JamesEgerton-Vernon

Partner

Washington + 1.202.879.3610

Connect:

Share

James Egerton-Vernon has more than 12 years of experience focused on investor-state and international commercial arbitration and on international litigation. Dual-qualified as an English solicitor and New York lawyer and fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and French, James has acted in multiple arbitrations under the ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, LCIA, SCC, and SIAC rules across a range of sectors and industries, including oil, uranium and gold mining, gas, telecommunications, and construction projects.

James is currently advising multiple investors with high-value investment claims against Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Latin American states and played a key role on a recent case setting important legal precedents on the rules of treaty succession. His prior representations include advising: clients with investments in the Venezuelan oil sector, in both English and Spanish, on their claims arising out of unilateral changes to the hydrocarbon regime in that country; a Brazilian energy company on a construction dispute with its Italian joint venture partner; a Kuwaiti fertilizer company in ICSID proceedings against Egypt; a Romanian energy company in ICC proceedings against a Russian oligarch; a U.S. energy company in ICC proceedings against its Indian co-contractor; and a Spanish entertainment company involved in Madrid-based LCIA dispute proceedings.

James is included on the roster of arbitrators of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce, served as North America Regional Chair for Young ITA, is a member of many other international arbitration associations, and was previously an assistant editor of ICSID Review. He is a frequent speaker and author on commercial and investor-state arbitration and an adjunct professor of International Arbitration at the University of Maryland.

Experience

  • WEG acquires industrial electric motors and generators business from Regal Rexnord CorporationJones Day is advising WEG S.A. in the $400 million acquisition of the industrial electric motors and generators business of Regal Rexnord Corporation.
  • German businessman arbitrates ICSID claim against LebanonJones Day is representing German businessman Mr. Abed El Jaouni in ICSID proceedings against Lebanon.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Windoor arbitrates ICSID claim against KazakhstanJones Day is representing Estonian construction company AS Windoor in ICSID arbitration proceedings against the Republic of Kazakhstan.
  • Global City Holdings launches $265 million stock repurchaseJones Day advised Global City Holdings N.V. ("GCH"), a public limited liability company listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, on the launch of its PLN 990,698,853 (approximately €237.7 million/ US$265.4 million) buy back offer to repurchase the GCH shares held by minority shareholders.
  • Major U.S. oil company seeks advice following adverse conduct by state-owned entity and local government in connection to its investmentJones Day is advising a major U.S. oil company on its rights and potential remedies under a bilateral investment treaty and several production sharing contracts with a Southeast Asian State.
  • Federal Elektrik Yatirim ve Ticaret arbitrates issues against Uzbekistan under Energy Charter TreatyJones Day represents Federal Elektrik Yatirim ve Ticaret A.S. and three other claimants in an ICSID arbitration against Uzbekistan seeking millions of dollars of compensation under the Energy Charter Treaty and the Turkey-Uzbekistan bilateral investment treaty.
  • Singaporean company pursues deep sea mineral exploration licenseJones Day represented a Singaporean company on its application to the International Seabed Authority for a deep sea mineral exploration license and associated joint venture arrangements.
  • Kazakh investors initiate ICSID arbitration against UzbekistanJones Day represents Vladislav Kim and 11 other citizens of Kazakhstan in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Uzbekistan instituted pursuant to the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments.
    • View All

    April 2024 Alert

    U.S. District Court Upholds Two Arbitral Awards Against Lima

    August 2023 Alert

    Enforcement of Procedural Timelines in Arbitrations in Singapore

    July 2023 White Paper

    Chile's New Mining Royalty Law: What It Means for Foreign Investors

    June 2023 Commentary

    Mining Reform in Mexico: Principal Amendments, Effect, and Implications for Foreign Investors

    August 2022 White Paper

    Chile's Proposed Constitutional Changes to Natural Resources Rights Could Have Devastating Effects on Foreign Investors: How Can International Law Protect Them?

    May 2022 Commentary

    Peru's Struggle to Balance Foreign Investors' Rights and Local Communities' Demands

    May 2022 Newsletters

    Energy Transition and Climate Change Treaties

    May 2022 Newsletters

    The Climate Report | Second Quarter 2022

    May 2022 Commentary

    Legislative Setback to Electrical Reform in Mexico. New Target: Lithium

    March 2022 Commentary

    Companies With Investments and Businesses in Ukraine and Russia: The Importance of Investment Treaties
    View All

    Additional Speaking Engagements

    • June 29, 2023
      Interviewed (in Portuguese) for Canal Arbitragem, "Arbitragem Na Pratica" Interview Series. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FueS89xsL3E
    • January 26, 2023
      Panelist - "Is Brazil an Arbitration-Friendly Jurisdiction for Foreign Investors?" - 2nd Georgetown Brazilian Arbitration Day
    • October 19, 2022
      Speaker (in Portuguese) at São Paulo Arbitration Week event titled International Arbitrations Arising in Brazil: Best Practices for Identifying and Mitigating Local and International Risks
    • February 22, 2022
      Speaker, Young ITA Global Forum 2022
    • October 3, 2018
      Panel moderator, "The United States and Investment Treaties: The Next Ten Years", #YoungITATalks Event
    • September 25, 2018
      US Law and International Commercial Arbitration: A Changing Landscape
    • June 20, 2018
      Moderator and panelist, "A Tour Around the Arbitration World," 30th Annual ITA Workshop and Annual Meeting
    • March 15, 2018
      ASIL Young Arbitrator Debate Series, Debater of the Motion: "This house believes that no conflict arises when an arbitrator is appointed to decide a case that raises an issue on which that arbitrator has already issued an opinion or a decision."
    • November 29, 2017
      Arbitral Parents: Managing Parenthood in the Context of an International Practice
    • November 29, 2017
      Panelist, "Managing Parenthood in the Context of an International Practice", ArbitralWomen / Young ArbitralWomen Practitioners (YAWP), the International Centre for Dispute Resolution Young & International (ICDR Y&I).
    • April 23, 2016
      43rd Annual Advanced Business Law Conference: Back to the Future - Business Lawyering for All Stages of the Company Life Cycle, Virginia CLE, Panelist, Taking Your Products and Services to Market: Evolving Distribution Models and Issues in Domestic and Foreign Markets
    • February 13, 2016
      India's Model Bilateral Investment Treaty - A Critical Analysis, Panel Chair, Nani Palkhivala Arbitration Centre, Annual International Conference: Emerging Frontiers of Arbitration Law
    • October 9, 2015
      Is the Definitive Arbitral Award No Longer What it Used to Be? Arbitral Appeals, Annulment or Quality Control of Arbitral Awards, Panelist - speaking in Portuguese, V Encontro Internacional De Arbitragem De Coimbra
    • October 31, 2014
      Oil and Gas Investment Arbitrations, panelist, Structuring Against the Risk of Adverse Continental Shelf Decisions
    • March 28. 2014
      Is Investment Treaty Arbitration a Mechanism to Second-guess Governments’ Exercise of Administrative Discretion: Public Law or Lex Investoria?, Eigth Annual Investment Treaty Arbitration Conference
    • February 11, 2014
      Current Issues in Investor-State Arbitration, panelist, Georgetown University Law Center, International Arbitration Month

    Before sending, please note:

    Information on www.jonesday.com is for general use and is not legal advice. The mailing of this email is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Anything that you send to anyone at our Firm will not be confidential or privileged unless we have agreed to represent you. If you send this email, you confirm that you have read and understand this notice.