Lionel Nichols, FCIArb

Contact details

VAT number: 181469291

Clerk: Andrew Call

+442078222038

Lionel Nichols specialises in international and cross-border disputes, focusing on commercial litigation, international arbitration, public international law, private international law and human rights.

Lionel is ranked as a Leading Junior in Commercial Litigation by the Legal 500.

Lionel has experience advising and acting for sovereign States, corporations, NGOs and individuals before a wide range of international courts and tribunals. He has worked on cases heard by all levels of English courts (including the Supreme Court, the Privy Council, the Court of Appeal and the High Court) and by international tribunals under all of the major institutional arbitral rules, including ICSID, ICC, LCIA, SCC, UNCITRAL and CIArb. He has also acted on matters before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the European Court of Human Rights, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

Lionel also sits as an arbitrator and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

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Areas of expertise

“His quick understanding and appreciation, thoughtful questions, careful explanations, clever and clear drafting, and collaborative approach to the development of case strategy are impressive.” – Legal 500

Ranked as a Leading Junior by the Legal 500, Lionel’s broad commercial practice focuses on complex international and multi-jurisdictional disputes and includes:

Contractual disputes, including the sale and supply of goods and services
Company disputes, disputes under SPAs and SHAs, partnership and shareholder disputes, and claims against directors.
Arbitration claims, including challenges to arbitral awards (ss 67, 68, 69), applications for stay of proceedings (s 9), preliminary determinations of jurisdiction (s 32) and freezing injunctions in support of arbitration (s 44).
Injunctive relief, including freezing orders and Norwich Pharmacal orders.
Private international law disputes, including jurisdictional challenges, governing law disputes, and applications for permissions to serve out of the jurisdiction.

Featured Commercial Law Cases

UK Bank. Currently acting for a UK bank in an eight-figure breach of contact claim against a manager of a pensions fund (led by Ben Hubble KC).
Aircraft Lessee. Currently acting for the claimant in a multi-million-dollar dispute regarding an aircraft lease agreement.
Galkin v Semchenkova and Gorbuntsov. Currently acting for the defendants in contractual, misrepresentation unjust enrichment claims regarding an international money transfer company, including a pending jurisdictional challenge on forum non conveniens grounds.
Dutch Company. Currently acting for a Dutch investor seeking to recover more than £70 million invested to support group claims. This multi-jurisdictional dispute involves numerous complex areas of law, including the law of assignments, champerty & maintenance, financial services law and consumer protections law (led by Paul Mitchell KC).
High Net Worth Individual. Currently acting for the claimant in an eight-figure professional negligence claim against his former solicitors (led by Ben Hubble KC).
Contractual Agent. Acting for a UK company in a seven-figure dispute against an Australian company for unpaid commissions and loss of profits from wrongful termination of a distribution agreement in the luxury sporting goods sector.
Her Majesty’s Government. Advising a government department in an 8-figure claim against a multinational professional services and business consulting corporation for breaches of a master services agreement.
Wall v Royal Bank of Scotland [2016] EWHC 2460. Acting for the defendants in a £600m claim for alleged interest rate swaps mis-selling and LIBOR manipulation.
GPF GP S.á.r.l v Poland [2018] EWHC 409 (Comm). Successfully representing the applicant in the first set aside of an investor-State award by an English court under s 67 of the Arbitration Act.
NDK Ltd v Huo Holding Ltd [2022] EWHC 2580 (Comm). Successfully resisting challenges to four arbitral awards under sections 67 and 68 of the Arbitration Act.
Reliance Industries v Union of India [2018] EWHC 822 (Comm). Acting for India in successfully resisting eight challenges (under sections 67, 68 and 69 of the Arbitration Act) to a $3 billion, 700-page UNCITRAL award.
Union of India v Reliance Industries [2022] EWHC 1407 (Comm). Acting for India in commencing five challenges (and resisting a further three challenges) under sections 67, 68 and 69 of the Arbitration Act.
Specialty Magnetics Ltd v Agilent Technologies [2020] EWHC 2193 (Comm). Successfully resisting a stay application under section 9 of the Arbitration Act.
VTB Commodities Trading DAC v JSC Antipinsky Refinery [2019] EWHC 3292 (Comm). Application under section 32 of the Arbitration Act to determine a preliminary issue of jurisdiction.
VTB Commodities Trading DAC v JSC Antipinsky Refinery [2020] EWHC 72 (Comm) Successfully resisting the continuation of a mandatory interlocutory injunction made in support of arbitration under section 44 of the Arbitration Act.
VTB Commodities Trading DAC v JSC Antipinsky Refinery [2021] EWHC 1758 (Comm) Successful jurisdictional challenge concerning the addition of Part 20 defendants through section 44 of the Arbitration Act.
Advanced Support Limited v Azimut-Benetti. Section 68 challenge regarding an LMAA tribunal’s decision to strike out a claim following the claimant’s failure to comply with a security for costs order.
Fishman v Grebnev and Mangazeev. Acting for Part 20 Defendant in a US$50 million dispute over the Maps.me mobile maps and navigation service (led by Richard Slade KC).
Royal Bank of Scotland. Advising on various matters arising out of RBS’s Global Restructuring Group and its treatment of SMEs.
Focal Image Ltd v Al-Jaber [2021] 3 WLUK 103. Acting for the claimant in a debt claim before the insolvency courts, the Commercial Court and the London Circuit Court.
B2 Bridging v NV Management (unreported). Successful application during a final hearing for permission to amend defence to allege the existence of a secret commission after obtaining this evidence during cross-examination of the claimant’s key witness.

