Juliet Blanch is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP, based in its London office. She is Head of the International Dispute Avoidance and Resolution Practice Group, where she represents clients across a range of industry sectors (including the energy sector). The disputes in which she has acted have brought her before institutional and ad hoc tribunals in a number of jurisdictions and involved a variety of governing laws.
Juliet is:
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Director of the London court of International Arbitration
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Vice Chair of the Dispute Resolution Committee of the Inter Pacific Bar Association
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Treasurer of the London branch of the European Court of International Arbitration
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Vice President of the oil and gas section of the Arbitration Club
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Member of the energy Charter Treaty Legal Action Task Force
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An accredited CEDR mediator
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Registered arbitrator with OHADA
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Appointed to the advisory board of the Foreign Direct Investment International Moot Competition
Juliet is a contributor to various legal journals and has co-authored a chapter on the New York convention and UNCITRAL Arbitration for Arbitration International. Juliet regularly accepts appointment as an arbitrator.
Juliet has wide experience in both domestic and international arbitrations, in particular relating to the energy sector (including joint operating agreements, oil field concessions, trading agreements and crude oil sale contracts), commodities (both exploration, production and trading), international trade, joint venture and cross-border disputes; has acted for oil, metal and other commodity traders, oil majors (in both up and downstream disputes), banks and corporations in many multi-million dollar disputes; has conducted arbitrations as lead advocate before a number of institutions, including LCIA, ICC, SCC, UNICITRAL, ICSID and LMAA under a number of different laws, and has also been involved in a number of ad hoc arbitrations in a wide variety of jurisdictions.
Juliet is recognised as a leader in her field by Chambers ("her enthusiasm, dedication and magnificent reputation have been a considerable factor in winning instructions on big ticket arbitrations," "unusual mix of commercial appreciation, technical ability and personable nature"), Legal 500 (“very responsive and dedicated”), and was featured in Global Arbitration Review’s 45 leaders under 45.
Representative Experience
- Lead Counsel advising a major energy company in an Energy Charter Treaty claim at the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (“ICSID”) against an Eastern European state subject to the laws of that country
- Lead Counsel advising a Middle East investor in relation to a potential ICSID and Energy Charter Treaty claim against the Government of Georgia
- Lead Counsel advising the Government of Georgia in an ICSID arbitration, subject to Georgian law, commenced by a consortium of international construction and project finance companies in relation to the construction and operation of a hydro power station
- Lead Counsel for an Eastern European Government owned energy company in respect of a shareholders dispute subject to UNCITRAL arbitration, seat Stockholm
- Lead Counsel for a major international diamond corporation in relation to an UNCITRAL arbitration in Stockholm subject to Russian and English law relating to a dispute as to exploration rights in Russia
- Lead Counsel advising an oil major in a LCIA arbitration in London and subject to English law in relation to disputes arising under a partnership agreement
- Advising the Russian Federation in relation to a potential LCIA arbitration in London subject to Russian law with regard to a public international law dispute with the Government of the Ukraine
- Lead Counsel advising a North American corporation in an LCIA arbitration (London seat) against a major European corporation with respect to the supply of equipment and technology subject to English law
- Lead Counsel advising a company incorporated in Bermuda in an LCIA arbitration (London seat) relating to a dispute governed by the laws of UAE
- Lead Counsel advising an Indian telecommunications company against a North American public company in respect of an ICC arbitration (London seat), subject to New York state law
- Lead Counsel advising a Turkish financial entity against a Scandinavian telecommunications company in an LCIA arbitration (Geneva seat)
- Lead Counsel advising a contractor on a delay and disruption claim in an LCIA arbitration (London seat) subject to Libyan and French law
- Lead Counsel advising a copper mining company in an LCIA arbitration (London seat) in relation to a joint venture dispute subject to Eastern European law and advising on related state court litigation in Eastern Europe
- Lead Counsel advising an International Consultancy in a multi-million dollar ICC arbitration (London seat) involving matters of Bulgarian law
- Lead Counsel advising a multi-national oil company in an LCIA arbitration (London seat) subject to Kazakh law. Additionally advising on related litigation in the Kazakh courts
- Lead Counsel advising an International Financial Institution in an UNCITRAL arbitration (London seat) subject to Czech law.
- Lead Counsel advising a Canadian listed commodities company in respect of a joint venture dispute in a Stockholm seat arbitration
- Lead Counsel advising lenders in relation to an LCIA arbitration (London seat) against foreign state entities under various power purchase and fuel supply agreements
- Advising the majority shareholders of a BVI listed company in relation to a shareholder dispute in the BVI courts and in the Privy Council in London
Education
- College of Law, Guildford
- Exeter University
