Steven Finizio

• Represented companies in Europe and Asia in a significant body of price revision disputes involving long-term gas and LNG supply contracts, including numerous arbitrations under the ICC, SCC, LCIA, UNCITRAL and ad hoc rules and in expert determinations, seated in New York, Stockholm, London, Vienna, and Switzerland.
• Represented a European telecommunications company in multiple multi-party ICC arbitrations relating to shareholder rights in a joint venture, seated in Paris.
• Represented a U.S. investor in an ICSID arbitration against a Latin American state relating to a refinery project.
• Advised a Middle Eastern government entity in an ICC arbitration relating to a concession agreement for a power plant, seated in London.

Energy & Infrastructure

• Represented an Asian engineering and construction company in a SIAC arbitration relating to the construction of an oil refinery, seated in Singapore.
• Represented a European energy company in consolidated ad hoc arbitrations under the UNCITRAL rules concerning the interpretation of a gas sales and purchase agreement and requested price revisions, seated in New York.
• Advised a Middle Eastern government entity in an ICC arbitration relating to a concession agreement for a power plant, seated in London.
• Represented a multinational clean energy company in multiple ICC and ad hoc arbitrations against an Indian company relating to wind power projects in India, seated in London and New Delhi.
• Represented a U.S. energy company in an LCIA arbitration relating to an offshore project in Nigeria, seated in London.
• Represented a European energy company in an UNCITRAL arbitration relating to a revenue sharing agreement in an LNG supply contract, seated in New York.
• Represented a U.S. renewables company in an emergency arbitration and an ICC arbitration relating to an EPC contract for a solar project in Angola, seated in New York.
• Represented a number of clients in matters involving U.S. and UK energy and oil field services companies in ICC arbitrations relating to claims of illegality with regard to a services agreement in a number of African countries, all seated in London.
• Represented an African construction company in an LCIA arbitration with an Asian company relating to an infrastructure project in Nigeria, seated in London.
• Represented three multinational energy companies in an expert determination and related proceedings relating to a gas purchase and sales agreement with a state-owned gas company in Asia, seated in Washington, D.C.

Corporate & Commercial Disputes

• Represented a European telecommunications company in a VIAC arbitration relating to shareholders’ rights, seated in Austria.
• Represented a U.S. financial services company in an ICC arbitration relating to the sale and purchase of an insurance company, seated in Paris.
• Represented a European telecommunications company in an ICC arbitration concerning shareholder and ownerships rights, seated in Geneva.
• Represented a European manufacturing company in a DIS arbitration, seated in Zurich, relating to a share and purchase agreement concerning manufacturing facilities in China.
• Represented a multinational computer company in an HKIAC arbitration relating to a purchase agreement and technology transfers, seated in Hong Kong.
• Represented a Japanese manufacturing company in an ICC arbitration against a Korean company, seated in New York.
• Represented a Middle Eastern healthcare company in an ICC arbitration relating to a technology licensing agreement, seated in London.
• Represented an international electronics company in an ICC arbitration relating to an IP licensing agreement, seated in Zurich.
• Represented a global financial services company in two ICC arbitrations, seated in London, relating to franchise agreement disputes.
• Represented U.S. and UK financial services companies in an LCIA arbitration relating to a services agreement and a fraud, seated in London.
• Represented a European telecommunications company relating to disputes concerning services contracts subject to DIS arbitration, seated in Germany.
• Represented a European telecommunications services company in an ICC arbitration against a Swiss customer, seated in Zurich.
• Represented a Turkish claimant in an ICC arbitration relating to a loan agreement, including claims of fraud, seated in London.
• Represented a German company in an ICC arbitration relating to a joint venture agreement, seated in Geneva.
• Represented Indian investors in multiple UNCITRAL arbitrations relating to franchise agreements.
• Represented an Asian pharmaceutical company in several disputes relating to supply contracts governed by English law under the FOSFA arbitration rules, seated in London.
• Represented a claimant in multiple LMAA arbitrations relating to the transfer of ownership of a number of ships, seated in London.

Investor–State Arbitration

• Represented a European construction company in an ICSID arbitration against a Middle Eastern state.
• Represented several investors in financial services companies and a real estate project in an investment treaty claim against a Central European state.
• Represented Asian investors in a manufacturing company in an ad hoc investment treaty arbitration against an Eastern European state.
• Represented a UK agribusiness in an investment treaty claim against an East African state.
• Represented an Eastern European manufacturing company in an investment treaty claim against an Eastern European state.

Freedom of Expression

• Khadija Ismayilova v. Azerbaijan, European Court of Human Rights, Applications Nos. 65286/13 and 57270/14, Judgment, 10 January 2019
• Magyar Jeti Zrt v. Hungary, European Court of Human Rights, Application No. 11257/16, Judgment, 4 December 2018. Voted the “best judgment” of 2018 by Strasbourg Observers https://strasbourgobservers.com/2019/02/25/the-best-and-worst-ecthr-judgments-of-2018-are/
• Issa Loha Konaté v Burkina Faso, African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, App. No. 004/2013, Judgment on Merits, 5 December 2014, and Ruling on Reparations, 3 June 2016. Landmark decision in the first freedom of expression case in the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The legal team won the 2015 Columbia University Global Freedom of Expression Prize for Excellence in Legal Services

Steven Finizio helps clients resolve high-stakes international disputes, including arbitration, investment treaty claims, and related proceedings across multiple jurisdictions. He advises on complex cross-border disputes arising from investments, joint ventures, and commercial arrangements, including public international law and treaty-based disputes involving sovereign states and state-owned entities, helping clients manage legal risk and protect commercial outcomes. 

Steven advises businesses and investors on resolving complex disputes, contractual breakdowns, regulatory challenges and geopolitical risk while protecting commercial objectives. He represents clients in a range of proceedings, including arbitrations, expert determinations and mediation, often involving parallel proceedings and competing stakeholder interests.

Across sectors, including energy, infrastructure, financial services, telecommunications and manufacturing, Steven advises clients under major arbitral rules and in disputes governed by laws across Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and the United States, as well as under bilateral and regional investment treaties.

He regularly acts in disputes arising from energy and infrastructure contracts, M&A transactions, long-term supply contracts, shareholder arrangements and technology licensing requiring coordinated strategies across multiple proceedings and stakeholders. He also acts as arbitrator, including as presiding, sole and party-appointed arbitrator under institutional and ad hoc rules.

A significant part of Steven’s practice involves public international law, treaty-based disputes, and matters involving state-linked entities, including expropriation, changes in law and contractual disruption --- often where legal, political and commercial considerations intersect. He has represented clients before international courts, including the European Court of Human Rights, and contributed to arbitration frameworks, including advising a Central European government on drafting new arbitration legislation. Steven was part of the team that won a landmark decision in the first freedom of expression case in the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Steven is active across leading arbitration institutions and academic forums, with roles at arbitral institutions and senior academic appointments, as well as editorial, teaching, and speaking engagements reflecting his contribution to the development of international arbitration.