Lionel has experience acting under all major institutional rules, including ICSID, ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL and CIArb. His practice comprises complex cross-border disputes and disputes with an international dimension. The sectors covered by this practice include banking & financial services, commodities and international trade, and energy & infrastructure, with a focus on Africa, CIS & Russia, as well as offshore jurisdictions. He has also advised both claimants and States in relation to potential claims under bilateral and multilateral investment treaties.

He has particular expertise in applications under the Arbitration Act 1996, including challenges under sections 67, 68 and 69, stays of proceedings under section 9, freezing injunctions under section 44 and determinations of jurisdiction under section 32.

Lionel also sits as an arbitrator and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Featured International Arbitrations as Counsel

LCIA Arbitration. Currently acting for an individual in two multi-million-dollar LCIA arbitrations regarding alleged non-payment of performance bonuses.
HKIAC Arbitration. Currently acting for the claimant in a seven-figure HKIAC arbitration concerning breaches of an SPA.
LCIA Arbitration. Acting for a leading provider of cloud-based video surveillance technology in its eight-figure claim in an LCIA arbitration against the company’s co-founder for breach of non-compete and non-recruitment obligations.
Expert Determination. Advising an oil & gas major regarding an expert determination and associated LCIA arbitration concerning pre-emption rights and the value of a unit interest in an offshore Nigerian oil block.
ICC Arbitration. Acting for a Bulgarian pharmaceutical company in a multi-million-Euro arbitration seated in Paris concerning breach of non-compete clauses.
LCIA Arbitration. Successfully obtaining various orders for specific performance in an arbitration of a complex shareholders’ dispute, concerning a Cypriot holding company ultimately owning one of the largest open-cast coal mines in Siberia.
LCIA Arbitration. Acting for the successful claim seeking final anti-suit injunctive relief from an arbitral tribunal, restraining proceedings brought in Cyprus by the respondent, in breach of an arbitration clause in a shareholders’ agreement.
LCIA Arbitration. Acting for the claimant in its international arbitral claim to recover an indebtedness of $1.3 billion in the logistics sector, with a related application for an anti-suit injunction and related proceedings in the BVI.
Antipinsky Refinery. Acting for the respondent in a €200m LCIA arbitration in the energy sector, defending a series of contractual and tortious claims commenced by Russian State-owned bank VTB.
Future Pipe International v Egypt. Acting for the claimant, a multinational producer of fibreglass pipes, in an ICSID arbitration under the Egypt-Netherlands BIT.
Global investment bank. Acting for the claimant in an ICC arbitration involving a shareholders’ dispute against a Polish real estate company regarding the exercise of put options.
Multinational energy company. Acting for the claimant in an ICC arbitration involving breaches of a suite of supply agreements, including issues of force majeure.
Multinational energy company. Acting in an ICC arbitration concerning the operation and interpretation of a complex series of long-term production-sharing contracts from a substantial gas field in the Far East.
Private Equity Fund. Acting for the claimant in an LCIA arbitration concerning negligent misrepresentations made during negotiations over a share purchase agreement.
Global steel producer. Acting for the respondent in an LCIA arbitration concerning the sale of goods.
Leading medical university. Acting for the claimant in a multimillion-dollar LCIA arbitration following the failure of a joint venture in Malaysia.
Belgian nursing home provider. Acting for the respondent in a CIArb arbitration concerning alleged non-payment of introducer fees.
Russian metallurgical plant. Acting for the claimant in an LCIA arbitration defending alleged non-acceptance of iron-ore pellets.
Private Investor. Advising investors on a potential investment treaty claim under a BIT with an Eastern European State.
Private Investor. Advising Turkish investors on a potential ICSID claim under a BIT with a Central Asian State.
Multinational Corporation. Advising on a potential ICSID claim against an African State.
Multinational Corporation. Advising on existing investment protections under Iranian BITs, the OIC agreement and FIPPA.
Multinational Corporation. Advising on existing investment protections under Middle Eastern BITs.
Asian State. Advising on the prospects of annulling an ICSID award.

