Nadia Darwazeh

Nadia Darwazeh is a Partner at Vanguard International Dispute Resolution. She has over 25 years of experience acting as counsel in commercial and investor-state arbitrations. She also regularly sits as arbitrator.

Nadia’s experience spans the commercial spectrum and she regularly represents clients in complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes arising in sectors including construction, financial services, healthcare, telecoms, hospitality, commodities, energy, natural resources and luxury. She regularly handles disputes arising out of M&A transactions, joint-venture, shareholder, supply and distribution agreements, as well as investment treaties. Nadia has particular expertise of disputes in Europe, China, francophone Africa, India and the Middle East.

Prior to joining Vanguard, Nadia worked for leading international law firms based in London, Paris, Frankfurt and Shanghai.

Nadia also previously led the Europe, Middle East, Africa team at the Secretariat of the International Court of Arbitration (ICC) for a period of three years. During this time, she oversaw more than 400 arbitrations, and her ICC insider know-how provides Nadia’s clients with a strategic advantage for winning their cases.

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Selected experience as counsel

• Representing a South American state-owned entity in an LCIA administered UNCITRAL arbitration against an oil company in a dispute arising out of concession agreements for exploration, development and production in the oil and gas sector.
• Representing a Senegalese company in an ICC arbitration against a French construction company over an infrastructure project.
• Representing a European government in an ICC arbitration against various European and US entities of an international company arising out of a concession agreement in the healthcare sector.
• Representing a Chinese company in two ICC arbitrations against entities of an Australian mining company relating to the sale of shares in a mining project in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Representing a French infrastructure company in an ICC arbitration against an Austrian insurer over an incident on a maintenance train.
• Representing an Eastern European state in an SCC arbitration against a chemical company in a dispute under the Energy Charter Treaty arising out of awards issued under natural gas supply contracts.
• Representing a Jordanian company in an ICC arbitration against an Italian company arising out of a commercial agreement in the commodities sector.
• Representing a French construction company in an ICC mediation against a French project company arising out of an engineering, procurement, construction and installation contract for a floating wind farm in Europe.
• Representing an international commodities company in an ICC mediation and arbitration against a European steel company arising out of the termination of a supply agreement.
• Representing an international commodities company in an ICC arbitration against an international conglomerate over an M&A transaction for the sale of an aluminium company.
• Representing a sub-Saharan African State in two PCA administered UNCITRAL arbitrations against European contractors arising out of the construction of two different roads on the African continent.
• Representing an African government in an ICSID arbitration over the alleged expropriation of an online platform to help fund community projects.
• Representing a French speciality chemicals company in an ICC arbitration against an international conglomerate relating to an M&A transaction for the sale of one of its vinyl businesses.
• Representing an African government in an ICSID arbitration and ICSID annulment proceedings arising out of the restructuring of a commercial bank.
• Representing an Eastern European state-owned electricity company in an ICC arbitration against a European contractor arising out of the refurbishment of a hydropower plant.
• Representing a south-east Asian State-owned company in an ICC arbitration against a European contractor arising out of the construction of electricity transmission lines.
• Representing an Eastern European state-owned electricity company in an ICC arbitration against a European contractor arising out of the construction of a thermal power plant.
• Representing an Asian multinational in a DIAC arbitration against a French company arising out of the supply of steel.
• Representing a Palestinian company in an ICC arbitration against a German company arising out of a construction contract for a sewage system in Palestine.
• Representing a West-African company in an OHADA arbitration against a financial institution relating to bank guarantees.
• Representing a Libyan company in an ICC arbitration against a German contractor arising out of a design services agreement for the construction of a tower in Tripoli.
• Representing a member of a Turkish construction joint-venture in an ICC arbitration against a Turkish development company arising out of the construction of a shopping complex.
• Representing a German company in a SIAC arbitration against a Middle-Eastern company over a joint-venture dispute in the renewable energy sector.
• Representing a US entertainment company in a SIAC arbitration against a Chinese company related to a distribution and franchise arrangement.
• Representing a US multinational in a HKIAC arbitration against a Chinese company arising out of an M&A transaction for the sale of technology company.
• Representing a US pharmaceutical company in a DIS arbitration against a German licensor arising out of a pharmaceutical licensing and distribution agreement.
• Representing a multinational in an UNCITRAL arbitration against Chinese engineering companies arising out of the acquisition of a business for the automation of engineering projects in the energy sector.
• Representing a US multinational in an ICC arbitration against transportation company arising out of an alleged breach of obligations under a sale and purchase agreement further to a complex M&A transaction.
• Representing US chemical manufacturer in an ICC construction arbitration against an international engineering company arising out of an engineering, procurement and construction contract for a chemical production plant.
• Representing South-Asian sovereign entity in an ICC arbitration against a European construction consortium arising out of the construction of a hydroelectric dam.
• Representing a Canadian engineering company in an ICC arbitration against an Indian state-owned owned fossil fuels company over an engineering and equipment contract concerning a coal mine.
• Representing a German defence company in a locally administered arbitration against an Eastern European state-owned entity arising out of the development of software for telecommunication equipment.
• Representing an international cosmetics company in an LCIA arbitration against a Middle-Eastern company arising out of the distribution of personal hygiene products.
• Representing an Italian company in an ad hoc arbitration against an international supplier and technology licensor for hydrocarbon production arising out of a separation technology agreement.

