Samaa A. Haridi

• Representing Canadian and Lebanese investors in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Armenia, in connection with the expropriation of waste management contracts in the country's capital.
• Representing a leading China-based conglomerate and its affiliates in an AAA-ICDR arbitration under Delaware law (San Francisco seat) brought by former business partners in relation to a failed U.S.-based online travel agency.
• Representing a Spanish contractor in a Paris-based ICC arbitration under Greek law involving the upgrade of an oil refinery in Greece.
• Representing a large Japanese telecommunications company an ICC arbitration under English law with a voice termination services provider involving alleged breaches of an international voice service agreement.
• Representing a French disposable consumer products manufacturer in a SIAC arbitration under Indian law against an Indian former joint venture partner in relation to the French company's failed investment in India.
• Representing a French car maker in a dispute governed by California law against a film production company in relation to the placement of the car's brand and logo in a major motion picture.
• Representing an Emirati hospitality company against a Mexican construction company in an UNCITRAL arbitration governed by Mexican law and administered by the PCA, in relation to allegations of delay in the construction of a hotel in Mexico.
• Representing a Hungarian energy company in an UNCITRAL arbitration administered by the PCA, in relation to allegations of corruption and related efforts to terminate agreements to acquire shares of a large energy company in Croatia.
• Advising the National Investment Commission of the Government of Liberia in relation to a dispute arising out of a Concession Agreement for the rehabilitation and management of the Freeport of Monrovia.
• Advising U.S. investors in a potential ICSID arbitration against the Kingdom of Morocco in connection with the expropriation of a waste management contract.
• Representing a U.S. retailer in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration under Saudi and Yemeni laws involving allegations of unlawful termination of a distribution relationship in Yemen. Representation involves securing favorable interim relief remedies before the DIFC Courts in Dubai.
• Representing a Canadian construction company in an UNCITRAL construction arbitration under Saudi law, involving allegations of delay in the performance of a project.
• Representing Hungary in an ICSID arbitration under the Hungary-Portugal BIT in relation to the bankruptcy of the investor.
• Representing a Polish chemical manufacturer in a London-based ICC arbitration under New York law relating to the termination of a supply agreement.
• Representing a Hungarian energy company in an ICSID arbitration under the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) involving the company's investments in Croatia.
• Advising an American investor in an ICSID arbitration against the government of Egypt under the U.S.-Egypt bilateral investment treaty.
• Representing a hotel management company in a London-based ICC arbitration under the laws of the United Arab Emirates relating to a hotel in the UAE.
• Representing a large international organization in an ad hoc arbitration under the UNCITRAL rules involving allegations of breach of contract by one of its global vendors.
• Representing a hotel management company in a Paris-based ICC arbitration relating to a hospitality project in Lebanon under the laws of Lebanon.
• Representing a Malaysian joint venture in a dispute under the LCIA arbitration rules related to the supply of equipment to an offshore oil platform in Qatar.
• Representing a Djiboutian company in ICDR arbitration proceedings governed by Texas law against a U.S. government contractor for breach of contract for the performance of personnel recruitment and management at a U.S. Navy base in Djibouti.
• Representing an American aerospace, arms, defense and technology corporation in a dispute with a Western Asian government’s military, involving the manufacture and supply of helicopters.
• Representing an American multinational aerospace and defense technology company in an ICC dispute against the Armed Forces of a Middle Eastern government, involving the supply of helicopter acoustic warning technology.
• Representing a large international organization in an international commercial arbitration pursuant to the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules involving a contractual dispute with an aircraft vendor servicing the international organization in South Sudan.
• Advising an American multinational aerospace and defense technology company regarding its obligations and remedies for delivery of aircraft fuselage parts to a European aircraft manufacturer.
• Acting as Emergency Arbitrator in an AAA/ICDR dispute (New York law, New York seat) between a Swiss electromechanical repair and consulting company operating in the aviation industry, and a US developer of Brain Fingerprinting technology relating to allegations of fraudulent inducement and IP right violations in connection with a partnership agreement between the parties.

Samaa Haridi is a civil and common law-trained, trilingual lawyer with over 20 years of experience representing clients from all over the world in international commercial and investment arbitration, under the rules of all major arbitral institutions.

Samaa has been singled out by clients for being “spectacular”, “outstanding,” “energetic and determined,” a “magnificent lawyer,” and “really, really phenomenal” (Chambers USA). Sources also acknowledge her as being a “first-class arbitration lawyer; one of the best in the region” (Who’s Who Legal) and a “global leader” whose “reputation is sky rocketing” (Who’s Who Legal). She is one of fifteen international arbitration practitioners in North America singled out by Who’s Who Legal as a Global Elite Thought Leader – Arbitration.

In addition to her work as counsel, Samaa frequently sits as an arbitrator in international commercial and investment disputes. She is also currently serving as an officer in a number of arbitral organizations, including as Vice President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, past Senior Co-Chair of the Arbitration Committee of the International Bar Association, and a member of ICCA’s Governing Board.

Samaa is a member of the New York, California, and England & Wales bars. She is fluent in French and Arabic, and conversant in Spanish.

Publications:

• “Force Majeure and Unforeseen Events in the Middle East and North Africa.”  MENA Leading Arbitrators’ Guide to International Arbitration, JURIS (2023)
• “Security for Costs and Claims in International Arbitration.” Provisional and Emergency Measures in International Arbitration, Edward Elgar Publishing (2023)
•  “Arbitration as a Key Tool for Businesses in the MENA Region.” African Business (2023)
• “COVID-19 and Energy Disputes.” International Arbitration and the COVID-19 Revolution, Kluwer Law International (2020)
• “Security for Costs and Claim Under the ICC Rules of Arbitration: Rare but Possible.” ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin (2020)
• Chapter Publication, “The Agreement on Promotion, Protection and Guarantee of Investments Among Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC),” World Arbitration Reporter (2019)
• Chapter Publication, “Article 26 of the Convention on The Settlement of Investment Disputes Between States and Nationals of Other States,” published in The ICSID Convention, Regulation and Rules – A Practical Commentary, Edward Elgar Publishing (2019)
• Chapter Publication “Enforcement of ICSID Awards” published in International Arbitration in the United States, Wolter’s Kluwer (2017)
• “Public Policy: Can the Unruly Horse be Tamed?” The International Journal of Arbitration, Mediation, and Dispute Management (2017)
• “Using New York Fora to Enforce Judgments After Motorola Credit Corp. v. Standard Chartered Bank and Daimler AG v. Bauman.” New York Dispute Resolution Lawyer (2016)
• “Towards Greater Gender and Ethnic Diversity in International Arbitration.” International Arbitration Review of the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (2016)
• “The Public Policy Exception Under the New York Convention: The Unruly Arabian Horse in the Middle East Region.” Transnational Dispute Management (2015)
• “New York Courts Revisit the Balance Between Debtors and Creditors in Enforcement Proceedings.” International Bar Association Arbitration News (2014)