Professional practice

Leading Silk 20262026 C&P Dan Sarooshi

Professor Dan Sarooshi KC has a track record of success in high profile cases. He has argued over 110 cases as advocate and counsel for States, international organisations, and corporations in international courts (International Court of Justice, European Court of Human Rights, WTO, UN Tribunals), investment arbitrations (ICSID, ICSID AF, ECT, PCA, NAFTA, ICC, UNCITRAL, and LCIA), and the highest domestic courts in the UK, Hong Kong, BVI, Singapore and the Bahamas. His cases include:

  • Seven States before the International Court of Justice (e.g. as advocate and counsel for the UAE, UK, and Kuwait);
  • Over 45 investor-State arbitrations for both States and investors under ICSID, ICSID AF, ECT, ICC, LCIA, NAFTA, PCA, & UNCITRAL Rules; and
  • Over 50 cases before UK and other national courts, including eleven cases before the UK Supreme Court and Court of Appeal and eight cases (all successful) for the US Government on sovereign immunity issues.

His clients include 25 States (e.g. UK and USA), 23 international organizations, and corporations (e.g. BAT, Exxon Mobil, Kuwait Investment Office and Tesco).

In 2025, he was Barrister of the Year Finalist for The Lawyer Awards 2025 and Barrister of the Year Finalist for Legal Business Awards 2025.

Before being appointed King’s Counsel, he was a member of both the UK Attorney General Panel of Counsel for Public International Law cases and the AG Panel of Counsel for Constitutional and Commercial Law cases. Dan was appointed by the UK and EU to the panel of arbitrators appointed to hear Brexit-related disputes.

He combines his full-time advocacy and litigation services with his position as Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford. He joined the Oxford Law Faculty in 2003 and was in 2006 promoted to full Professor of Public International Law.

Earlier in his career, Dan published four books on international law which were awarded the American Society of International Law Book Prize twice (2001 & 2006), 1999 Swiss Guggenheim Prize, and 2006 US McDougal Prize. He is co-General Editor (with Sir Michael Wood KC) of Oppenheim’s International Law (forthcoming: 10th edition). In 2018, he delivered a weeklong course of lectures at the Hague Academy of International Law on “The Immunity of States and International Organisations in Domestic Courts”.

 

What others say

Dan is highly ranked in various legal directories – Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Best Lawyers UK, Spears 500 – in the areas of Public International Law, International Arbitration, Public Law, and Administrative Law and Human Rights. These legal directories and published client quotes say:

  • He has “The finest legal mind of his generation particularly in matters of public and private international law and English law”, and “has the well-earned reputation to be counted among the finest in London”.
  • “Dan has epic advocacy skill.” He “wins again and again and again”, is “a superstar”, “as good as they come”, has “a brilliant strategic mind and masterful advocacy”, “clearly one of the leaders at the Bar for public international law”, and “a precious commodity” “at the top of his game”.
  • “Dan is spectacular on his feet, and his knowledge is encyclopedic”, “His written and oral advocacy is exemplary. It was superb and won the day”, and is “a powerful advocate who is undeterred by difficult arguments; a real force in the field.” He has “superior skill and creativity as an elite advocate”, and is a “superb advocate”.
  • He is “an exceptional and experienced advocate armed with encyclopedic knowledge of international and investment law”, has “formidable advocacy skills” “whose articulation of public international law is second to none”, and is an “extremely bright advocate with a keen sense of strategy and excellent litigation instincts”.
  • “His recent cases include acting for the UK and the UAE in the ICJ … successfully representing the USA in four separate cases relating to US military bases in the UK, and acting for the UK in the Elgin Marbles/Parthenon Sculptures dispute.”
  • His “masterful cross-examination and oral argument got us the win below and excellent briefing and oral argument secured the win on appeals”, he “combines immense intelligence” with “an excellent record of representing governments, international organisations and FTSE 100 companies” and has “a wealth of experience of appearing before international and domestic courts, including the ICJ and the English High Court”.
  • “Among the handful of the finest advocates at the Bar on matters of public and private international law.”
  • He “is intellectually extremely bright, provides excellent written work product and is extremely client-friendly.”
  • “We needed to hire the absolute best” and Sarooshi is “one of the few barristers with a truly global reputation”, and “is a superb advocate … the judges on the court have real respect for Dan as he made his submissions.”
  • “Dan is an extraordinarily gifted advocate being at once authoritative and magisterial on the one hand and on the other hand easily building a rapport and connection with judges and other lawyers. … there are not many barristers who can do it to his level.”
  • “his persuasive and clear advocacy when it comes to this complex and dynamic area of law is formidable. So much so that we have in fact never lost a case on which we have collaborated with him. The list of cases in which Dan has been instructed, even in the last year, is immensely impressive, including many of the highest profile matters heard in the UK and international Courts.”
  • “The erudition, judgment and overall quality of Professor Sarooshi’s advice, and his skill in communicating it to a large client and counsel audience, reflected his stature as a global authority of the first standing. … I and many of my colleagues consider him to be amongst the best of the very best.”
  • “Highly experienced before the International Court of Justice and other international tribunals, with the academic credentials and knowledge to inform strong litigation skills and persuasive ability.”
  • “Dan is unique in that he combines very deep knowledge of the law with vast negotiations and trial experience”. “He is a natural and easy leader of a team. Clients trust him with bet-the-country/company cases.”
  • He is “a dream to work with”, as “a resourceful advocate he offered answers and avenues of recourse in situations where other UK counsel could offer none”, and “He has the rare ability to combine academic rigour with commercial pragmatism.”
Cases in UK and other national courts

Acted as advocate and counsel in cases involving public international law, constitutional/public law, enforcement/challenge/recognition of arbitral awards, and commercial law:

UK SUPREME COURT:

  • “Maduro Board” of the Central Bank of Venezuela (“BCV”) v. “Guaido Board” of BCV (ex parte The Bank of England) [2023] 203 ILR 612, [2023] AC 156 (deciding control over c. $2 billion of gold in the Bank of England: recognition of foreign Judgments and Heads of State; Act of State).
  • “Brexit case” R (Miller) UK [2018] AC 61 (for Ms. Miller: whether it was the UK Parliament or Government that in effect can terminate the UK’s membership of the European Union).
  • Taurus v. SOMO [2018] AC 690 (for SOMO: Iraq’s Oil Ministry: resisting recognition and enforcement of UNCITRAL award, letters of credit, situs of debt, third party debt orders, and State/Central Bank immunities).
  • Rahmatullah v. Secretary of State for Defence [2013] 153 ILR 607, [2013] 1 AC 614 (for UK Government: constitutional law, judicial review and habeas corpus).

ENGLISH COURT OF APPEAL:

  • Central Bank of Venezuela case [2021] 195 ILR 612, [2021] QB 455 (CA) (see above).
  • R (BAT) SoS (Health) [2018] QB 149 (for BAT in this multi-billion pound case against UK “plain packaging” cigarette packaging regulations).
  • Benkharbouche v. UK SoS (FCO) and Janah v. Libya [2019] 180 ILR 575, [2016] QB 347 (for Libya: landmark State immunity case).
  • Taurus v. SOMO, Iraq Oil Ministry [2016] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 42 (see above).
  • Westpark v. Kingfisher Airlines [2009] EWCA Civ 526 (contractual payments; conflict laws).

ENGLISH HIGH COURT AND OTHER UK TRIBUNALS:

  • Wright v. USA [2019] 10 WLUK 500 (for USA: successful discharge: State immunity. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5dbae021e5274a4a9a464fec/Mrs_A_Webster_and_Miss_C_Wright_-_v_-_United_States_of_America_-_3327693_2017_-_Preliminary_Judgment.pdf
  • Houghton v. USA [2023] 201 ILR 525 (for USA: successful discharge of application). Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60ddc598d3bf7f7c32effd02/Mrs_M_Houghton__vs_USA.pdf
  • A v. B (a State) [2018] 5 WLUK 366 (Comm) (enforcement of UNCITRAL award).
  • Progas v. Pakistan [2018] 1 CLC 126 (Comm) (for Progas: challenge to UNCITRAL award; first case to deal with third party funding of investment arbitration).
  • UCP v. Nectrus[2018] 1 WLR 3409 (Comm) (investment services contract).
  • Swan v. USA, Case No. 3330976/2018 (for USA: successful discharge: State immunity.)
  • Cruz City v. Unitech [2015] 1 All ER 305 (Comm) (resisting recognition and enforcement of LCIA Award and discharge of “Chabra” freezing order).
  • Ben Rafael and 6 others v. Iran [2015] EWHC 3203 (for family of diplomat killed in bombing of US Embassy: enforcement of US Judgment c.$US75 million).
  • Harrington v. USA [2015] 180 ILR 454 (for USA: successful discharge: State immunity.
  • Gard v. IOPC Fund [2014] 2 CLC 699 (Comm) (for IOPC Fund: resisting imposition of £60 million freezing order; loans, indemnities, & immunity).
  • Gard v. IOPC Fund [2014] 1 CLC 624 (Comm) (discharge of freezing order).
  • Taurus SOMO [2014] 1 All ER 942 (see above).
  • Wokuri Kassam [2013] 152 ILR 557, [2013] Ch 80 (contractual issues; diplomatic immunity: obtained eventual dismissal of claim).
  • Croatia Serbia [2016] 164 ILR 429, [2010] Ch 200 (for Serbia: State properties/SFRY succession).
  • Serbia v. Imagesat International [2011] 142 ILR 644, [2010] 2 All ER (Comm) 571 (for Serbia: challenge to ICC award, waiver, State succession, and non-justiciability).
  • Westpark v. Kingfisher Airlines Commercial Court [2008] EWHC 3233 (contractual payments; liability; choice of law).
  • Hard v. Kuwait Investment Office (“KIO”), Taylor v. KIO, Vithlani v. KIO, Locke v. KIO (ET) (for KIO: State/diplomatic immunities: successfully settled).
  • Advised Hitachi (with Slaughter & May) on a regulatory investigation conducted by a multilateral development bank.
  • Advised the UK Government on: (i) proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiated by the EU and the USA; (ii) Proposed EU Regulations and Directives aimed at preventing future crises in financial markets and evaluating their compatibility with the EU/UK’s obligations under the WTO; (iii) the scope and application of the WTO Subsidies Agreement; (iv) the OECD Arrangement on Officially Supported Export Credit.

DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE COURT: Wintershall AG v. Russia: acting for Wintershall in various anti-arbitration injunctions and related applications in the DIFC Court seeking to enforce PCA Orders against Russia.

SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL COURT: Poland v. PDZ (UK) Ltd & PD Co Holdings (UK) Ltd [2026] SGHC(I) 1 (resisting challenge to the $265 million PCA Award (ECT) on grounds, including, intra-EU objection, public policy, and natural justice).

HONG KONG COURT OF FINAL APPEAL: FG Hemisphere v. Congo & Others [2011] HKCFA 41 (landmark State immunity case; recognition and enforcement of ICC awards in Hong Kong on the basis of the common law).

BAHAMAS SUPREME COURT: STB & Bacon v. AG Bahamas (Government held in breach of the Constitution and Minister fined $150,000 for reading out private emails in Parliament; scope and application of parliamentary privilege); and SRG v. Public Utilities Commission & AG (Bahamas Supreme Court) (telecom regulation).

EASTERN CARIBBEAN SUPREME COURT (BVI): AB and CD v. AG of the British Virgin Islands and SoS (FCO) (BVIHCV20 19/006&4 0065), Judgment dated 22 February 2022 (constitutional challenge against UK Government & AG of BVI for breach of privacy caused by the imposition of a publicly accessible register of beneficial interests on the BVI).

US DISTRICT COURT, PA: Acted as UK law expert for Grenfell Tower victims in US proceedings against manufacturers of cladding used on the Tower: Behrens et al v. Arconic.

