LeeCoffey

Partner

London + 44.20.7039.5120

Lee Coffey has, for more than 25 years, focused his practice on the arbitration and litigation of complex international disputes in a broad range of industries. He is the administrative partner for the London Office and the Global Disputes practice in Europe.

Lee's recent engagements include successfully defending clients from a US$2bn international arbitration claim arising from the redevelopment of a landmark Moscow hotel complex. He has particular experience in multijurisdictional disputes, and of the collateral issues that arise in this context, having acted for clients involved in proceedings before courts in the United States, the Russian Federation, and the Eastern Caribbean (particularly the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands). He also frequently advises on the litigation risks arising from the structuring of significant acquisitions and disposals.

Lee is "highly rated" in The Legal 500 for commercial litigation and is "recommended" for international arbitration disputes. He is also a member of an arbitration team recognized by Global Arbitration Review as one of the leading international arbitration law firms in the 2020 edition of the GAR 30.

Experience

  • Pharmaceutical distributor seeks advice in relation to insurance disputeJones Day is advising a pharmaceutical distributor in an insurance dispute linked to claims relating to the alleged prescription drug epidemic in the United States.
  • Canadian mining company initiates UNCITRAL arbitration against KazakhstanJones Day represents a Canadian mining company in an UNCITRAL arbitration against the Republic of Kazakhstan.
  • U.S. construction company arbitrates dispute with Panama for violation of applicable treaties between U.S. and PanamaJones Day represented a U.S. construction company in an international arbitration conducted under the Rules of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes against the Republic of Panama.
  • Freudenberg acquires Low & Bonar PLCJones Day represented Freudenberg SE, the global technology group, in connection with the £107 million takeover offer by group member, FV Beteiligungs-GmbH, of Low & Bonar PLC via a Scheme of Arrangement.
  • World Wide Minerals obtains arbitration award in excess of $50 million against the Republic of KazakhstanJones Day obtained an arbitration award on behalf of World Wide Minerals Ltd. ("WWM"), a Toronto-based mining company, and Mr. Paul A. Carroll, QC, WWM's President and CEO, which held that the Republic of Kazakhstan breached international law and the Canada-U.S.S.R. Bilateral Investment Treaty ("BIT") over 20 years ago.
  • Prince Abdullah bin Mosa'ad wins long-running shareholder dispute with Kevin McCabe over ownership of Sheffield United Football ClubJones Day successfully represented His Royal Highness Prince Abdullah bin Mosa'ad bin Abdulaziz Al Sa'ud in his claim to take full control of the English Premier League team, Sheffield United Football Club, after a hotly contested dispute with Kevin McCabe, a well-known UK businessman, and his company Sheffield United Limited ("SUL").
  • Blackstone Group invests €175 million (US$196.4 million) in Superbet RomaniaJones Day advised The Blackstone Group in its €175 million (US$196.4 million) minority equity investment in Superbet, the largest omni-channel sports betting and gaming operator in Romania.
  • Lamb Weston forms Russian joint ventureJones Day advised ConAgra Foods, Inc. in connection with a €100 million joint venture between Lamb Weston/Meijer and Belaya Dacha to construct and operate the first of its kind potato processing plant in Russia to serve the rapidly growing Russian French fry market.
  • CIS Natural Resources Fund acquires 36.6 percent interest in GRK Bystrinskoye for $275 millionJones Day represented CIS Natural Resources Fund in its $275 million acquisition from MMC Norilsk Nickel of a 36.6 percent interest in GRK Bystrinskoye, a major Russian mining company located in the Eastern Siberia.
  • Procter & Gamble sells its beauty brands to Coty for $12.5 billionThe Procter & Gamble Company ("P&G") has merged its 43 beauty brands ("RMT Brands") of global salon professional hair care and color, retail hair color, cosmetics, and fine fragrance businesses, along with select hair styling brands with Coty Inc. in a Reverse Morris Trust transaction for $12.5 billion.
  • Euronext-listed company migrates to United KingdomJones Day advised a Euronext-listed company on its corporate migration into the United Kingdom to safeguard its U.S. and UK operations from possible adverse Brexit consequences.
  • Unaoil wins trial and recovers costs in relation to oil pipeline construction project in Iraq and Northern Arabian GulfJones Day represented Unaoil Limited ("Unaoil") in the English Commercial Court against Leighton Offshore PTE Limited ("Leighton").
  • Chevron announces sale of interests in Chad and Cameroon for approximately $1.3 billionJones Day advised Chevron Corporation in the sale of its interest in a producing oil concession in Chad and related pipeline interests in Chad and Cameroon for approximately $1.3 billion.
  • Alfa Group spins off telecoms assets into LetteroneJones Day advised Alfa Group and Letterone on the spin off of Alfa Group's telecoms assets into Letterone, principally its 47.85 percent shareholding in VimpelCom, the world's sixth largest mobile network operator, and its 13.22 percent beneficial interest in Turkcell, the leading mobile operator in Turkey, including the buy-out of certain minorities in the Alfa Group's historic telecoms shareholding structure.
  • Alfa Group forms LetteroneJones Day advised Alfa Group and Letterone in connection with the formation of Letterone, a $30 billion investment structure for holding technology, oil and gas, and certain other assets.
  • Alfa Group spins off treasury assets and private equity and hedge fund interests into LetteroneJones Day advised Alfa Group and Letterone on the spin-off of the Alfa Group's treasury assets (approximately $16 billion) and its private equity and hedge fund interests into Letterone.
  • Company brings shareholder multiple derivative action in Cayman Islands Grand Court alleging conspiracyJones Day is representing a company in a shareholder multiple derivative action listed for a six week trial in the Cayman Islands, involving novel points of Cayman Islands law and allegations of conspiracy.
  • Bridgestone establishes tire manufacturing joint venture in RussiaJones Day advised Bridgestone in connection with the ¥37.5 billion (US$400 million) joint venture with Mitsubishi to build a radial tire plant in the Ulyanovsk Region of Russia, Bridgestone's first tire plant in Russia and CIS.
  • Three ship purchasers defend against arbitral proceedings arising in connection with three Memoranda of Agreement providing for construction and delivery of bulk carriers and associated securityJones Day represents three ship purchasers in separate arbitral proceedings with a value of approximately US$30 million arising in connection with three Memoranda of Agreement providing for the construction and delivery of bulk carriers and associated security in respect of obligations to perform thereunder in the form of refund guarantees issued on behalf of the seller.
  • ENRC acquires First Quantum Minerals' DRC assets for $1.25 billionJones Day advised Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation PLC ("ENRC") in its $1.25 billion acquisition of the residual assets and settlement of all claims in relation to the Democratic Republic of Congo operations of First Quantum Minerals Ltd.