lee is an English and Australian-qualified lawyer. He advises and acts in both commercial and investor-state disputes, focusing in particular on complex arbitrations raising cross-border and international law issues.

Michael has experience conducting cases under various arbitration rules (including LCIA, ICC, AIAC, LMAA, and ICSID) as well as arbitration-related litigation. His clients have included multinational corporations, banks, governmental entities as well as States.

Prior to joining Steptoe, Michael has worked for prominent British and Australian law firms specializing in commercial disputes. He also previously interned for President Carmel Agius at the former United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

Michael has published and contributed research on a range of arbitration and litigation topics. He has also coached arbitration mooting teams at University College London.

Solicitor, England & Wales
Solicitor, Supreme Court of New South Wales
Solicitor, High Court of Australia

LL.M., University College London
LL.B., University of Sydney
BIntSt, University of Sydney, Government and International Relations

Representative Matters

Acts for a Caribbean State in a bilateral investment treaty dispute with North American investors over the latter's investment in a gas-to-liquids plant (ICSID arbitration, case. No. ARB/24/17). Ongoing.
Acts for investors in respect of a dispute concerning a resort arising from alleged breaches of two bilateral investment treaties by Tanzania (ICSID arbitration, Case No. ARB/23/26). Ongoing.
Acted (with offshore co-counsel) for investors in commercial arbitration and offshore court proceedings in a shareholders/funds dispute over a South Asian utilities provider.
Advised an UNHW individual and related investment vehicles on English law enforcement issues concerning an LCIA arbitral award arising out of proceedings alleging claims of unlawful means conspiracy.
Acted for investors in respect of a NAFTA arbitration concerning the summary termination of Ontario's greenhouse gas emissions cap-and-trade program (ICSID arbitration, Case No. ARB/20/52).
Acted for investors in an ICSID arbitration relating to the expropriation of a substantial aquaculture enterprise by The Gambia (ICSID arbitration, Case No. ARB/18/10).
Advised an East African company on English contract and trust law claims in a shareholders dispute over an East African power plant.
Advised a North American controlling interest in a mining asset on parallel commercial and investor-state arbitration claims against a Central American State.
Acted for the assignee of a GAFTA arbitral award in English court proceedings to commit West African counterparties and award debtors for contempt.
Acted for a Western European commodities trader in English court proceedings to defend an ICA award in a s68 challenge brought by Middle Eastern business partners.
Acted (with Southern European co-counsel) for a Western European steel trader to prosecute a high-value commodities trade finance dispute brought by a Southern European seller counterparty and factoring bank (LCIA arbitration; English law).
Advised (with Middle Eastern co-counsel) a South American agrobusiness to secure payment for commodities cargo from Middle Eastern purchasers.
Advised (with Northern European co-counsel) Western European shipowners to negotiate release of a cargo vessel arrested in a Northern European port.
Acted (with East Asian co-counsel) for an East Asian conglomerate to defend a high-value construction/product liability dispute brought by a Central European renewable chemicals manufacturer (LCIA arbitration; English law).
Acted for Middle Eastern businesspeople to prosecute a high-value finance dispute against a Western African commercial fishery (ad hoc arbitration; English law) and to defend an award challenge in English court proceedings.
Acted (with South Asian co-counsel) for a West African bank in English and Indian court proceedings to enforce a $12 million bank loan guarantee against South Asian agrobusiness borrowers.
Acted for a Western European multi-industry asset management company in English court proceedings to enforce a multimillion tax indemnity in a share purchase dispute.
Advised a minority shareholder in a chemicals manufacturing company on potential investment treaty claims against a Middle Eastern State.
Acted for a Central American State to defend a $75 million pricing dispute with Western European investors in an LPG distribution business (ICSID arbitration, Case No. ARB/13/2).
Acted for an Australian incorporated association in Australian court proceedings to defeat a claim of sovereign immunity alleged by a Middle Eastern State.
Acted for an UHNW individual in Australian court proceedings to prosecute a defamation claim against a North American technology company.