Michael Lee

Associate, Steptoe International (UK) LLP, Qualified in New South Wales, Australia (Solicitor)

London

+44 20 7367 8097

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Areas of Work

International Arbitration, Investor-State Arbitration, Commercial Litigation

Languages

English

French

Chinese

Overview

Michael Lee focuses on complex arbitrations raising cross-border and international law issues. He has experience conducting cases under various arbitration rules (LCIA, ICC, AIAC, LMAA, 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 specialising in commercial disputes. He also previously interned for President Carmel Agius at the 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, 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 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.
Acts for US 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). Ongoing.
Acts for investors in an ICSID arbitration relating to the expropriation of a substantial aquaculture enterprise by The Gambia (ICSID arbitration, ICSID Case No. ARB/18/10). Ongoing.
Acted (with Southern European co-counsel) for a Western European steel trader to successfully prosecute a high-value commodities trade finance dispute brought by a Southern European seller counterparty and factoring bank (LCIA arbitration).
Acted (with East Asian co-counsel) for an East Asian conglomerate to successfully defend a high-value construction/product liability dispute brought by a Central European renewable chemicals manufacturer (LCIA arbitration).
Acted for Middle Eastern businesspeople to successfully prosecute a high-value finance dispute against a Western African commercial fishery (English ad hoc arbitration) and to successfully defend an award challenge in English court proceedings.
Acted for a Central American State to successfully defend a $75 million pricing dispute with Western European investors in an LPG distribution business (ICSID arbitration, Case No. ARB/13/2).
Acted (with Indian co-counsel) for a West African bank in English and Indian court proceedings to successfully enforce a $12 million bank loan guarantee against Indian agrobusiness borrowers.
Acted for an Australian incorporated association in Australian court proceedings to successfully defeat a claim of sovereign immunity alleged by a Middle Eastern State.