Michael Lee

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Michael Lee is a specialist arbitrator and practising barrister. Before joining the English Bar he was a solicitor and a partner in a major international law firm, Norton Rose, where he managed the Paris office and the firm’s international arbitration group. He has had over thirty years experience practising commercial litigation in the English High Court and international arbitration, as well as co-ordinating and overseeing overseas litigation. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a CEDR accredited mediator.

Michael Lee has a wide ranging practice as an international arbitrator having served as a member of the tribunal in over 70 international arbitrations administered under the rules of various international arbitration institutions, including the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), American Arbitration Association (AAA) and Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), as well as ad hoc arbitrations and those under UNCITRAL Rules. Arbitrations in which he has been appointed have included disputes in the fields of energy supply, oil and gas, agency, joint ventures, expropriation, and engineering, as well as finance and banking, involving a variety of national laws and jurisdictions.He is on the panel of international arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association (ICDR), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC),the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), the Beijing Arbitration Commission, the Kuala Lumpur Regional centre for Arbitration (KLRCA) and the Indian Council of Arbitration and is also on the panel of experts of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre.

Michael Lee also has experience of mediation, having acted as mediator or co-mediator in several mediations. He has also acted as counsel or legal adviser in numerous arbitrations under institutional rules, including ICC, LCIA, Stockholm Chamber of Commerce and trade association rules as well as ad hoc arbitrations in the general commercial, banking, insurance and commodities fields.

He was formerly the UK member on the ICC Court of International Arbitration, and is a member of the ICC Commission on International Arbitration. He is also a member of the International Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Michael has written and edited various publications on international arbitration matters. He was co-editor of the IBA publication "Obtaining Evidence in Another Jurisdiction in Business Disputes" and has also spoken on arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution at various conferences and workshops including those organized by the International Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Paris Bar and the ICC.

Appointments: 

  • Supply of power equipment from Germany to India (ICC Rules - party appointment).
  • Supply of equipment for cement factory from Scandanavia to China (UNCITRAL Rules - chairman).
  • Technology development agreement between Israeli and German parties (ICC Rules - chairman).
  • Provision of banking margin facilities (Eastern Europe) (LCIA - sole arbitrator).
  • Satellite television distribution agreement (Far/Middle East) (UNCITRAL Rules - party appointment).
  • Commodity sales agreement (Russia/Switzerland) (ICC Rules - chairman).
  • Tax treatment of payments under Oil and Gas Joint Venture (Caribbean) (AAA International Rules - party appointment).
  • Joint Venture agreement (Eastern European) (UNCITRAL - party appointment).
  • Waste water exploitation agreement (US/Canada) (AAA International Rules - sole arbitrator).
  • Electricity generating agreements (S America/US UNCITRAL Rules - party appointment).
  • Alleged expropriation by Middle Eastern State (ICSID - party appointment).
  • Power Station O & M agreement (SIAC Rules -Chair).

Quotes: 

Chambers and Partners 2010: "Specialist arbitrator Michael Lee regularly serves on tribunals under LCIA, ICC and UNCITRAL rules, particularly those in the energy and technology sectors. He is a fine choice in the arbitration field".

Chambers and Partners 2009: "Highly commercial and quick to grapple with complex issues, Michael Lee was noted by commentators for producing prompt and well-reasoned awards."

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