Sarah Stockley

Partner

London

Sarah Stockley focuses on international commercial arbitration, investment treaty arbitration and cross-border litigation in a range of sectors, including the technology, energy, infrastructure and project sectors

Sarah resolves disputes for clients in a variety of forums including international arbitration (both commercial under ICC, LCIA, SIAC and HKIAC Rules etc. seated in various jurisdictions and investor state, under ICSID, and UNCITRAL Rules and ad hoc proceedings) and sits as arbitrator. Sarah appears before the English High Court and the DIFC Court, is adept at supervising and managing cross-border litigations in many other jurisdictions, including the Middle East, West Africa (Nigeria, Ivory Coast) India, Asia and South America and works under both common and civil law regimes.

In addition to acting in traditional onshore and offshore energy disputes both upstream and downstream, Sarah has a keen interest in the renewables and alternatives sectors, combining her experience of infrastructure disputes, including those relating to power and energy transmission, with the changing environments in which our clients operate during the Energy Transition. Sarah has conducted cases in the renewables sector, and also frequently represents clients in mediation and uses ADR techniques to achieve favourable settlements.

Sarah is recognised for International Arbitration by Legal 500 UK, as well as being noted as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers.

  • Arbitration

    • Representing the joint venture company in ICC arbitration proceedings concerning the attempts by a non-operator to block a field development plan under a Joint Operating Agreement (London seat).
    • Acting for the contractor in ICC arbitration proceedings against the owner of a power project in Jamaica in relation to breaches of an Engineering, Procurement & Construction contract (London seat).
    • Acting for the claimant in LCIA arbitration proceedings against a former USSR state in relation to both breaches of an investement agreement and a bilateral investment treaty (London seat).
    • Acting in 12 LCIA arbitration proceedings in relation to the provision of logistical services in Nigeria involving English and Nigerian law (London seat).
    • Acting for a Mauritian investor in bilateral investment treaty claims against India, in relation to the cancellation of telecoms licence.
    • Acting for the claimant in ICC arbitration proceedings against a joint venture partner involving an oil and gas block offshore Brazil (London seat).
    • Acting for the developer of a field offshore Israel in LCIA arbitration proceedings in relation to the fabrication of an offshore platform.
    • Acting for the owner of a pharmaceutical site in Italy in ICC arbitration in relation to presence of asbestos at site (London seat).
    • Advising multiple developers and offtakers in relation to the civil and criminal issues arising the generator commissioning clause time limits under section 4 of the UK Electricity Act 1989.
    • Representing a South American state in ICC arbitration brought by an individual in relation to a forged settlement agreement (London seat).
    • Acting for the claimant in ICC arbitration proceedings in relation to the provision of satellite services (London seat).
    • Acting in an UNCITRAL arbitration in a dispute between two major oil companies concerning the operation of a sole risk clause in a joint operating agreement relating to a production block in South East Asia (London seat).
    • Acting for the claimant in ICC proceedings in relation to a contract for the drilling of oil wells onshore in Oman (Paris seat).
    • Acting for a subsidiary of a Middle Eastern State investment company in LCIA proceedings concerning a contract for the fabrication of a steam turbine and the corrupt procurement of that contract.
    • Acting for a BVI claimant in LCIA arbitration proceedings concerning the breach of a settlement agreement related to an oil and gas production block offshore Nigeria. These proceedings included the successful obtaining of an order staying proceedings brought in contravention of the arbitration agreement, as well as an interim order of over US$50 million in security for part of the amount in dispute.
    • Acting for a U.S. company in LCIA arbitration proceedings concerning access to proprietary waste coal to liquid fuel technology (London seat).
    • Acting for the claimant U.S. company in an ICC arbitration against a fund of a Middle Eastern state, in a dispute relating to an agreement for the exclusive exploitation of scrap metal stockpiles (Dubai seat).
    • Acting for the claimant in an ICC arbitration concerning a gas sales agreement in Pakistan (Singapore seat), including the supervision of defending challenge proceedings in both Pakistan and Singapore.
    • Acting for the claimant in ICC proceedings involving the failure to pay sums owing under a Drilling Rig Services Contract (Paris seat).
    • Acting for the respondent in a HKIAC arbitration concerning a contract for the drilling of hard minerals (Hong Kong seat).
    • Acting for the claimants in two UNCITRAL ad-hoc arbitrations (including defending challenge proceedings and subsequent disputed enforcement proceedings in the Indian courts) concerning profit sharing and taxation matters under a Product Sharing Contract against the Government of India (Kuala Lumpur seat).
    • Acting for the claimant consortium in an UNCITRAL ad-hoc arbitration under a Production Sharing Contract against the Government of India, concerning the recovery of certain construction and development costs (Kuala Lumpur seat).
    • Acting for a generic drug manufacturer in ten ad-hoc arbitrations against an insurance tower in a denial of coverage claim (London seat).
    • Representing a private equity fund in various interrelated DIAC arbitrations against a former management team who had taken confidential information. These actions also involved related proceedings in the UAE civil and criminal courts.
    • Representing a Russian claimant in LCIA London arbitration proceedings concerning the fraudulent sale of a dairy farm business, including related challenge proceedings in the English courts.
    • Acting for a private equity fund in an UNCITRAL arbitration brought in relation to breaches by Ecuador of its bilateral investment treaty with the US, concerning the seizure of two mobile power barges.

    Litigation

    • Representing an energy company claimant in English court proceedings concerning the provision of defective piping for installation in water injection wells offshore Africa.
    • Representing a suite of defendants in BVI court proceedings concerning allegations of unlawful diversion of funds.
    • Representing a sovereign state in enforcing a foreign seated arbitration award via the English courts.
    • Representing a private equity fund in DIFC Court proceedings (both first instance and Court of Appeal) against an individual who had corrupted the management team of one of its project companies.
    • Representing an oil and gas company in relation to fraud proceedings against a former employee (Scottish courts).
    • Defending two Brunei corporations in a claim before the English High Court relating to interests in hydrocarbon fields; this matter included a successful application on behalf of our clients under Section 9 of the Arbitration Act.
    • Defending a major Indian conglomeration in relation to proceedings for the seizure of an oil rig.
    • Defending accusations of corruption and bribery in relation to the obtaining of international services contracts in the former USSR.
    • Suing a Russian company in the English High Court for breach of guarantee obligations supporting a US$300 million loan.
    • Defending a US listed company against a Serious Fraud Office investigation related to violations of international sanctions and the Iraq ‘Oil for Food’ scandal.