Neutrals

Stuart Isaacs KC

ARBITRATOR
MEDIATOR
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MA (HONS) LAW DOUBLE FIRST CLASS, DOWNING COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE
MASTERS’ DEGREE IN EUROPEAN LAW, GRANDE DISTINCTION, FREE UNIVERSITY OF BRUSSELS
Stuart Isaacs KC

Profile

Profile

Since 1978, practises in the fields of commercial law and international arbitration, with a focus on international trade, joint venture agreements, pharmaceuticals, distribution and agency agreements, oil and gas, energy and natural resources, major infrastructure projects, shipping, financial and insurance disputes and shareholder and joint venture disputes. Has conducted many cases concerned with all aspects of those and other areas of law and over 30 years’ experience as counsel and as arbitrator in those areas, including pursuing and defending court challenges to arbitral awards under the Arbitration Act 1996 and comparable legislation in other jurisdictions and seeking and resisting anti-suit and anti-suit injunctions and injunctions in aid of arbitration Proceedings.

Has been engaged as counsel over many years in cases in various Caribbean jurisdictions (in particular, Trinidad & Tobago, Antigua, St Vincent, Cayman Islands and the BVI) and in the Asia Pacific Region and has acted on numerous occasions for clients in the Caribbean and Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, the PRC and India. Appears regularly in the appellate courts in England and in the Privy Council.

Has been counsel in more than 300 complex international commercial arbitrations and an arbitrator in more than 150 such cases conducted under CIETAC, HKIAC, SIAC, ICC, LCIA, LMAA, SCMA, UNCITRAL, DIAC, BANI and other Rules and on an ad hoc basis. Member of Panel of Arbitrators of the ICC,CIETAC, SIAC, HKIAC, BVIIAC, KCAB, AIAC and VIAC. Fellow SIArb and ACICA.

In recent years, Stuart sits almost exclusively as an arbitrator but continues to act as counsel in selected high-value cases. Wide experience of arbitrating disputes under numerous systems of common and civil law, not only under English law but also the laws of various US and Caribbean jurisdictions, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, Cambodia, the DIFC, France, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Switzerland, Sri Lanka, Turkey and the UAE amongst others.

A partner for five years until March 2021 in the international commercial arbitration and litigation group based in London of a major U.S. law firm. Then returned to private practice at the Bar to pursue his work as an arbitrator relatively free of conflicts of interest.

Selected Cases

International arbitration

Stuart is much in demand as an arbitrator in international commercial disputes and investment treaty disputes. He has conducted hundreds of arbitrations and is regularly appointed as presiding, sole or co-arbitrator by parties and by the leading arbitral institutions.