Public International Law in International Courts and Tribunals
  • International Court of Justice (“ICJ”): (1) Legal Consequences Arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem as lead advocate and counsel for the United Kingdom; for his oral advocacy on behalf of the UK, click play icon on UN WebTV at https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k11/k11pg5qd8i and go to 06:30mns using slider at bottom; (2) Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change as lead advocate and counsel for Kuwait; for his oral advocacy, click play icon on UN WebTV at https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k18/k18cjnzxob and go to 02:31:30(hrs); (3) Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates) as joint lead advocate and counsel for the UAE; for his oral advocacy on behalf of the UAE, click play icon on 2nd video on UN Web TV page at https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1j/k1jb4b7ygj and click play icon on 5th video on UN Web TV page at https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1j/k1jb4b7ygj (go to time at: 40:20 mns using slider); (4) UK Libya (Provisional Measures) (Lockerbie bombing/terrorism case) for UK working with Prof. Rosalyn Higgins QC, later ICJ President; (5) Chad v. Libya for Chad working with Prof. Higgins QC; (6) Slovakia v. Hungary for Slovakia working with Prof. Higgins QC; and (7) East Timor (Portugal v. Australia) for Portugal working with Prof. Higgins QC.
  • International Organizations (IOs)/International Administrative Law: advised and represented 23 separate IOs on a very broad range of legal issues including: (1) advising four IOs on their constituent treaties, and the scope of their powers and rights vis-à-vis those of Member States; (2) drafted an establishment (constituent) agreement for a State that was taking the lead in establishing an environmental international organization; (3) worked with Secretariats of three separate IOs to draft and advise on three Headquarters Agreements, and in one case negotiating its terms on behalf of an organisation with a host State; (4) drafting two treaties on privileges and immunities for two IOs; (5) advised a host State on the establishment and hosting of a proposed new international organization – the Circular Carbon Economy Fund; (6) advising an IO on litigation before the International Court of Justice; (7) advising the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds on the establishment of a new international organization, the “HNS Fund”; (8) representing two IOs in UK domestic litigation relating to immunities; (9) advising five IOs on implications of various multilateral economic sanctions regimes; (10) advising six IOs on implications of laws in France, India, South Africa, UK and US as they affect IOs; (11) dissolution of IOs, including working with 1971 Fund based in London to wind up its activities; (12) advising and representing IOs in a variety of contractual disputes and arbitrations (UNCITRAL and ad hoc); (13) advocacy for four IO secretariats before plenary organs comprised of Member States; (14) advocacy for six IOs in international employment disputes (involving ILOAT and ad hoc dispute systems), including drafting of appeal systems, and representing IOs in domestic courts (see section below); and (15) provision of a Legal Opinion to a retired Judge of the International Court of Justice relating to UN pension arrangements for filing in legal proceedings before a State’s tax tribunal.
  • European Court of Human Rights: various cases including Nak Naftogaz UK, App. 62976/12 (for UK: £27 million claim brought by natural gas supplier).
  • UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon (anti-terrorism): Prosecutor v. Ayyash et. al., 2012, STL-11-01/PT/TC (for UN Prosecutor).
  • Elgin Marbles – Parthenon Sculptures: Greece v. UK (for UK: case relating to Greek claims for the return of the Elgin Marbles: involved State succession/UNESCO treaties).
  • World Trade Organisation/Competition: Dan was appointed in 2006 as a Member of the WTO Dispute Settlement list of Panellists (jointly nominated by the UK and EU). He has represented and advised States and FTSE 100 companies as leading or joint counsel in a broad range of WTO/regulatory disputes and matters. He has taught WTO Law at the graduate level since 1997 both at Oxford University (since 2003) and previously at University College London, University of London. His contentious matters include: (1) Australia – Measures Concerning Plain Packaging Requirements Applicable to Tobacco Products and Packaging, 28 June 2018, WT/DS435/R, WTO Panel Report (888 pages) (for British American Tobacco); (2) the UK Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) on various aspects of a key TRA policy having regard to WTO law and related UK law and regulations; (3) the UK Government on: (i) proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiated by the EU and the USA; (ii) Proposed EU Regulations and Directives aimed at preventing future crises in financial markets and evaluating their compatibility with the EU/UK’s obligations under the WTO; (iii) the scope and application of the WTO Subsidies Agreement in relation to a specific policy; (iv) the scope and application of the Aircraft Sector Understanding in relation to a specific policy; and (v) the OECD Arrangement on Officially Supported Export Credit; (4) British