Featured Challenges to Arbitral Awards

GPF GP S.á.r.l v Poland [2018] EWHC 409 (Comm). Successfully representing the applicant in the first set aside of an investor-State award by an English court under s 67 of the Arbitration Act.
NDK Ltd v Huo Holding Ltd [2022] EWHC 2580 (Comm). Successfully resisting challenges to four arbitral awards under sections 67 and 68 of the Arbitration Act.
Reliance Industries v Union of India [2018] EWHC 822 (Comm). Acting for India in successfully resisting eight challenges (under sections 67, 68 and 69 of the Arbitration Act) to a $3 billion, 700-page UNCITRAL award.
Union of India v Reliance Industries [2022] EWHC 1407 (Comm). Acting for India in commencing five challenges (and resisting a further three challenges) under sections 67, 68 and 69 of the Arbitration Act.
Specialty Magnetics Ltd v Agilent Technologies [2020] EWHC 2193 (Comm). Successfully resisting a stay application under section 9 of the Arbitration Act.
VTB Commodities Trading DAC v JSC Antipinsky Refinery [2019] EWHC 3292 (Comm). Application under section 32 of the Arbitration Act to determine a preliminary issue of jurisdiction.
VTB Commodities Trading DAC v JSC Antipinsky Refinery [2020] EWHC 72 (Comm) Successfully resisting the continuation of a mandatory interlocutory injunction made in support of arbitration under section 44 of the Arbitration Act.
VTB Commodities Trading DAC v JSC Antipinsky Refinery [2021] EWHC 1758 (Comm) Successful jurisdictional challenge concerning the addition of Part 20 defendants through section 44 of the Arbitration Act.
Advanced Support Limited v Azimut-Benetti. Section 68 challenge regarding an LMAA tribunal’s decision to strike out a claim following the claimant’s failure to comply with a security for costs order.

Featured Arbitrations as Arbitrator

Sole arbitrator in an UNCITRAL arbitration concerning a partnership dispute.
Sole arbitrator in a CIArb arbitration concerning a debt claim.
Sole arbitrator in a CIArb arbitration concerning a contractual dispute.
Sole arbitrator in a CIArb arbitration in the financial services sector.
Sole arbitrator in consolidated CIArb arbitrations.

