Experience
  • Representing a prominent U.S. retail franchisor in a London-seated ICC arbitration concerning a franchisee agreement in the Middle East.
  • Representing a multinational energy company in an LCIA arbitration, sited in London, and related ad hoc adjudication proceedings concerning a contract dispute over operation and maintenance contracts.
  • Represented a shareholder in an LCIA arbitration, sited in London, concerning economic tort claims relating to assets located in numerous jurisdictions valued in excess of US$10 billion.
  • Represented a high net worth individual in an ICC arbitration seated in Singapore against a large multi-national company involving the termination of a joint-venture partnership.
  • Representing an Asia-Pacific energy company in an ad hoc arbitration, sited in New Zealand, concerning the construction of a significant energy-generating turbine.
  • Representing a high net worth individual in an ICC arbitration, sited in Switzerland, concerning a contested division of assets involving assets valued in excess of US$1 billion.
  • Representing a specialist chemicals company in an ICC arbitration, sited in London, relating to service agreements.
  • Acting in a landmark prosecution of corporate executives accused of complicity in war crimes.
  • Representing the defendants in a joint venture shareholder dispute, resolving the dispute at mediation following receipt of a favourable judgment from the High Court on various interlocutory applications.
  • Representing a defendant head contractor in a multi-party High Court litigation and multi-party mediation proceedings involving more than 20 parties concerning the watertightness of a large residential development, achieving a successful settlement.
  • Representing a defendant party in a high-stakes mediation over defects relating to a major commercial development, achieving a successful settlement.
  • Advising governments on reform of their arbitration legislation to bring it into alignment with the UNCITRAL Model Law and the New York Convention.
  • Advising the Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation on the drafting of its arbitration and mediation rules (shortlisted by Global Arbitration Review for the prestigious "Best Development" award).
  • Advising the Abu Dhabi International Arbitration Centre on the drafting of its arbitration rules and constitution (shortlisted by Global Arbitration Review for the prestigious "Best Development" award).
  • Recent matters serving as the tribunal secretary in cases under the SIAC, ICC and UNCITRAL Rules.
Bio

Michael Greenop represents corporates, investors, sovereign entities, and high-net-worth individuals in their most significant international disputes. He cuts through complexity quickly, identifying the core issues that move the dial and tailoring a strategy around them. Michael acts in international commercial and investment treaty arbitrations, cross-border litigation, and mediations concerning major investments, critical business operations, and substantial assets, often involving 'bet-the-company' disputes. Equally at home in each of these forums, he brings rigorous case development, powerful advocacy, and commercially intelligent judgment applied where it is most impactful.

Dual-qualified in England & Wales and New Zealand, Michael has experience across a broad range of disputes under all leading institutional and ad hoc arbitration rules. His practice spans Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas, and includes matters involving energy, telecommunications, infrastructure, shareholder and JV disputes. These disputes have involved strategic investments and billion-dollar assets valued in the billions of dollars. He has been recognised by industry sources for his coordination, strategic insight, and advocacy, and was shortlisted for Rising Star of the Year at the British Legal Awards.

Michael also advises governments and arbitral institutions on legislation reform and institutional rules, including in relation to the arbitration rules of arbitrateAD and the Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation, both of which received international recognition. This work provides him with a distinctive perspective on arbitral procedure and the strategic procedural tools available to advance clients' objectives.

Michael is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and an Advisory Board Member and Co-Chair of the Task Forces of the Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation. He also serves on the Court of the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration and has hosted Africa Arbitration Academy's Flagship Training Programme and taught arbitration programmes for practitioners in Africa and elsewhere. 

An Adjunct Professor of Comparative Law at Pepperdine University, Michael regularly speaks and publishes on public and private international law topics. He previously practised at leading international disputes firms in London and as an employed barrister in New Zealand, where he assisted one of the world's leading international arbitrators. 

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