Public International Law Advisory

Highlights of the non-confidential experience of lawyers at the firm include advising:

The Organisation of American States as a member of the Verification Commission of the MIB – OAS Good Offices Mission in Ecuador and Colombia

The Ministries of Tourism, Finance and Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on various public international law matters

ExxonMobil on the operations of the constituent international law documents, including the relevant treaties, in relation to the Chad – Cameroon pipeline

Advising the Sovereign Wealth Fund of a Middle Eastern State  on issues of sovereignty, territory and land boundaries

The Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special Missions (DSDSM) of the Secretariat for Political Affairs of the Organization of American States (OAS) as an expert on the OAS Roster of Technical Experts in Mediation and Peace-Building

The Office of the Chief Trade Adviser to the Pacific Islands Forum (Member States) in relation to negotiations with Australia and New Zealand

The State of Barbados in relation to a proposed transboundary gas pipeline from South America, through the Caribbean into North America on boundary delimitation, straddling hydrocarbon resource issues, the Law of the Sea Convention, international environmental law and other public international law issues, including negotiating and drafting inter-State treaties

State in the Middle East in relation to the building of a transnational canal

The consortium (Chevron/Shell) building the transboundary West African Gas Pipeline on boundary delimitation, straddling hydrocarbon resource issues, the Law of the Sea Convention, international environmental law and other public international law issues, including negotiating and drafting inter-State treaties

Member States of SOPAC (the Pacific Islands Forum) on maritime boundary and resources issues

The consortium (Bechtel/Shell) building the transboundary Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline on the status and use of the Caspian Sea, boundary delimitation, straddling hydrocarbon resource issues, the Energy Charter Treaty, the Law of the Sea Convention, international human rights, international environmental law and other public international law issues, including negotiating and drafting inter-State treaties

Representing an oil major in relation to international disputes with two African States

A State in the Middle East in relation to a proposed transboundary pipeline on boundary delimitation, straddling hydrocarbon resource issues, the Law of the Sea Convention, international environmental law and other public international law issues

PSG Pipelines Ltd. on boundary delimitation, the Law of the Sea Convention, negotiating and drafting inter-State treaties and other public international law issues in relation to a transboundary gas pipeline in the Gulf

OPIC on transit, inter-State ownership and human rights issues related to a transboundary gas pipeline in South America

An oil company on boundary-straddling hydrocarbon resource management in the Caspian Sea (cannot be identified because of client confidentiality)

Exxon in relation to the proposed Sakhalin oil and gas pipeline on boundary delimitation, straddling hydrocarbon resource issues, the Law of the Sea Convention, international environmental law and other public international law issues, including negotiating and drafting inter-State treaties

The EBRD on public international law matters in Eastern Europe, including in relation to a boundary dispute between neighbouring States

Advising a non-EU investor against an EU Member State in relation to a potential breach of a BIT

Wintershall on Law of the Sea and transit issues in relation to its hydrocarbon operations in the Russian/Norwegian Arctic

The government of a State in Asia on internal maritime boundary demarcation between provinces and consequent hydrocarbon revenue allocations

The State of Barbados in its negotiations for and drafting of a maritime Joint Development Zone treaty with the Republic of Guyana

Malaysia on its maritime boundary negotiations and delimitations with its neighbours

The State of Barbados in formulating and submitting its UNCLOS claim to Outer Continental Shelf to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf

A super oil major in relation to boundary and territory questions in West Africa

The Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation (KEDO) on a variety of public international law issues, including negotiating and drafting a non-sovereignty zone treaty for a territorial zone within the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, State responsibility, transboundary resources, international environmental law and sovereign and diplomatic immunities

Malaysia in formulating and submitting its UNCLOS claim to Outer Continental Shelf to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf

A State in Africa in its negotiations for and drafting of a maritime Joint Development Zone treaty with a neighbouring State

The Government of Canada on non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament (NACD) issues in relation to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs)

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on a variety of public international law issues, including drafting a multilateral treaty, advising on international human rights and the Law of the Sea issues

The Government of Dubai on structuring, treaty negotiation and drafting, other public international law and international dispute resolution issues related to the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)

The International Maritime Satellite Organisation (INMARSAT) on various public international law issues related to its restructuring initiatives, including drafting a number of multilateral treaties

A European investment bank on WTO regulations

The consortium (TotalFinaElf/Petronas) in relation to a gas off-take project from a boundary-straddling reservoir in the Gulf

QVT Financial LLP in relation to a number of its overseas investments

Ventra Consulting (UK) Ltd in relation to a number of its overseas investments

Glenavy Capital Ltd in the setting up and execution of its arbitration third party funder business

The Burford Group in the setting up and execution of its arbitration third party funder business

A Russian entity in relation to the law of international organisations

Santos Ltd on maritime boundary and oil concession issues in the Bay of Bengal

Advising a State on two sovereign immunities and legal personalities issues arising in Greece

Areas of Expertise

State-to-State Dispute Resolution

Our lawyers are amongst the elite group of practitioners who regularly represent governments in State-to-State disputes before the International Court of Justice and tribunals constituted under the aegis of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, ICSID, UNCLOS Annex VII and other international dispute resolution bodies.

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Investment Treaty Arbitration

We are particularly experienced in advising clients on resolving disputes related to overseas investments. We represent investors and governments alike in investment treaty arbitrations.

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Public International Law Advisory

Highlights of the non-confidential experience of lawyers at the firm.

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International Law in Domestic Courts

No business wishes to litigate, but litigation is occasionally the only way to secure a legitimate and necessary end. Volterra Fietta has significant experience in the English courts in high value complex commercial and other disputes.

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International Commercial Arbitration

Volterra Fietta has one of the largest dedicated arbitration groups in the world. Our commercial arbitration practice spans the globe and includes all the major arbitration centres and rules.

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Business and Human Rights

We are leading lawyers in the area of international business and human rights. Companies consult us about their operations and supply chains in countries that have experienced human rights and rule of law problems.

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