Denis Sarvarov

Associate

Languages spoken
English | Russian

About Denis

Denis Sarvarov is an associate in our International Dispute Resolution Practice Group, based in the London office. Denis specialises in international treaty and commercial arbitration, as well as cross-border and domestic litigation.

Admitted to legal practice in both New York and Russia, Denis is skilled and experienced in dealing with contentious matters governed both by common and civil law. He has represented clients in ad hoc arbitrations and those administered under various institutions rules, including ICSID, LCIA, AAA-ICDR and ICAC. Prior to joining the firm, Denis worked at several international and national law firms in Russia, the US and the UK. During his tenure in the US, Denis also served as a law clerk at the offices of the Honourable Charles N. Brower.

Experience

Investment Arbitration

  • Representing a Central Asian state 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.
  • Representing an Eastern European state in investment treaty claims commenced by a Russian investor under the UNCITRAL Rules in connection with construction of a shopping mall.*
  • Assisting an international arbitrator in analysing parties’ submissions, witness evidence and experts reports in order to prepare an award in the ICC arbitration initiated against a Maghreb country for violation of a construction agreement.*

International Commercial Arbitration

  • Representing franchisees against the franchisor, a US health and wellness company, in claims arising from the alleged violations of franchise agreements by the franchisees’ Southeast Asian branches.*
  • Representing one of the largest energy companies in the CIS region in complex commercial arbitration in relation to a project for construction of a hydroelectric power plant in a Latin American country.*

Enforcement and Annulment Proceedings

  • Representing a company in set-aside proceedings arising from a series of arbitrations against its subcontractors in connection with a project for construction of a major railway in Libya that was halted due to the Arab Spring events.*
  • Representing the largest bank in Cyprus in the enforcement of claims against its debtor, a Russian development company, as well as enforcement of mortgage of land plots.*

Litigation and Investigations

  • Representing an ex-owner of a major commercial bank and his companies against allegations in embezzlement of the bank’s funds and fraud charges across multiple jurisdictions, including Russia, Switzerland, Cyprus and the Cayman Islands.*
  • Advising an investment company with respect to investigation of the US Securities and Exchange Commission over alleged insider trading when the crude oil futures prices turned negative due to the market crisis caused by COVID-19.*

Pro Bono

  • Advising political refugees seeking asylum and helping them to reunite with their families abroad under various state-run programmes.

*Experience gained while at a previous firm

Credentials

Education
  • The George Washington University Law School, LL.M., 2022
  • Russian School of Private Law, LL.M., 2021
  • Higher School of Economics, LL.B., summa cum laude, 2019
Admissions
  • New York, 2025
  • Russia, 2019
Memberships & Affiliations
  • Young ICCA
  • Young ITA
  • Young ICC YAF

Publications & Speaking Engagements

  • Co-author, “Trends, and Developments in Enforcement of Judgments in Russia 2021”, Chambers Global Practice Guides, 2021.
  • Co-author, “Russian Case Law in 2020 on Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Under Reciprocity Rule”, Legal 500, 2021.
  • Co-author, “‘Public Order’ Category in Relation to the Application of Chapters 30 and 31 of the Russian Commercial Procedure Code in Russian Court Practice”, Statute Law Journal, 2019.