Christian Leathley

Partner

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Christian represents corporations and sovereign states across all major industry sectors, and in particular energy (oil & gas, power), mining, engineering, technology, construction, sports and telecommunications. He heads the Latin America Group and co-heads the Public International Law team.

Christian is recognised as an accomplished advocate and regularly appears before international arbitral tribunals, such as the ICC, LCIA, ICSID, AAA (ICDR) and UNCITRAL. One source describes him as "very responsive, available and diligent," and another adds, "He is amazing in cross-examinations and orally in general. I’m really impressed with him." He has unique insight to evolving fields of international arbitration, such as his work for a Supermajor oil company in the defense of a sham ’arbitration’ for US$18 billion, and successfully prosecuting the first match fixing case in tennis before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Christian has particular knowledge of the practice of public international law, having successfully represented the Kingdom of Spain, Republic of Costa Rica and other sovereign states, as well as gaining experience at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), Washington, DC. He sits as Co-Chair of the firm’s Public International Law Group, with a focus on ESG – having advised multiple clients across the energy and mining sector in Latin America. Chambers Latin America notes that he "is held in high esteem by clients who note ’He’s obviously very used to the area and very knowledgeable, so he has a wealth of information at hand.’"  Legal 500 Latin America reports the ’business- and solution-oriented’.

Christian is recognised as Band 1 (US International Arbitration: Enforcement, International Arbitration: Counsel) and Band 2 (US and Latin America: International Arbitration) by Chambers and Partners and ranked as a "Leading Lawyer" by The Legal 500 (US and Latin America).

www.hsfkramer.com

Christian.Leathley@hsfkramer.com