American Tobacco in the domestic case of R (British American Tobacco) v. SoS for Health (Court of Appeal) [2018] Q.B. 149; (5) Reuters using WTO law on its WTO/regulatory disputes with (i) India successfully using the WTO GATS and competition law; and (ii) Australia that subsequently led to amendment of a draft Financial Services Reform Bill; (6) Tesco plc on its WTO/regulatory disputes with: (i) South Korea that was preventing the opening of 42 retail stores in breach of its obligations under its WTO GATS commitments; and (ii) a different State that had imposed a WTO discriminatory “surcharge tax” on Tesco’s operations; (7) Roche on its regulatory dispute with the EC and EMA; (8) a global telecommunications corporation in its regulatory and competition disputes with three separate WTO members using the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), Telecoms Agreement, and competition law; (9) another global telecommunications corporation in its regulatory dispute with a WTO member State using the GATS and the GATT, including their respective security exceptions; (10) the UN World Food Programme on a State’s obligations under the WTO subsidies agreement and the WTO Agreement on Agriculture; (11) a large steel exporter to a State in South America on a dispute relating to application of the State’s anti-dumping law; (12) the Commonwealth Secretariat on the GATS and Annex on Financial Services and their relationship with standards from the OECD, FATF, and Basel Committee; (13) Albanian government on the WTO compatibility of its privatisation of Albtelecom (State-owned telco); & (14) Hitachi (with Slaughter & May) on a regulatory investigation by a multilateral development bank.
  • European Court of Human Rights: various cases including Nak Naftogaz UK, App. 62976/12 (for UK: £27 million claim brought by natural gas supplier).
  • UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon (anti-terrorism): Prosecutor v. Ayyash et. al., 2012, STL-11-01/PT/TC (for UN Prosecutor).
  • Elgin Marbles – Parthenon Sculptures: Greece v. UK (for UK: case relating to Greek claims for the return of the Elgin Marbles: involved State succession/UNESCO treaties).
  • Boundaries, State succession, Law of the Sea, and Environmental Law: advised and represented States and corporations in matters involving land and maritime boundaries and baselines; oil and gas concessions; State succession issues and related boundary questions in several international cases & arbitrations involving the former Soviet Union, the SFRY, the FRY, and the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro; UN Convention on Law of the Sea; costal States rights; and IMO treaties. Examples include: (1) advised Chad on territorial boundaries in ICJ case Chad v. Libya; (2) advised the UK on its UK maritime boundaries and baselines; (3) advised a southern African State on its land and maritime boundary claims and associated treaty issues; (4) advised a north African State on its land boundary claims; and (5) represented a private client in an ad hoc shipping arbitration, involved issues on the EEZ regime established by UNCLOS, and the content of the State’s rights within the EEZ.
  • International environmental Law: advised and represented States and corporations in matters involving oil and gas concessions, environmental law, and relevant treaties. Matters include: (1) represented Kuwait in the ICJ Advisory Opinion relating to Climate Change (see above) (2) Exxon Mobil Canada, ICSID Case No. ARB(AF)/15/6 (for Exxon Mobil); (3) ICJ case Slovakia v. Hungary (international environmental law and the law of treaties); (4) Gard v. International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund [2014] 2 CLC 699 (represented in this case the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund – an intergovernmental organisation headquartered in London that mitigates the effects of oil pollution); (5) advised an oil and gas producing State on COP 28 negotiations; (5) advised the UK Government on various environmental law issues under treaties; (6) advised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on establishing and hosting a proposed new international organization – the Circular Carbon Economy Fund – focusing on the financing of green projects within member States; (7) advising the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds on the establishment of a new international organization, the hazardous and noxious substances (“HNS”) Fund to mitigate the effects of HNS pollution; (8) advised the State Attorney-General of Sarawak on petroleum exploration rights of the State and related environmental issues; (9) advised a SE Asian State on boundary issues relating to delimitation of its territorial sea and continental shelf, and Exclusive Economic Zone issues; (10) advised an East African State on oil & gas concessions, and environmental matters arising under relevant treaties; (11) re-drafted Port of Salalah (Oman) Terms of Business, considering environmental & commercial law & 14 maritime treaties (IMO & UNCLOS Conventions); (12) advised a multinational corporation on UNEP Basel Convention on Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste.
  • Economic sanctions: experience of a broad range of sanctions matters under United Nations, European Union, and UK sanctions regimes imposed against States including Colombia, Iran, Iraq, Libya, and Sudan.