Selected experience in arbitration-related court proceedings

• Representing an African state-owned company against an Indian construction company in set-aside proceedings before the French Courts (Paris Court of Appeal and French Supreme Court).
• Representing an East-Asian commodities company against a Chinese construction company in set-aside proceedings before the French Courts.
• Representing a Spanish natural resources company in enforcement proceedings in North Africa.
• Representing a French speciality chemicals company in enforcement proceedings in Europe.

Selected experience as arbitrator

• President of the Tribunal in an ICC arbitration arising out of a supply agreement in the metallurgy sector.
• ICC Emergency Arbitrator in a dispute arising out of a mining project in sub-Saharan Africa.
• President of the Tribunal in an ad hoc arbitration in the cryptocurrency sector.
• President of the Tribunal in an ICC arbitration arising out of an offshore oil and gas project in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration arising out of a consultancy services agreement.
• Sole Arbitrator in a Swiss Arbitration arising out of a distribution agreement in the luxury goods sector in Asia.
• President of the Tribunal in an ICC arbitration arising out of the construction of a road in North Africa.
• Co-arbitrator in an ad hoc arbitration in the entertainment sector in Europe.
• Co-arbitrator in an ICC dispute relating to a distribution agreement for medical equipment in the Middle-East.
• President of the Tribunal in a CEPANI arbitration arising out of a share purchase agreement in the financial sector.
• Co-arbitrator in two ICC disputes relating to the supply of oil and gas products in Africa.
• Sole arbitrator in an ICC dispute arising out of the sale of petrochemicals involving a party in liquidation.
• President of the Tribunal in an ICC arbitration relating to the acquisition of a telecoms company in Africa.
• Sole Arbitrator in an LCIA arbitration arising out of a loan agreement.
• President of the Tribunal in an ICC dispute relating to the distribution of foodstuffs in the Middle East.
• President of the Tribunal in a DIAC dispute relating to the distribution of pharmaceuticals in Africa.
• Sole Arbitrator in an ICC arbitration arising out of a distribution agreement in the pharmaceuticals sector.
• President of the Tribunal in a post-M&A ICC arbitration in the financial sector in Europe.
• President of the Tribunal in an ICC arbitration arising out of a license and supply agreement in the pharmaceuticals sector in Europe.
• Sole Arbitrator in an LCIA dispute relating to the construction of a methanol fuel plant in Europe.
• Sole Arbitrator in a DIA arbitration arising out of an agreement between a charitable organisation and a government ministry.
• President in a LMAA dispute relating to the sale of an oil tanker vessel in Africa.
• Sole arbitrator in an ICC dispute arising out of the sale of speciality chemicals in China.
• Sole Arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in the innovation sector.
• Sole-arbitrator in an ad hoc arbitration in the real-estate sector in Africa.
• Sole Arbitrator in an LCIA arbitration arising out of a loan agreement.

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• University of Cambridge | LLM in International Public Law | 1996
• University of Warwick | LLB | 1995
• National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) | Depositions Skills Intensive Training Course | 2002

• Nadia was awarded the ASA Prize for Advocacy in International Commercial Arbitration in 2022. This prize is awarded every two years to one chosen individual who demonstrates “exceptional talents in advocacy”.
• Nadia is highly ranked by Chambers & Partners for both her work as counsel and as arbitrator.
• Nadia is ranked for Arbitration and Mediation by Best Lawyers France^TM
• Clients have described Nadia as “a superstar” (Lexology), “innovative, pragmatic and a true leader”, “a real strategist” and “a very strong cross-examiner” (Chambers & Partners), praising her “outstanding legal analysis and ICC expertise” (Legal 500) and that “she is extremely articulate, clear and compelling in her arguments” (Lexology).

• Member of the Board of Directors of Francarbi
• Member of the ICC Taskforce on Addressing Issues of Corruption in International Arbitration
• Member of the Swiss Arbitration Association
• Member of ICC France
• Former member for Germany of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR
• Former Treasurer for the Arbitration Academy
• Former Co-President of the UIA Commission on the Future of the Lawyer
• Former member of the DIS Appointing Authority