New partner for London office of leading Brussels law firm Van Bael & Bellis
- 06/01/2021
- News
Following the successful launch of its new London office earlier in the year, Van Bael & Bellis is expanding its UK team with the appointment of Skadden Counsel, Nicholas Lawn, as a partner and Head of International Dispute Resolution in London.
Nicholas specialises in international arbitration and litigation. His practice focuses in particular on investment arbitration and he has extensive experience advising both multinational corporations and sovereign States in relation to international disputes across a broad range of highly-regulated sectors including telecoms, energy, pharmaceuticals and mining. He has regional expertise in relation to disputes connected to Central and Eastern Europe and South Asia.
Nicholas’ experience spans nearly 20 years at major international law firms, including over a decade at US firm Skadden, where he was involved in some of the largest and most notable investment arbitration cases of recent years. Most recently, he successfully acted for Vodafone in its landmark US$ 5.5 billion victory against the Republic of India, which was widely reported.
Nicholas is recognised as a leader in his field, having been included in the 2019 International Arbitration Powerlist and recently named as a Rising Star for both International Arbitration and Public International Law in The Legal 500 UK 2021. He is a solicitor-advocate with rights of audience in the Higher Courts of England and Wales.
Managing partner, Philippe De Baere comments:
“I have every confidence that Nick will be a huge asset to the firm as we seek to develop our international dispute resolution practice from our new London office at a time when London is expected to grow in importance as an arbitration centre following the UK’s exit from the EU. Nick is a widely respected international lawyer and specialist in handling investor-state disputes and I have no doubt that together with our teams in London and Brussels, we will be able to offer our clients – both multinational companies and governments – top-level assistance in resolving all of the disputes which arise out of foreign investment.”
Nicholas Lawn comments:
“I am delighted to be joining Van Bael & Bellis at such a pivotal point for the firm. Over the course of the last three decades, Van Bael & Bellis has developed a pre-eminent International Dispute Resolution team with a particular focus on international trade disputes. I look forward to developing that IDR practice further by growing a broad investment arbitration and public international law practice in London. I am also excited to work with my colleagues in Brussels, who are renowned for their deep expertise in EU law and international trade. I have no doubt that Van Bael & Bellis will be exceedingly well placed to assist clients with their international disputes as London continues to increase its importance as a major centre for arbitration and international dispute resolution.”