Prior to joining Chambers, Lionel spent three years working in The Hague, first with the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, then with Trial Chamber II at the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

His doctoral dissertation analysed the International Criminal Court’s strategy of positive complementarity under Article 17 of the Rome Statute and was the first academic consideration of the Office of the Prosecutor’s investigations into the Kenyan situation. This was later published as a monograph (The International Criminal Court and the End of Impunity in Kenya, Springer, 2015).

Lionel has also acted as a researcher and an advisor for the Global Institute for the Prevention of Aggression, a small private foundation founded in 1996 by Benjamin Ferencz aimed at advancing the goal of criminalising the illegal use of force.

Featured International Criminal Law Cases

Prosecutor v Taylor SCSL-03-01-T-1229, The “Blood Diamond” trial of the president of Liberia, convicted of 11 counts of aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity, and sentenced to 50 years imprisonment by the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
Prosecutor v Karadžić (IT-95-5/18). Trial of the president of the Republika Srpska, convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, and sentenced to 40 years imprisonment.
Prosecutor v Stanišić and Simatović (IT-03-069). Trial of the head and deputy head of the Serbian State Security Service, convicted of war crimes and sentenced by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia to 12 years imprisonment.
Prosecutor v Gotovina. Trial of three defendants, including the commander of the Croatian army, for nine counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity alleged to have been committed during Operation Storm.
Public International Law Policy Group. Advising on issues of genocide and crimes against humanity arising from the mass displacement and persecution of the Rohingya in Burma.
Public International Law Policy Group. Advising on the legality under international law of the detention of suspected ISIS fighters in Iraq, including under Common Article 3 to the Geneva Conventions.
Reprieve. Advising on international humanitarian law issues arising from the “War on Terrorism”.

Lionel has extensive experience acting for individuals, NGOs, corporations, and States in human rights cases, before a range of domestic, regional and international courts and tribunals. He is particularly regarded for his work on core human rights such as the right to life, freedom from torture, freedom from discrimination, the right to a fair trial, the right to liberty and freedom of movement.

Lionel is currently advising the Norfolk Island Government in its attempts to obtain the status of non-self-governing territory under Chapter XI of the United Nations Charter.

He is also known for his expertise in Business & Human Rights. This includes advising corporations on issues relating to supply chains and modern slavery, as well as claimants and third-party funders on potential claims against multinational corporations. Lionel has also served as an expert reviewer in a comparative study conducted by the University of Oxford’s Bonavero Institute of Human Rights on civil liability for human rights violations across 18 jurisdictions, and publishes regularly in the fields of Business & Human Rights, and Climate Change Litigation.

Lionel accepts instructions on a contingency and pro bono basis for suitable cases.

