Sabrina Aïnouz

Representative Arbitration Cases

• Counsel for Algeria in a US$3.6 billion ICSID arbitration initiated by a Danish oil company, under the Algeria-Denmark BIT, in connection with the alleged expropriation of its rights under a production sharing agreement.
• Counsel for Sonatrach, the Algerian national oil company, in a US$12 billion UNCITRAL arbitration initiated by US and Danish oil companies in connection with the alleged breach of tax provisions in a production sharing agreement (arbitration in French and English; Algerian law applicable).
• Counsel for the Republic of Benin in a US$35 million ICSID arbitration initiated by seven companies under Benin’s foreign investment laws, in connection with the construction of a hotel complex.
• Counsel for the Russian Federation in a US$1 billion UNCITRAL arbitration initiated by a US oil major in connection with the alleged breach of profit tax provisions in a production sharing agreement.
• Counsel for the Republic of Kazakhstan in a multibillion UNCITRAL arbitration arising out of a consortium of oil majors’ alleged failure to develop an oil field, recovery of costs in breach of their obligations under a production sharing agreement and multiple breaches of their environmental obligations.
• Counsel for the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kazakh NOC in a parallel US$7 billion UNCITRAL arbitration and expert determination proceedings against a consortium of oil majors in connection with the alleged breach by the consortium of a production sharing agreement.
• Counsel for the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kazakh NOC in a US$4 billion UNCITRAL arbitration against a consortium of oil majors in connection with the alleged breach by the consortium of the profit sharing provisions in a production sharing agreement.
• Counsel for the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kazakh NOC in an UNCITRAL arbitration against a consortium of oil majors in connection with the alleged breach by the consortium of the cost recovery provisions in a production sharing agreement.
• Counsel for Turkmenistan in a US$2 billion ICSID arbitration initiated by a Russian telecommunication company under the Russia-Turkmenistan BIT, in connection with the termination of various contracts.
• Counsel for Turkmenistan in a US$275 million ICSID arbitration initiated by a Turkish company, under the Turkey-Turkmenistan BIT, in connection with the alleged expropriation of its rights under major construction contracts.
• Counsel for Turkmenistan in a US$65 million ICSID arbitration initiated by a UK company, under the UK-Turkmenistan BIT, in connection with the alleged expropriation of its rights under major construction contracts.
• Counsel for Turkmenistan in a US$60 million ICSID arbitration initiated by a German national under the Germany-Turkmenistan BIT, in connection with the alleged expropriation of a poultry business, as well as in proceedings for the annulment of the award before ICSID.
• Counsel for Turkmenistan in ICSID arbitration initiated by a Turkish company under the Turkey-Turkmenistan BIT, in connection with the alleged expropriation of its rights under major construction contracts.
• Counsel for Turkmenistan in a US$40 million ICSID arbitration initiated by a German company under the Germany-Turkmenistan BIT, in connection with the alleged expropriation of its rights under major construction contracts.
• Counsel for PDVSA, the Venezuelan national oil company, in a US$7 billion ICC arbitration initiated by an oil major in connection with alleged breaches of a production sharing agreement.
• Counsel for PDVSA in a US$200 million ICC arbitration in connection with alleged breaches of an oil supply agreement.
• Counsel for an oil company in an ICC arbitration and parallel proceedings before the London High Court initiated by an African state national oil company in connection with the acquisition of an oil permit.
• Counsel for a multinational mining company in connection with potential ICSID and ICC arbitrations arising out of the violation by an African state of its obligations following the adoption of a new mining code imposing additional charges upon mining operations.
• Counsel for a junior mining company in a pre-arbitration dispute with an Eastern European state in connection with the granting by the state of two mining exploitation permits.
• Counsel for a major engineering and construction company in connection with an ICC arbitration against an African state-owned consortium, arising out of the operation of a power plant.
• Counsel for a junior oil company in a pre-arbitration dispute with a West African state arising out of the renewal of the exploration phase of an exploration and production sharing agreement.
• Counsel for a Saudi industrial group in an ICC arbitration against an Italian fashion house in connection with the termination of a franchising agreement.
• Counsel for a Russian national in connection with a potential US$600 million UNCITRAL arbitration against an Eastern European state arising out of the confiscation by the state of bonds and monies in violation of the state’s obligations under a BIT.

Enforcement and Annulment Proceedings

• Counsel for the Republic of Kazakhstan in ICSID proceedings for the annulment of an arbitral award declining jurisdiction.
• Counsel for Turkmenistan in ICSID proceedings for the annulment of an arbitral award declining jurisdiction.
• Counsel for Turkmenistan in ICSID proceedings for the annulment of an arbitral award rendered in favour of a German national.
• Counsel for an Indian state-owned space company in proceedings for the annulment of an ICC international arbitral award before the Paris Court of Appeals.
• Counsel for a Mexican state-owned bank in French proceedings for the annulment of an ICC international arbitral award before the Paris Court of Appeals.
• Counsel for a Mexican airline company in French proceedings for the annulment of an ICC international arbitral award before the Paris Court of Appeals.
• Counsel for Turkmenistan in French proceedings for the annulment of an exequatur order issued in France.
• Counsel for Turkmenistan in French proceedings for the release of conservatory attachments over a presidential aircraft in France before the Toulouse Court of Appeals.
• Counsel for Turkmenistan and a Turkmen state-owned entity in French proceedings for the release of conservatory attachments over bank accounts and company shares held in France before the Paris Court of Appeals.
• Counsel for PDVSA in connection with the potential enforcement in France of a US$12 billion worldwide freezing order issued by the London High Court (Mareva Injunction).
• Counsel for a national oil and gas company in connection with the potential enforcement in France of an SCC award rendered against another national oil and gas company.
• Counsel for an African national oil and gas company in French proceedings for the enforcement of two ICC awards rendered against the African state.

Other Relevant IDR Experience

• Counsel for an African LNG producer in two expert determinations arising out of two LNG sales contracts in Africa.
• Counsel for the subsidiary of a major US global coal marketing and logistics company in a litigation against an African state-owned consortium, arising out of the sale of metallurgic coke.