Ben Sanderson FCIArb
About
Ben Sanderson FCIArb is an independent arbitrator and arbitration counsel based in Madrid and London. He has over 20 years’ experience of complex international commercial and investment treaty arbitrations working at leading global law firms (DLA Piper, Skadden and Kirkland & Ellis). He has advised clients across a range of sectors, notably energy and natural resources, construction and infrastructure, and technology and telecoms. He has particular expertise in disputes arising in Africa and Latin America.
Ben has represented both States and commercial parties in investment treaty claims, and he has advised international organisations on a range of public international law issues.
Ben is a member of ICC UK’s Arbitration and ADR Committee and he is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is also a visiting lecturer on international arbitration and public international law for the Masters programme at Universidad Carlos III, Madrid.
Ben is a UK national, and speaks English, French and Spanish.
Ben is qualified in England & Wales (2004).
Experience
Ben has acted as sole arbitrator in over ten arbitrations.
As counsel, Ben has conducted arbitrations subject to many different systems of law (common and civil law), both institutional and ad hoc, under various arbitral rules (including the LCIA, ICC, SCC, PCA, ICSID, and UNCITRAL).
Ben has a broad experience encompassing a wide range of sectors and geographies. He has a particular expertise in disputes arising in Africa and Latin America. Ben has handled disputes arising from many types of contracts, including sale purchase agreements, joint venture agreements, shareholder agreements, oil and mining concession agreements, exploration agreements, and sale of goods agreements.
Selected experience is set out below.
Commercial Arbitration
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Representing the Republic of Zambia in UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings relating to a multi-million dollar contract for the construction of housing
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Acting for a Singaporean energy company in ICC arbitration in respect of its rights under a fuel supply agreement with a Venezuelan state entity
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Representing a US supplier of gas turbine generators in relation to an ICC arbitration concerning various disputes arising under a supply agreement with a Kuwaiti company
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Advising a US company on enforcement of a multi-billion dollar ICC arbitration award against a Middle East State
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Representing a Russian investment company in LCIA arbitration and English High Court proceedings in respect of a shareholder dispute
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Representing a Taiwanese solar energy company in LCIA arbitration in relation to disputes arising under a supply agreement
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Representing a European affiliate of a US energy company in relation to an ad hoc arbitration concerning various disputes arising under a turn-key contract for the construction of a 1200 MW gas-fired power station in Spain
Public International Law
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Representing Lithuania in the successful defence of a USD 300 million claim brought by a Russian fund in connection with the renationalization of Bank Snoras AS (Fund for the Protection of Investors’ Rights in Foreign States v Lithuania, UNCITRAL, PCA Case No. 2019-48)
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Representing AVZ in ICSID proceedings relating to an investment in the mining sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo (AVZ International Pty Ltd., Dathcom Mining SA and Green Lithium Holdings Pte Ltd. v. Democratic Republic of the Congo, ICSID Case No. ARB/23/20)
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Representing claimants in ICSID proceedings relating to an investment in the real estate sector in Georgia (Basel LLC and Ronald Waldmann v. Georgia, ICSID Case No. ARB/23/23)
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Representing the Government of Kenya in the successful defence of a bilateral investment treaty claim brought under the auspices of ICSID by investors in the mining sector (Cortec v. Republic of Kenya, ICSID Case No. ARB 15/29)
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Representing Uganda in respect of threatened ICSID proceedings relating to an investment in the real estate sector
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Representing Hungary in ICSID proceedings relating to an investment in the waste management sector (Christopher Jock Murdoch Mackenzie v. Hungary, ICSID Case No. ARB/21/66)
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Representing Hungary in annulment proceedings relating to an ICSID award (Sodexo Pass International SAS v. Hungary, ICSID Case No. ARB/14/20)
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Representing INTERPOL in the successful defence of PCA arbitration proceedings relating to a public international law claim brought following the arrest in China of INTERPOL’s former President (Ge Gao, Hongwei Meng, Zihong Meng and Ziheng Meng (China) v INTERPOL, PCA Case No. 2019-19)
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Representing UNHCR in threatened UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings relating to a USD 60 million dispute with a supplier of services in Uganda
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Representing a UK services company in a bilateral investment treaty claim against the Republic of Argentina, involving complex assignment issues (ICS Inspection and Control Services Limited (United Kingdom) v. Republic of Argentina, UNCITRAL, PCA Case No. 2010-9)
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Representing an African government in the defence of a bilateral investment treaty claim (UNCITRAL) brought by investors in the mining sector
Recognition
Ben is ranked in all the major directories and has received the following client feedback:
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Chambers Global and UK 2025: International Arbitration – ranked in Band 6: “Ben is an excellent lawyer. He is a capable advocate and has strong technical skills in international arbitration. He is also very collegial and friendly.” “Ben is an excellent strategic thinker and all-round solid arbitration lawyer.” “Ben has very good judgement, is focused on the case and maintains excellent client relations.”
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Legal 500 Spain - Dispute Resolution 2023 – ranked as a Rising Star: “Ben Sanderson is easy to communicate with, very responsive, provides clear answers, thinks ahead, has deep knowledge about investment arbitration and gives a sense of confidence.” “Ben Sanderson is always available, has invaluable insights into problems and invariably provides the correct answer. He possesses all the necessary qualities that an in-house lawyer needs and expects.”
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Legal 500 UK Public International Law and International Arbitration 2023: “Ben Sanderson sees the big picture, is pragmatic in his advice, and systematic in driving contentious matters to the best possible conclusions. Extremely sharp and experienced, he displays a very strong capacity to analyse complex matters quickly.”
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Who’s Who Legal Arbitration – Future Leaders 2023: “He is a seasoned international arbitration specialist who is particularly good at distilling complex disputes and quickly getting to the heart of the matter.”
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Global Arbitration Review, GAR 30 2022: “Ben Sanderson has great problem-solving creativity and is very personable and always available to assist.”