Featured Human Rights Cases

Chiragov v Armenia (13216/05). Application to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and raising issues of the right to property, the right to private and family life, and freedom from discrimination (led by Geoffrey Robertson KC).
Tuweni v Kenya (778/22). The first extraordinary rendition case to be heard by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, with associated claims relating to torture, fair trial, liberty, discrimination and the right to family life.
Buffett v Australia (3274/2018). Application to the United Nations Human Rights Committee regarding the rights of Norfolk Islanders to self-determination, minority rights and indigenous rights (led by Geoffrey Robertson KC)
Marshall v Australia; George v Australia (3915/2020). Applications to the United Nations Human Rights Committee under Article 12(4) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on behalf of the “Stranded Aussies” prevented by the government from returning to their home country due to COVID-19 (led by Geoffrey Robertson KC).
Tsvetnenko v Australia (3719/2020). A habeas corpus application to the United Nations Human Rights Committee regarding Australia’s refusal to grant bail to a defendant awaiting extradition (led by Geoffrey Robertson KC).
Pham v SSHD [2015] UKSC 19. Application to the United Kingdom Supreme Court concerning statelessness following the Secretary of State’s decision to deprive the appellant of British nationality (led by Robin Tam KC).
Litvinenko v SSHD [2014] EWHC 194 (Admin). Judicial review of the Secretary of State’s refusal to set up a statutory inquiry into the death of Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, with reference to the United Kingdom’s positive obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights to protect and promote the right to life (led by Ben Emmerson KC).
Hutchinson v United Kingdom (57592/08). Application under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (prohibition of torture) concerning the imposition of “whole life” sentences (led by David Perry KC).
Kazal v Australia (2088/2017). Application to the United Nations Human Rights Committee under Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (right to a fair trial) following a corruption commission’s finding based on a “could have” standard (led by Geoffrey Robertson KC).
Ali v United Kingdom (40378/10). Application under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights concerning adverse pre-trial publicity in jury trials and its impact on the accused’s right to a fair trial (led by David Perry KC).
Dallas v United Kingdom (38395/12). Juror’s application under Article 7 of the European Convention on Human Rights (no punishment without law) following her conviction for contempt of court for conducting independent research into the criminal trial (led by David Perry KC).
African Commission on Human & Peoples’ Rights. Advising on amendments to the African Charter and the Rules of Procedure to facilitate the amicable settlement of disputes.
Amnesty International. Advising on a potential application to the African Commission on Human & Peoples’ Rights concerning enforced disappearances in Burundi.
Ministry of Justice, Lord Avery and Baroness Thornton. Advising on caste discrimination and the United Kingdom’s obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
AJL20 v Australia. Advising a Syrian refugee on a potential habeas corpus application to the United Nations Human Rights Committee concerning Australia’s indefinite detention regime.

Lionel has a broad and growing public international law practice in which he advises individuals, NGOs, corporations and States on all aspects of international law. Recent advices have concerned jurisdiction, State responsibility and sovereign immunity.

He holds two master’s degrees in international law, a master’s degree in international relations, and a doctorate in international law. Prior to joining Chambers, Lionel was the Global Justice Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. He has published widely in the field of public international law and is regularly invited to speak at conferences.

Featured Public International Law Cases

International Court of Justice

European State. Advising on a possible third-party intervention in an ongoing case before the International Court of Justice.
African State. Advising on the possibility of seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice.

United Nations Human Rights Committee

Buffett v Australia (3274/2018). Application to the United Nations Human Rights Committee regarding the rights of Norfolk Islanders to self-determination, minority rights and indigenous rights (led by Geoffrey Robertson KC).
Marshall v Australia; George v Australia (3915/2020). Applications to the United Nations Human Rights Committee under Article 12(4) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on behalf of the “Stranded Aussies” prevented by the government from returning to their home country due to COVID-19 (led by Geoffrey Robertson KC).
Tsvetnenko v Australia (3719/2020). A habeas corpus application to the United Nations Human Rights Committee regarding Australia’s refusal to grant bail to a defendant awaiting extradition (led by Geoffrey Robertson KC).
Kazal v Australia (2088/2017). Application to the United Nations Human Rights Committee under Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (right to a fair trial) following a corruption commission’s finding based on a “could have” standard (led by Geoffrey Robertson KC).
AJL20 v Australia. Advising a Syrian refugee on a potential habeas corpus application to the United Nations Human Rights Committee concerning Australia’s indefinite detention regime.

International Criminal Tribunals

Prosecutor v Taylor, SCSL-03-01-T-1229. The “Blood Diamond” trial of the president of Liberia, convicted of 11 counts of aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity, and sentenced to 50 years imprisonment by the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
Prosecutor v Karadžić (IT-95-5/18). Trial of the president of the Republika Srpska, convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, and sentenced to 40 years imprisonment.
Prosecutor v Stanišić and Simatović (IT-03-069). Trial of the head and deputy head of the Serbian State Security Service, convicted of war crimes and sentenced by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia to 12 years imprisonment.
Prosecutor v Gotovina (IT-06-90). Trial of three defendants, including the commander of the Croatian army, for nine counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity alleged to have been committed during Operation Storm.