Commercial arbitration

  • ICC arbitration involving a dispute under English law between a US agro-chemical company and Swiss and Eastern European companies engaged in the production of high oleic sunflower oil (2019).
  • LCIA arbitration involving a dispute concerning a settlement agreement under English law relating to the proceeds from the sale of data-warehouse business operations (2018).
  • ICC arbitration involving a dispute under English law between the vendor and the purchaser of a business engaged in the manufacture and sale of branded merchandise associated with televisual media (2016).
  • LCIA arbitration involving a US$1.5 billion dispute under Delaware law between the investors in an Indian real estate fund and the fund and its manager (2020).
  • LCIA arbitration involving a USD97m dispute under English law concerning the supply and distribution of pharmaceutical products in the PRC (2019).
  • HKIAC arbitration involving a dispute relating to the proper construction of a promissory note (2019).
  • LCIA arbitration involving a dispute under Englisancy network (2018).
  • LCIA arbitration involving a dispute between Mauritian and U.S. parties relating to the alleged breach of a hotel management agreement concerning hotels in Mauritius (2012).
  • LCIA arbitration involving a dispute between a venture capital firm and an SPV for extensions of time and additional costs arising from various force majeure events in the course of the performance of a petroleum production sharing contract (2019).
  • HKIAC arbitration involving a dispute between a firm of solicitors and a former partner relating to the enforceability of restrictive covenants (2010).
  • SIAC arbitration involving a dispute relating to alleged breaches of licensing and distribution agreements in the brewing industry (2019).
  • SIAC arbitration involving a dispute between BVI and Singaporean parties relating to fees due under a MOU relating to the purchase of a business in Singapore (2017).
  • SIAC arbitration involving a dispute between Luxembourg and Burmese parties concerned with real estate development in Myanmar relating to liability under certain convertible bonds and guarantees (2016).
  • SIAC arbitration involving a dispute between Singaporean and U.S. parties in the hospitality sector relating to alleged breaches of a hotel management agreement (2013).
  • SIAC arbitration involving a dispute between the Sri Lankan purchaser of companies in Sri Lanka and the Malaysian vendor relating to alleged misrepresentations and breaches of warranties in a share purchase agreement governed by Sri Lankan law (2012).
  • SIAC arbitration involving a dispute relating to an asset purchase agreement governed by English law between Canadian and Singaporean companies in the biosciences sector.
  • SIAC arbitration involving a S$100m dispute between Mauritian and Singapore parties under a shareholders’ agreement governed by Singapore law (2010).
  • AAA arbitration involving a US$1.5 billion dispute under Delaware law between the investors in an Indian real estate fund and the fund and its manager (2019).
  • ICSID arbitration under the relevant Turkey-Pakistan BIT in a dispute between Turkish investors and Pakistan, Karkey Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim A.S. v. Islamic Republic of Pakistan (2014).

Software arbitration

  • ICC arbitration involving a US$100m software licensing dispute under Singapore law between Chinese and Korean parties relating to mobile games (2020).
  • SIAC arbitration involving a dispute under Singapore law between Singaporean and Korean parties relating to a software dispute between an online game developer and a licensee (2020).
  • SIAC arbitration involving a dispute under English law between Scandinavian and Singaporean parties relating to software and hardware issues in a South East Asian country’s mobile telephone network.

Construction arbitration

  • ICC arbitration involving a dispute under Indian law between an Indian contractor and a Slovenian sub-contractor relating to the mechanical and electrical contracts for the construction of a hydroelectric power station in India (2019).
  • ICC arbitration involving a dispute between an Israeli company and a Trinidadian company concerning an agreement for long-term collaboration in the development and implementation of water infrastructure projects (2013).
  • LCIA arbitration involving a dispute between a consortium engaged to design and construct a power plant in Panama and its design consultant relating to allegedly defective design (2015).
  • SIAC arbitration involving a dispute under Singapore law between Indian parties in the road construction industry relating to a share purchase agreement (2019).
  • SIAC arbitration involving a €35m dispute under a project development costs agreement governed by English law in relation to a solar power project in Pakistan (2018).
  • Ad hoc arbitration under UNCITRAL Rules involving a dispute between Asian parties relating to the termination of an EPC sub-contract for substantial works for a mining project in Australia (2018).

