Dispute
Resolution
Overview
At the centre of Astraea is our dispute resolution practice, comprising experienced barristers, solicitors, forensic investigators and intelligence analysts, who have deep international disputes expertise.
Astraea’s multidisciplinary disputes team is led by James Ramsden KC, one of the leading silks at the London Bar.
The firm undertakes the full range of disputes work, including mediation, arbitration, and litigation. With a focus on complex cross border and high-stakes litigation, enforcement and asset recovery, Astraea represents high net worth individuals, family offices, private and publicly listed corporates, financial institutions and regulatory bodies, as well as governments and state-owned entities. We are normally conflict-free and act both for and against household names in high profile disputes in the UK, as well as across numerous international jurisdictions.
Our expertise extends to obtaining and enforcing (or resisting) interim asset freezing, search, and disclosure orders. We have a strong track record in prosecuting and defending committal applications for alleged breaches of such orders.
Astraea also has a significant experience acting in investor-state disputes, most recently acting as Global Counsel for the Stati parties in their multi-jurisdictional action to enforce a US$500 million SCC arbitral award against the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Our lawyers have conducted investor-state arbitrations before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC)
Astraea creates bespoke strategies, prioritising commercial outcomes and effective enforcement.
Our Focus Areas
Commercial Litigation
We act for clients in complex high-value litigation, often involving coordination across multiple jurisdictions. Our experienced team deploys tested legal strategies as well as more innovative approaches, to resolve the full range of disputes. With solicitors, barristers and investigators in-house, we are able to provide an end-to-end service to clients, with a singular focus on achieving the best outcomes for our clients.
International Enforcement
Astraea’s multidisciplinary team has significant international enforcement and asset recovery expertise. We act for clients wishing to enforce on legal judgments, and our recent experience includes acting as global counsel in a multi-jurisdictional enforcement of a US$500M arbitral award against a sovereign state. In this role Astraea led and oversaw the work of law firms in eight jurisdictions from the US, BVI, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Gibraltar and Sweden.
Public and Administrative Law
We advise on disputes between individuals or businesses and public bodies, including judicial review claims. These disputes often involve challenges to the lawfulness of decisions made by governmental or regulatory bodies, including issues related to human rights, planning, environmental law, and regulatory enforcement.
Arbitration
We represent clients in high-stakes international arbitrations and have experience of acting under the rules of all the major arbitral institutions. Our multidisciplinary team develops robust legal strategies, focused on achieving the best outcomes for our clients. We also frequently act for clients seeking to enforce or challenge arbitral awards.
Jurisdictional Disputes
We have significant expertise in jurisdictional disputes. We provide advice on disputes concerning which country’s courts should hear a case and help clients navigate issues related to forum shopping.
Representative Experience
International Enforcement
Acting as global counsel for the holders of a $500m ECT award. Coordinating and directing counsel in eight other jurisdictions and achieving settlement of the claim and all related disputes worldwide
Jurisdiction Disputes
Acting for the claimants in an alleged cartel operating in Brazil and successfully establishing jurisdiction to sue the alleged cartelists in the UK
Fraud and Asset Tracing – Digital Assets
Acting in Sino-Hong Kong digital asset dispute and alleged investor fraud and as global counsel in one of the largest alleged crypto frauds to go to trial in the US.
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