Investment Arbitration

Future Pipe International v Egypt (ICSID Case No. ARB/18/22). Acting for the claimant, a multinational producer of fibreglass pipes, in an ICSID arbitration under the Egypt-Netherlands BIT.
Confidential client. Advising investors on a potential investment treaty claim under a BIT with an Eastern European State.
Turkish Investors. Advising Turkish investors on a potential ICSID claim under a BIT with a Central Asian State.
Dutch Investors. Advising on a potential ICSID claim against an African State.
UK Multinational Company. Advising on existing investment protections under Iranian BITs, the OIC agreement and FIPPA.
European INvestors. Advising on existing investment protections under Middle Eastern BITs.

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

Tuweni v Kenya (778/22). The first extraordinary rendition case to be heard by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, with associated claims relating to torture, fair trial, liberty, discrimination and the right to family life.
African Commission on Human & Peoples’ Rights. Advising on amendments to the African Charter and the Rules of Procedure to facilitate the amicable settlement of disputes.
Amnesty International. Advising on a potential application to the African Commission on Human & Peoples’ Rights concerning enforced disappearances in Burundi.

European Court of Human Rights

Chiragov v Armenia (13216/05). Application to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and raising issues of the right to property, the right to private and family life, and freedom from discrimination (led by Geoffrey Robertson KC).
Hutchinson v United Kingdom (57592/08). Application under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (prohibition of torture) concerning the imposition of “whole life” sentences (led by David Perry KC).
Ali v United Kingdom (40378/10). Application under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights concerning adverse pre-trial publicity in jury trials and its impact on the accused’s right to a fair trial (led by David Perry KC).
Dallas v United Kingdom (38395/12). Juror’s application under Article 7 of the European Convention on Human Rights (no punishment without law) following her conviction for contempt of court for conducting independent research into the criminal trial (led by David Perry KC).

Domestic Courts

Pham v SSHD [2015] UKSC 19. Application to the United Kingdom Supreme Court concerning statelessness following the Secretary of State’s decision to deprive the appellant of British nationality (led by Robin Tam KC).
Litvinenko v SSHD [2014] EWHC 194 (Admin). Judicial review of the Secretary of State’s refusal to set up a statutory inquiry into the death of Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, with reference to the United Kingdom’s positive obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights to protect and promote the right to life (led by Ben Emmerson KC).
Ministry of Justice, Lord Avery and Baroness Thornton. Advising on caste discrimination and the United Kingdom’s obligations under the Convention to Eliminate Racial Discrimination.
GPF GP S.á.r.l v Poland [2018] EWHC 409 (Comm). Successfully representing the applicant in the first set aside of an investor-State award by an English court under s 67 of the Arbitration Act.

Lionel has experience in advising clients on all aspects of sanctions law across the UN, EU and UK frameworks, particularly in the context of financial sanctions and export control. He also advises clients in relation to potential sanctions challenges.

Russian Airline. Advising on the scope of UK and EU sanctions, and applying to OFSI for a licence
Russian Airline. Advising on EU and UN sanctions on Afghanistan and Iran
Confidential client. Advising on EU Iranian sanctions
Confidential client. Application to OFSI for a licence to unblock bank accounts on humanitarian grounds
Oil & Gas major: Advising on European Union Crimea sanctions

Lionel Nichols is regularly instructed in jurisdiction challenges in both the English courts and in international arbitration.

Within litigation, Lionel has experience in dealing with matters involving the Brussels I Regulation (and the associated Brussels and Lugano Conventions) on jurisdiction and enforcement of judgments, challenges on forum non conveniens grounds, and Rome I and Rome II regulations on the law application to contracts and to non-contractual obligations.

In international arbitration, Lionel is an expert in jurisdictional challenges both before arbitral tribunals but also under sections 9, 32, and 67 of the Arbitration Act 1996.

