Derains & Gharavi has extensive experience in Caucasia and Central Asia, reinforced by its Iranian and Turkish practice and desks.
The firm and its partners have acted in a large number of arbitrations as non-exhaustively listed below (For full list see the CVs of Yves Derains and Hamid Gharavi):
- Successfully represented as lead counsel US investors, Caratube International Oil Company LLP and Mr. Devincci Salah Hourani, in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Kazakhstan relating to the expropriation of an oil concession that led to a favorable Award for over 50 million USD including interest against Kazakhstan on September 27, 2017 (ICSID Case No. ARB/13/13);
- Successfully represented as lead counsel a British publicly-listed company, Oxus Gold plc, against the Republic of Uzbekistan in an UNCITRAL arbitration initiated under a bilateral investment treaty in relation to an investment in the mining industry that led to a favorable Award on jurisdiction, liability and damages against Uzbekistan on December 17, 2015;
- Successfully represented as lead counsel two Turkish-State controlled companies, Rumeli Telekom and Telsim Mobil, against the Republic of Kazakhstan in an ICSID arbitration initiated under a bilateral investment treaty for expropriation of their investments in the telecommunication industry that led to a favorable Award for 175 million USD, including interest, against Kazakhstan on July 29, 2008 and in the annulment proceedings that were ultimately dismissed by decision dated March 25, 2010 (ICSID Case No. ARB/05/16);
- Successfully represented as lead counsel two Turkish companies, Aktau Petrol Ticaret and Som Petrol Ticaret, against the Republic of Kazakhstan in an ICSID arbitration initiated under a bilateral investment treaty in relation to an unlawful expropriation of their investments in the oil transshipment industry that led to a favorable Award for 30 million USD, including interest, against Kazakhstan on November 13, 2017 (ICSID Case No. ARB/15/8);
- President of the Tribunal in a SIAC arbitration under Georgian law between two Eastern European companies regarding the alleged wrongful termination of a construction contract in relation to a water supply and sewer project in Georgia (SIAC Case No. ARB244/22/VKH) [Hamid Gharavi];
- President of the Tribunal in a TRAC arbitration between an Iranian company and a Turkish company arising out of a consultancy agreement in relation to a construction project in Central Asia (TRAC Case No. 109/2) [Hamid Gharavi];
- Sole Arbitrator in an ICC arbitration involving an Emirati company, an Azeri company and an Austrian company for alleged breaches of a contract for the construction of a hotel (ICC Case No. 19266/GFG/FS) [Hamid Gharavi]; and
- Co-Arbitrator in an ICSID arbitration against Georgia regarding the acquisition of shares in the transportation industry (Mirian G. Dekanoidze and Turkmenistan Georgia Trade LLC v. Georgia, ICSID Case No. ARB/23/45) [Hamid Gharavi].