DERAINS & GHARAVI - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate ( As from November 2023 )
Akosua is an associate at Derains & Gharavi, specialised in international arbitration. Her areas of practice include international commercial disputes and investment arbitration. She has acted in proceedings conducted under the arbitration rules of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
Bertrand Derains, founding partner of Derains & Gharavi, has 20 years of experience in international arbitration. He has acted both as counsel or arbitrator in numerous international ad hoc and institutional arbitrations, such as those under the rules of the ICC, ICSID and UNCITRAL. His experience extends to arbitral proceedings governed by civil law, common law, investment treaties and general public international law.
Job Titles:
- Counsel
- Founding Partner
- Partner
Dr. Hamid Gharavi has acted as arbitrator or counsel in over 250 institutional and/or ad hoc arbitrations, including over 40 investment arbitrations under foreign investment laws and/or bilateral and multilateral investment treaties, arising from a broad spectrum of issues ranging from sanctions to political takings, in as diverse industries as oil and gas, mining, M&A, military ordnance and defense, telecommunications, media, aviation, agency agreements, distribution, sales, construction (including all types of design contracts and engineering projects), duty free, hospitality, real estate, wood and derived products, pharmaceutical, as well as sport related disputes involving commercial aspects, disciplinary sanctions and doping.
He has been appointed on the Panel of ICSID Arbitrators (Kingdom of Cambodia), as member of the Court of the Istanbul Arbitration Centre (ISTAC since 2015), as member of the Court of the LCIA (from 2008-2012), as member of the Commission on Arbitration of the ICC (2005-2010), as the President of the Board of the Tehran Regional Arbitration Centre (TRAC) as well as on several other panels, including DIAC, SIAC, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Dr. Gharavi teaches investment arbitration in the Master program "Droit International Économique" at the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas. He is the author of a book titled "The International Effectiveness of the Annulment of an Arbitral Award," published by Kluwer Law International, as well as publications in the main arbitration law reviews, and is a regular speaker at conferences.
Dr. Gharavi holds a PhD from the University of Paris II, and post-graduate degrees from the New York University School of Law and University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne.
Both Chambers and Legal 500 rank him in Band 1 of arbitration counsel for France. Chambers notably stated that "Hamid has a larger-than-life personality and is personable and hard-working," and described him as "extremely dynamic, fearless in hearings and able to think out of the box." Chambers also notes that Dr. Gharavi "earns considerable praise as an active and effective arbitrator in important cases. Interviewees note his valuable input during hearings, saying: ‘He always raises good questions that are material to the outcome of the case.'" In Legal 500, he is described as "absolutely brilliant" with "a busy practice as counsel in cases but [who] also has ‘impressive success attracting major appointments as arbitrator'."
Before founding Derains & Gharavi, Dr. Gharavi was a partner at Salans in Paris after having started his career at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP in New York and as Visiting Professor at the University of Richmond School of Law.
Based on this registration, she is required to obtain ten training credits per calendar year in this registered legal practice area in accordance with the standards set by the Netherlands Bar.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the Paris Bar
Déborah is an associate at Derains & Gharavi, specialised in international arbitration. Her areas of practice include international commercial disputes and investment arbitration. Déborah has acted in proceedings conducted under the arbitration rules of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) as well as under the UNCITRAL rules.
Déborah is a member of the Paris Bar. She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Energy and Climate law from the University of Groningen, a Master 2 in Arbitration and International Trade law and a Master 1 in International Business Law from the University Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne.
Elena is an associate at Derains & Gharavi, specialised in international arbitration. Her areas of practice include international commercial disputes and investment arbitration. Elena has acted in proceedings conducted under the arbitration rules of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC).
Emmanuel is a partner at Derains & Gharavi specialised in international arbitration. He has regularly acted as counsel (for high net-worth individuals, major international private companies, foreign investors and Sovereign States) and secretary to the tribunal, in proceedings conducted under the Arbitration Rules of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce Centre (ICC), the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the Netherlands Arbitration Institute (NAI), the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), the Swiss Arbitration Centre (formerly the Swiss Chamber Arbitration Institution, or SCAI), and the UNCITRAL Rules.
Biography
Isabelle Stefani is Office Manager at Derains & Gharavi in the Paris office since 2009. She holds a Certificat de Compétence in Commercial Law from the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM), an Advanced Vocational Training Certificate (BTS) in Commercial Translation, and Diplomas from the Spanish and Italian Chambers of Commerce of Paris.
She practices in French, Spanish, Italian (mother tongues) and English.
Melanie van Leeuwen joined Derains & Gharavi as a partner in 2011.
Who's Who Legal describes Melanie as "a Dutch superstar in Paris, who is lauded as an outstanding professional and great personality", noting that "she is the best of the best". Chambers Europe ranks Melanie in the category of Most in Demand Arbitrators, describing her as "a real powerhouse with a very strong presence and a sharp sound legal mind." Legal 500 lists Melanie as "an excellent strategist who has a profound knowledge of investment law and impresses by the outstanding quality of her written and oral pleadings."
