Biography
Professor of Private Law at the Sorbonne Law School
University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
Former Interim President
University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
Honorary Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science
University of Versailles (Paris Saclay)
Professor of Private Law at the Sorbonne Law School
University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
Former Interim President
University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
Honorary Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science
University of Versailles (Paris Saclay)
Officier des Palmes académiques
Avocat à la cour and Member of the Paris Bar
Visiting Professor at Columbia Law School
Professor Thomas Clay is one of the most prominent figures in arbitration. He is a full professor at the Sorbonne Law School (University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne) and a founding partner and managing partner of the firm. He has participated in more than 150 arbitration proceedings and regularly appears in prestigious rankings, where he is described as "a great arbitrator, " "a key figure in the market, " "certainly among the best," and "always at the forefront of the latest developments in arbitration."
Professor Clay is a leading intellectual figure in the field of international arbitration and occupies a prominent position in the French legal landscape. He has published more than 10 books and 180 articles on international arbitration and has also given more than 150 lectures, mainly abroad. He was closely involved in drafting the 2011 decree reforming French arbitration law and co-chaired, with François Ancel, Counsel to the Court of Cassation, the working group convened by the Ministry of Justice to present a new draft reform of French arbitration law.
Professor Clay works in French, English, Spanish, and Italian.
EXPERIENCE
XX Representative Cases
Advising an African state against a Swiss company in ICC arbitration proceedings valued at USD 47,751,400, sitting in Brussels, concerning a disputed transaction involving the sale of shares in a bank to the state.
Burkina Faso Council of State against a consortium of private companies in ICC arbitration valued at USD 4 billion, sitting in The Hague concerning the allocation and operation of a manganese mine.
Representing Alteo Gardanne in its defense against Altran-Pechiney-Rio Tinto in an appeal for annulment of an award before the Paris Court of Appeal.
Advising a major European bank in two ICC arbitrations valued at USD 500 million based in London concerning the allocation of risks between the partners in the largest non-performing loan transaction ever carried out.
Counsel for the Kuwaiti Al-Kharafi Group against the State of Libya concerning the enforcement of an international arbitration award valued at USD 1.4 billion.
Arbitrator in an ICSID arbitration between several oil companies and the Republic of Cameroon concerning the performance of an establishment agreement relating to the construction and operation of a hydrocarbon transportation system.
Chair of a CMAP arbitration case involving several billion euros in insurance and reinsurance.
Arbitrator in a CAS arbitration, sitting in Lausanne, between FIFA and the president of the Confederation of African Football.
Arbitrator in an ICC arbitration valued at USD 207,861,612, sitting in Paris, between the central bank of an African state and a Belgian company concerning alleged breach of contractual obligations arising from two contracts, one private and the other administrative, for the refining, labeling, and deposit of gold.
Arbitrator in an investment arbitration under the auspices of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, valued at USD 12 billion, sitting in Madrid, between an investor and the Russian Federation.
EXPERIENCE
10 Representative Cases
Advising an African state against a Swiss company in ICC arbitration proceedings valued at USD 47,751,400, sitting in Brussels, concerning a disputed transaction involving the sale of shares in a bank to the state.
Burkina Faso Council of State against a consortium of private companies in ICC arbitration valued at USD 4 billion, sitting in The Hague concerning the allocation and operation of a manganese mine.
Representing Alteo Gardanne in its defense against Altran-Pechiney-Rio Tinto in an appeal for annulment of an award before the Paris Court of Appeal.
Advising a major European bank in two ICC arbitrations valued at USD 500 million based in London concerning the allocation of risks between the partners in the largest non-performing loan transaction ever carried out.
Counsel for the Kuwaiti Al-Kharafi Group against the State of Libya concerning the enforcement of an international arbitration award valued at USD 1.4 billion.
Arbitrator in an ICSID arbitration between several oil companies and the Republic of Cameroon concerning the performance of an establishment agreement relating to the construction and operation of a hydrocarbon transportation system.
Chair of a CMAP arbitration case involving several billion euros in insurance and reinsurance.
Arbitrator in a CAS arbitration, sitting in Lausanne, between FIFA and the president of the Confederation of African Football.
Arbitrator in an ICC arbitration valued at USD 207,861,612, sitting in Paris, between the central bank of an African state and a Belgian company concerning alleged breach of contractual obligations arising from two contracts, one private and the other administrative, for the refining, labeling, and deposit of gold.
Arbitrator in an investment arbitration under the auspices of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, valued at USD 12 billion, sitting in Madrid, between an investor and the Russian Federation.