People
Emmanuel Jacomy
Biography
Emmanuel co-leads the Asia Pacific Arbitration practice and has over twenty years of experience advising and representing companies, State-owned entities and governments in international commercial and investment treaty arbitrations under all major arbitration rules.
He has been involved in some of the most complex and high-stakes arbitration disputes, representing the former Yukos shareholders against the Russian Federation, Huawei Technology against the Kingdom of Sweden, and securing a landmark victory for the People’s Republic of China in its first investment treaty case heard on the merits. Emmanuel is an Adjunct Professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and a Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing. He also sits as an arbitrator. He speaks English, French and Mandarin Chinese. Emmanuel is ranked as a Thought Leader by Chambers for Dispute Resolution: Arbitration in Singapore. He has also been recognized as a Leading Partner by Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Singapore 2026 for International Arbitration, and is recommended in Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration, 2025. In 2026, he was awarded the GAR and Lexology “Client Choice Award” for China, which recognizes lawyers who stand out for “the excellent client care they provide and the quality of their service”. Clients praise Emmanuel for his “stellar track record in commercial and investment treaty arbitrations” and for being “the best foreign lawyer […] in China”, who is “attentive to the needs of Chinese clients”, and an “outstanding debater” whose “expertise in investment treaty arbitration and public international law background are highly regarded”.
Practice areas
- International arbitration
- Disputes
Sectors
- Sports
Selected experience
- A Central Asian conglomerate in a dispute subject to HKIAC arbitration against a European construction contractor. The dispute arose from an agreement for the construction of a hotel in Central Asia. The law of our client’s State applied.
- An Asian State-owned entity and its subsidiaries in a UNCITRAL arbitration in Stockholm against a State-owned entity in a Central Asian State. The dispute arose from an agreement for the construction of a petrochemical plant on a turnkey (EPC) basis. The amount at stake exceeded USD 200 million.
- An international joint venture and two of its shareholders in an ICC arbitration in Paris brought by a Middle Eastern contractor. The dispute concerns the construction of living quarters for a gas processing facility in Africa, including claims of force majeure in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The law of the country of the project applies.
- A major Asian energy company on force majeure claims brought in connection with a project in Pakistan. The claims arose from restrictions imposed on the project by the government of Pakistan. The contracts were governed by Pakistani law.
- Sonatrach, Respondent in an ICC arbitration in Paris brought by Saipem SpA and Saipem Contracting Algérie SpA. The dispute arose from the performance of an EPC contract related to the construction of a GPL pipeline. The Respondent was further seeking the reimbursement of certain sums following a breach of contract by Claimant. The law of the Respondent’s State applied.
- Sonatrach in a UNCITRAL arbitration in Geneva against Repsol and Gas Natural. The dispute arose from delays in the completion of an integrated project including the development of existing gas fields, the construction of a liquefaction gas plant and upstream facilities, and the commercialization of the liquefied gas. The applicable law was Algerian law and the proceedings were conducted in French.
- Vedanta Resources on an investment treaty claim against India concerning the Indian government’s refusal to sell Vedanta certain shares in an Indian mining company.
- The Government of a Southeast Asian State on the defence of an investment treaty arbitration brought by a Korean investor. The dispute arises out of an investment in the real estate sector in that State.
- Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Claimant in an ICSID arbitration against the Kingdom of Sweden (ICSID Case No. ARB/22/2). The dispute relates to Sweden’s ban of Huawei’s equipment from 5G infrastructures in Sweden and the claims are brought under the China-Sweden bilateral investment treaty.
- The People’s Republic of China in an ICSID arbitration brought by Hela Schwarz GmbH (ICSID Case No. ARB/17/19). The claims are brought under the China-Germany bilateral investment treaty.
Education
- Diplôme d’Etudes General, Management, Business Administration, HEC Business School, 2004 Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies, International Economic Law, Université Paris I: Panthéon-Sorbonne, 2005
Admissions
- England & Wales, 2012 Kingdom of Cambodia, 2010 France, 2008
Languages
- French
- English
- Mandarin