Since 1996, Melanie has been practising international arbitration exclusively. She has solid experience as counsel and arbitrator in both commercial and investment arbitration, conducted under all major sets of arbitration rules (ICC, LCIA, LCIA-MIAC, ICSID, SCC, ICDR, UNCITRAL, PCA, DIAC, NAI, SIAC, CEPANI and Swiss Rules) and governed by various procedural and substantive laws. She has handled over 100 arbitrations as counsel and arbitrator concerning disputes arising out of international commercial contracts, cross-border investment, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, construction projects and investment protection under international law. She has been particularly active in the sectors of energy, mining, media, information and communication technology, construction and engineering, real estate, aviation and infrastructural and defence projects. She also regularly represents clients in annulment, enforcement and consolidation proceedings before the Netherlands state courts.
Melanie has been appointed to the ICSID panel of arbitrators by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. At present, she is serving as chair of the ICC Commission on Arbitration, as co-chair of the ICCA-IBA Joint Task Force on Data Protection in International Arbitration, and as a board member of the Swiss Arbitration Association.
Oliver is an associate at Derains & Gharavi, specialised in international arbitration. His areas of practice include international commercial disputes and investment arbitration. He has acted in proceedings conducted under the arbitration rules of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the Netherlands Arbitration Institute (NAI).
Olivier Whitehead has registered the following legal practice area in the Netherlands Bar's register of legal practice areas (rechtsgebiedenregister): arbitration.
Based on this registration, he is required to obtain ten training credits per calendar year in this registered legal practice area in accordance with the standards set by the Netherlands Bar.
Onur is an associate at Derains & Gharavi specialised in international arbitration. Onur has acted in proceedings conducted under the arbitration rules of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), in ad hoc proceedings under the UNCITRAL rules as well as commercial arbitration proceedings under the arbitration rules of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
Rodrigo is an associate at Derains & Gharavi, specialised in international arbitration. His areas of practice include international commercial disputes, litigation and Brazilian law. He has acted in proceedings conducted under the arbitration rules of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC), the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (AAA/ICDR), the FGV Chamber of Mediation and Arbitration and the Center for Arbitration and Mediation of the Chamber of Commerce Brazil-Canada (CAM-CCBC). He has also extensively drafted international and national commercial contracts, investment contracts, as well as corporate contracts.
Rodrigo is a licensed attorney in Brazil and a member of the New York Bar.
Sophia von Dewall is partner at Derains & Gharavi and has acted in numerous international arbitration proceedings, as well as in legal proceedings before Netherlands state courts. She has handled arbitrations conducted under the arbitration rules of the NAI, CEPINA, ICC and ICSID. Her areas of practice include international investment disputes and international commercial disputes arising out of international contracts, joint-venture and shareholder relationships and large infrastructural projects. She is admitted to the Amsterdam and Paris Bars. She also acts as arbitrator in international arbitration proceedings.
Sophia obtained an LL.M. in Public International & European Law and an LL.M. in Dutch Law from the University of Amsterdam. She is a visiting lecturer in international arbitration and litigation at the University of Amsterdam and has been involved in the preparation of teams participating on behalf of the University of Amsterdam in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. In addition, she is a lecturer at the Law Firm School - an institute set up by the major Dutch law firms for the education of young lawyers - where she teaches Dutch contract law.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Since 2022
Partner, Derains & Gharavi (Paris)
2017-2021
Counsel, Derains & Gharavi (Paris)
Sophia von Dewall has registered the following legal practice area in the Netherlands Bar's register of legal practice areas (rechtsgebiedenregister): arbitration.
Based on this registration, she is required to obtain ten training credits per calendar year in this registered legal practice area in accordance with the standards set by the Netherlands Bar
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the New York Bar
Stijn is an associate at Derains & Gharavi, specialised in international arbitration. His areas of practice include international commercial disputes and corporate litigation. He has acted in proceedings conducted under the arbitration rules of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) and the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) as well as under the UNCITRAL Rules.
Stijn is a member of the New York Bar. He holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) from Harvard Law School,, as well as a Master of Laws (LL.M) and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of Amsterdam.
Yves Derains, founding partner of Derains & Gharavi, is presented by Who'swho Legal 2023 as "one of the most active, responsive and senior arbitrators in the world." Ranked as "Most in demand arbitrators" in the 2023 editions of Chambers Europe, Chambers Latin America and Chambers Global Market Leaders, he is also praised for his appearance as counsel: "Yves Derains employs his experience acting as both counsel and arbitrator to provide highly valued insight" into cross-border disputes (Chambers Latin America 2020). Market sources comment that he "is a god in the arbitration space," with renowned experience in commercial and investment arbitration, besides being "completely dedicated to his arbitration practice"
Yves Derains, who is a former secretary general of the ICC Court, is also honorary Chairman of the ICC Institute of World Business Law, which he chaired between 2010 and 2020. He is also the former president of the Arbitration Court of the Jerusalem Arbitration Centre (JAC) that was created by both Israeli and Palestinian ICC national committees. He was Vice-President of the Center for Arbitration and Mediation of the Chamber of Commerce Brazil-Canada (CAM-CCBC).