Earlier in his career, published four books on international law: awarded the American Society of International Law Book Prize twice (2001 and 2006), 1999 Guggenheim Prize, and 2006 US McDougal Prize. He is General Editor and author with Sir Michael Wood KC of Oppenheim’s International Law (forthcoming: 10th ed., OUP); served previously as joint General Editor, Oxford Monographs in International Law; and has authored over 50 articles/chapters. In 2018, he delivered the Hague Academy of International Law lectures on “Immunities of States and International Organizations in National Courts”; elected in 2008 to “Executive Council”, American Society of International Law; and Trustee, British Institute of International & Comparative Law.

International arbitration

Acted as counsel or expert in over 45 investor-State arbitrations under ICSID, ICSID AF, ECT, ICC, LCIA, NAFTA, PCA, and UNCITRAL Rules, representing Claimants and States in relation to a variety of areas (agriculture, banking & financial regulation, construction, insurance, mining, oil & gas, property, renewable energy, ship building, steel, tax, and telecommunications). Also acts regularly in challenges to Awards (jurisdiction, serious irregularity, points of law) and enforcement of Awards. He teaches investment arbitration at the University of Oxford. Non-confidential cases include:

  • Wintershall AG v. Russia: for Wintershall in DIFC Court enforcement application of PCA Orders against Russia.
  • Poland v. PDZ Ltd & PD Co. Holdings [2026] SGHC(I) 1 (for investor, resisting challenge to the $265 million PCA Award (ECT) on grounds, including, intra-EU objection, public policy, and natural justice).
  • TMA v. Philippines, ICSID (for investor; large-scale printing business).
  • Next Era Energy Global v. Spain [2025] FCA 1028 (Federal Court of Australia Proceeding No. NSD415/2023) (enforcement of ICSID Award).
  • Blasket Renewable Investments LLC v. Spain [2025] FCA 1028 (Federal Court of Australia Proceeding No. NSD2169/2019) (enforcement of ICSID Award).
  • 9REN v. Spain [2025] FCA 1028 (Federal Court of Australia Proceeding No. NSD365/2020) (enforcement of ICSID Award).
  • Watkins v. Spain [2025] FCA 1028 (Federal Court of Australia Proceeding No. NSD449/2020) (enforcement of ICSID Award).
  • Andraous v. Netherlands, UNCITRAL (for investor; insurance companies).
  • Korsgaard v. Croatia, PCA No. 2019-02 (for investor; large-scale property investment).
  • A v. B (a State) [2018] 5 WLUK 366 (Comm) (enforcement of UNCITRAL award).
  • Progas v. Pakistan [2018] 1 CLC 126 (Comm) (for Progas: challenge to UNCITRAL award; first case to deal with third party funding of investment arbitration).
  • Mammoet v. Basrah Oil, ICC Case No. 23878/AYZ (for Basrah Oil Co.).
  • Gold Pool JV Ltd v. Kazakhstan, PCA Case No. 2016-23 (for investor; government concession for gold mining).
  • MNSS and RCA Montenegro, ICSID Case No. ARB(AF)/12/8 (for investor; government concession for only steel plant in Montenegro).
  • Exxon Mobil Canada, ICSID Case No. ARB(AF)/15/6 (NAFTA) (government concession for oil exploration & exploitation).
  • Safa v. Greece, ICSID Case No. ARB/16/20 (for Greece; government concession for naval shipyards).
  • Cruz City v. Unitech [2015] 1 All ER 305 (Comm) (resisting recognition and enforcement of LCIA Award and discharge of “Chabra” freezing order).
  • FG Hemisphere Congo & Others [2011] HKCFA 41 (landmark State immunity case; recognition and enforcement of ICC awards in Hong Kong based on the common law).