Energy arbitration

  • ICC arbitration involving a dispute under Indian law between an Indian contractor and a Slovenian sub-contractor relating to the mechanical and electrical contracts for the construction of a hydroelectric power station in India (2019).
  • ICC arbitration involving a US$200m dispute under English law between oil majors and an African state oil company in relating to alleged breaches of operating agreements (2019).
  • ICC arbitration involving a dispute between Gulf state and Eastern European companies concerning whether strike action amounted to force majeure, insurrection or a material adverse change in circumstances under a power and water management agreement (2018).
  • ICC arbitration involving a shareholders’ dispute in relation to a Trinidadian company engaged in the energy sector (2014).
  • ICC arbitration involving a dispute between an Israeli company and a Trinidadian company concerning an agreement for long-term collaboration in the development and implementation of water infrastructure projects (2013).
  • LCIA arbitration involving a dispute between a venture capital firm and an SPV for extensions of time and additional costs arising from various force majeure events in the course of the performance of a petroleum production sharing contract (2019).
  • LCIA arbitration involving a leasing dispute under Singapore law between the Australian owners of an onshore oil and gas drilling rig and the Libyan lessees of the rig (2018).
  • LCIA arbitration involving a dispute between a consortium engaged to design and construct a power plant in Panama and its design consultant relating to allegedly defective design (2015).
  • SIAC arbitration involving a US$50m dispute under Turkish law between Turkish and Chinese parties engaged in the electricity industry relating to a share purchase agreement (2020).
  • SIAC arbitration involving a €35m dispute under a project development costs agreement governed by English law in relation to a solar power project in Pakistan (2018).
  • SIAC arbitration involving a $150m dispute under Mauritius law between a Singaporean shipowner and a Mauritius state entity relating to a long-term contract of affreightment for the importation of petroleum products into Mauritius (2018) (Betamax v State Trading Corporation).
  • Several SIAC arbitrations involving disputes concerning the sale and purchase of Indonesian and Australian coal.
  • Ad hoc arbitration under UNCITRAL Rules involving a dispute under South African law relating to a sub-contract for the supply of equipment for a power station (2018).
  • Ad hoc arbitration under UNCITRAL Rules involving a dispute between Asian parties relating to the termination of an EPC sub-contract for substantial works for a mining project in Australia (2018).
  • Ad hoc arbitration under UNCITRAL Rules involving a dispute between Asian parties relating to a petroleum production sharing contract (2017).

Insurance arbitration

  • LCIA arbitration between the parties to a professional liability insurance policy relating to alleged material non-disclosure and misrepresentation and notice provisions in the policy (2015).
  • SIAC arbitration involving an insurance policy coverage dispute between Singaporean insureds in the leisure industry and the insurer (2014).
  • Bermuda Form arbitration concerning the proper construction of the profit sharing provisions in a reinsurance treaty.
  • Ad hoc arbitration under UNCITRAL Rules between the parties to an employment practices liability insurance policy governed by Bermuda law raising coverage issues (2014).

Shipping arbitration

  • ICC arbitration involving a US$130m dispute under Nigerian law relating to the development of terminal facilities in a Nigerian port (2020).
  • LCIA arbitration involving a dispute under English law between Singaporean shipbuilders and an English consultancy relating to the allegedly defective design and manufacture of a floating production, storage and offloading vessel (2019).
  • SIAC arbitration involving a $150m dispute under Mauritius law between a Singaporean shipowner and a Mauritius state entity relating to a long-term contract of affreightment for the importation of petroleum products into Mauritius (2018) (Betamax v State Trading Corporation).
  • Several LMAA and SCMA arbitrations involving charterparty disputes and ship sales.

International Mediation

Stuart is an accredited ADRGroup mediator. He is a Mediator on the Singapore International Mediation Centre Panel and has lectured extensively on the subject of mediation and alternative dispute resolution.

He gains a quick grasp of the issues involved in a dispute and combines an understanding and empathetic but firm approach towards the parties with the elaboration through the mediation process of realistic solutions.

Recent disputes which he has mediated include a dispute between a Swiss bank and its customer over lending facilities, a dispute concerning investments with a Singaporean bank in structured products and a dispute over a multi-million US dollar guarantee liability.

Memberships & Appointments

  • Deputy High Court Judge: 2004-
  • Bencher, Lincoln’s Inn: 1999-
  • Commercial Bar Association
  • Chancery Bar Association
  • New York Bar: 1985-
  • Admitted to the Bar in several Caribbean jurisdictions
  • Former member of the Bar Council International Relations Committee
  • Former member of the British Council Law Advisory Committee
  • Fellow of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA)
  • Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators
  • A Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators

Spoken Languages

English, French, Spanish, German

Specific Areas of Expertise

Adjudication, Arbitration as arbitrator, Expert Determination, Commercial Mediation