Recent experience includes:

GPF GP S.á.r.l v Poland [2018] EWHC 409 (Comm). Successfully representing the applicant in the first set aside of an investor-State award by an English court under s 67 of the Arbitration Act. The court considered the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties and the BIT’s travaux préparatoires in interpreting the BIT’s expropriation and fair and equitable treatment provisions.
NDK Ltd v Huo Holding Ltd [2022] EWHC 2580 (Comm). Successfully resisting challenges to four arbitral awards under sections 67 and 68 of the Arbitration Act.
Reliance Industries v Union of India [2018] EWHC 822 (Comm). Acting for India in successfully resisting eight challenges (under sections 67, 68 and 69 of the Arbitration Act) to a $3 billion, 700-page UNCITRAL award.
Union of India v Reliance Industries [2022] EWHC 1407 (Comm). Acting for India in commencing five challenges (and resisting a further three challenges) under sections 67, 68 and 69 of the Arbitration Act.
Specialty Magnetics Ltd v Agilent Technologies [2020] EWHC 2193 (Comm). Successfully resisting a stay application under section 9 of the Arbitration Act.
VTB Commodities Trading DAC v JSC Antipinsky Refinery [2019] EWHC 3292 (Comm). Application under section 32 of the Arbitration Act to determine a preliminary issue of jurisdiction.
VTB Commodities Trading DAC v JSC Antipinsky Refinery [2021] EWHC 1758 (Comm) Successful jurisdictional challenge concerning the addition of Part 20 defendants through section 44 of the Arbitration Act.
LCIA arbitration. Acting for the claimant in asserting jurisdiction (and resisting a jurisdictional challenge) relating to the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
LCIA arbitration. Acting for the claimant in resisting a jurisdictional challenge based on the alleged backdating of a contract.
Galkin v Semchenkova and Gorubntsov. Challenging the jurisdiction of the English courts on forum non conveniens grounds.
ING Bank N.V. v PJSC Rosbank. Acting for the defendant in English anti suit injunctive proceedings following the defendant’s commencement of proceedings in Russia in alleged breach of an arbitration agreement.

Related News & Judgments

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Lionel Nichols joins 4 New Square Chambers

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Contact details

l.nichols@4newsquare.com

VAT number: 181469291

Clerk: Andrew Call

a.call@4newsquare.com

+442078222038

Accreditations

Legal 500
“His quick understanding and appreciation, thoughtful questions, careful explanations, clever and clear drafting, and collaborative approach to the development of case strategy are impressive.”

Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

DPhil in Law (University of Oxford)

MPhil in Law (Dist.) (University of Oxford)

BCL (University of Oxford)

Master of International Politics (University of Tasmania)

Bachelor of Laws (1^st) (University of Tasmania)

Bachelor of Arts (1^st) (University of Tasmania)

Rhodes Scholarship, Commonwealth Scholarship, Tim Hawkins Memorial Scholarship

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Lionel Nichols, FCIArb

Contact details

Clerk: Andrew Call

Areas of expertise

Related News & Judgments

Lionel Nichols meets Norfolk Island delegation to advise on international law and human rights issues

Lionel Nichols joins 4 New Square Chambers

Contact details

Clerk: Andrew Call

Accreditations

Related Articles & Publications

Is a Failure to Act on Climate Change a Crime against Humanity?

ClientEarth V Shell PLC: What lies ahead for the derivative claim procedure in ESG litigation?

If you would like to know more or have a question please talk to our clerks

Call

Email

4 New Square Chambers

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Lionel Nichols, FCIArb

Contact details

Clerk: Andrew Call

Areas of expertise

Commercial Law

International Arbitration

International Criminal Law

Human Rights

Public International Law

Sanctions

Jurisdiction

Related News & Judgments

Lionel Nichols meets Norfolk Island delegation to advise on international law and human rights issues

Lionel Nichols joins 4 New Square Chambers

Contact details

Clerk: Andrew Call

Accreditations

Qualifications & Memberships

Related Articles & Publications

Is a Failure to Act on Climate Change a Crime against Humanity?

ClientEarth V Shell PLC: What lies ahead for the derivative claim procedure in ESG litigation?

If you would like to know more or have a question please talk to our clerks

Call

Email

4 New Square Chambers

Sign up to our mailing list

Search