  • Serbia v. Imagesat International [2010] 2 All ER (Comm) 571 (Comm) (for Serbia: challenge to ICC award, waiver, State succession, and non-justiciability).
  • Murphy Oil Ecuador, ICSID Case No. ARB/08/4 (for investor; government concession for oil exploration and exploitation).
  • Sempra Energy Argentina, ICSID Case No. ARB/02/16 (for investor; government concession for oil exploration and exploitation).
  • Imagesat InternationalV. v. Serbia, ICC arbitration, Case No.14839/FM (for Serbia).
  • Bernhard von Pezold Zimbabwe, ICSID Case No. ARB/10/15 (for investor; large scale agricultural farming).
  • Border Timbers Zimbabwe, ICSID Case No. ARB/10/25 (for investor; large scale agricultural farming).
  • KS Invest GmbH & TLS Spain, ICSID Case No. ARB/15/25.
  • Surfeit Harvest Investment Ltd v. Taiwan, PCA (for investor; loss of rights of management and control over a commercial bank/provision of financial services).
  • Advised UK on the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)
  • Advised UK on potential investment claims arising from expansion of Heathrow airport.
  • Advised a bank on investment claims against a State in South East Asia.
  • Advised UK on arbitration-related issues arising from UK Government Covid-measures in relation to the operation of Eurotunnel and Eurostar services.

Dan was appointed by the UK and EU to the panel of arbitrators appointed to hear Brexit-related disputes. He has authored several publications including “The resolution of investment disputes by arbitration”, 33 (1) Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law (“BJIBFL”) (2018) 12; “Investment treaty arbitration and WTO Dispute Settlement”, 49 Texas International Law Journal (2014) 445; “Provisional Measures and Investment Treaty Arbitration”, 29(3) Arbitration International (2013); & “When international financial institutions arbitrate: what law governs investment treaty arbitration?”, 27 BJIBFL (2012) 612.

Career

2025-              Registered with rights of audience before the Dubai International Financial

Centre Courts.

2025-              Called to the Bar of the Singapore International Commercial Court

2020-              Appointed by UK & EU to list of arbitrators to decide Brexit disputes

2020-              Called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (BVI)

2018-              Appointment as Queen’s Counsel (renamed as King’s Counsel)

2013-18’:       Appointed by UK Attorney-General (“AG”) as Counsel to Crown (Commercial & Constitutional Law)

2013-18’:       Appointed by AG as Counsel to Crown (Public International Law)

2017               Called to the Bar of The Bahamas (ad hoc)

2012-              Senior Research Fellow, The Queen’s College, Oxford

2011               Called to the Bar of Hong Kong (ad hoc)

2009               Called to the Bar of The Bahamas (ad hoc)

2006-              Appointed as Member, WTO Dispute Settlement list of Panellists.

2006-              Member, Essex Court Chambers

2006-              Professor of Public International Law, University of Oxford

2005-              Called to the Bar of England & Wales.

2004-06’:       Assoc. Prof. of Public International Law, University of Oxford

2003-04’:       Herbert Smith Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Oxford

2001-04’:       Of Counsel, City of London firm Tite & Lewis (with Ernst & Young)

2002-03’:       Assoc. Prof., University College London, London University

1997-02’:       Senior Lecturer (before that Lecturer), UCL, London University