Egishe Dzhazoyan is a partner who specializes in international arbitration and litigation. A dual-qualified lawyer in common law and civil law, Egishe is uniquely placed to provide strategic legal advice concerning large and complex disputes, often involving cross-border elements and conflict of laws issues.
During his 25 years of practice, Egishe has advised and represented clients in more than 250 arbitration and litigation proceedings across many jurisdictions and in a broad range of industries.
Egishe also sits as arbitrator and has particular experience in this capacity with disputes involving sanctions.
Egishe is consistently recognised in all major legal rankings which describe him as “a brilliant lawyer with a very sharp legal mind, immense intellectual curiosity and commercial awareness, which is matched by his impressive work ethic and client dedication” noting that “Egishe’s levels of commercial awareness and client service are exemplary, helped by his ability to perform tasks in five different languages” (Chambers UK); “a truly extraordinary lawyer”, “simply phenomenal and a dream lawyer for any client to have” (Legal 500 UK).
Prior to joining Gresham Legal, Egishe practised at two leading international law firms in London as a partner.
In addition to his law practice, Egishe has appeared as a guest lecturer at the American University of Armenia and has published a number of articles in leading arbitration journals.
Egishe is a graduate of Cambridge University (LL.M), The University of Law in London (GDL) and Lomonosov Moscow State University (LL.B and Ph.D).
Egishe is fluent in English, Russian and Armenian and has a working knowledge of German and French.
Egishe’s representative experience includes:
-
Lead counsel for a major Swiss fertiliser company in a series of related LCIA arbitrations with counterparties from the UK and Ireland involving sanctions issues. Value US$39 million.
-
Lead counsel for a major Swiss fertiliser company in an LCIA arbitration with a counterparty from Western Africa involving sanctions issues. Value US$12 million.
-
Lead counsel for a major Swiss fertiliser company in an LCIA arbitration with a UK domiciled counterparty involving sanctions issues. Value US$2 million.
-
Advising a U.S. oil & gas company on the enforcement of an arbitral award against a South American sovereign state. Value US$11 million.
-
Lead counsel for an Armenian businessman in LCIA arbitration proceedings involving a claim under an option agreement relating to the parties’ failed joint venture project to develop a copper and molybdenum mine in the Armenian province of Lori. Value US$40 million.
-
Representing two corporate respondents from Vallex Group in LCIA arbitration proceedings against Russia’s VTB Bank relating to the parties’ failed joint venture project to develop a copper and molybdenum mine in the Armenian province of Lori. Value US$300+ million.
-
Advising a U.S. investment adviser with respect to a potential investment arbitration claim against the government of an Eastern European country arising out of a concession operation in the mining sector. Value US$250+ million.
-
Acting for investors in ICSID arbitration proceedings against the Italian Republic arising out of the Energy Charter Treaty. Value €200+ million.
-
Advising a state-owned oil company in an SCC arbitration against a U.S. oil and gas company regarding a failed joint venture project in Western Siberia involving complex issues of Swedish and Russian law. Value: US$200 million.
-
Representing a Cypriot investor in ICSID arbitration proceedings against the Government of Montenegro. Value US$200+ million.
-
Acting for a European subsidiary of a major Russian bank in an LCIA arbitration against a major commodity trading company. Value €28+ million.
-
Successfully representing a Cyprus-based claimant company in LCIA proceedings with a Singapore counterparty arising out of the parties’ failed joint venture in a Russian coal mining project. The award upheld the entirety of the claimant’s claims, including legal costs and interest. Value US$8 million.
-
Successfully representing an individual respondent in LCIA proceedings arising out of the parties’ dispute in relation to a Russian cardboard mill. The claims were fully dismissed on jurisdictional grounds with costs awarded in the client’s favour. Value US$10 million.
-
Representing an Eastern European energy company in a London-based UNCITRAL arbitration with a major commodity trading company. Value US$100 million.
Acting for a large Russian automobile manufacturer in a LCIA arbitration dispute against a major European investment bank involving a guarantee. Obtained a favourable settlement for the client. Value US$100+ million. -
Representing two Russian claimants in a SCC arbitration against the government of an Eastern European state relating to expropriation of the claimants’ shares in a major local bank. Value US$8 million.
-
Successfully representing three claimant companies against a Bermuda-based affiliate of a leading Russian investment bank following the market crisis of 2008 in three related LCIA arbitrations. The awards obtained upheld the entirety of the claimants’ claims, including legal costs and interest.
-
SCC arbitration in Stockholm on behalf of a Swiss trading company arising from a shareholder dispute and consequent fraud under various agreements associated with the Russian aluminium industry. Obtained a favourable settlement for the client. Value US$380 million.
-
Sole arbitrator in a Stockholm seated SCC arbitration (in the Russian language) involving Georgian parties under Georgian law.
-
Co-arbitrator in an English law governed London seated LCIA arbitration involving a dispute arising out of a debt restructuring.
-
Co-arbitrator in a German law governed Munich seated ICC arbitration involving German and Russian parties concerning sanctions issues.
-
Tolkynneftegaz LLP et al v Terra Raf Trans Traiding Ltd et al 2023/GSC/003 – Successfully challenging the jurisdiction of the Gibraltar court on behalf of Moldovan oil & gas investors. Value US$500+ million.
-
VTB Bank PJSC v Mejlumyan [2021] EWHC 1386 (Comm) – Acting for the defendant to an anti-suit injunction claim concerning Armenian court proceedings arising out of the termination of a share pledge agreement between the parties governed by Armenian law.
-
National Bank of Kazakhstan and another v Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, London Branch and others [2020] EWHC 916 (Comm) – Acting for the Second to Fifth Defendants in a complex award enforcement dispute arising out of related Belgian attachment proceedings involving the same parties. This dispute saw the first ever virtual trial in English legal history and was named in The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2020 list. Value US$550 million.
-
Leidos Inc v the Hellenic Republic [2019] EWHC 2738 (Comm) – Successful enforcement of a €55 million ICC arbitral award arising out of a breach of contract claim relating to the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
-
Tsareva and others v Ananyev and others; Galagaev and others v Ananyev and others [2019] EWHC 2414 (Comm) – Successful strike out of claims for fraud and conspiracy on behalf of the Third, Fourth and Fifth Defendants concerning certain securities issued by an affiliate of a major Russian bank. Value US$79 million.
-
Stati and others v Republic of Kazakhstan [2018] EWCA Civ 1896 – Representing Moldovan investors in enforcement proceedings in relation to a US$550+ million Energy Charter Treaty arbitral award against the Republic of Kazakhstan.
-
Catalyst Management Services v Libya Africa Investment Portfolio [2018] EWCA Civ 1676 – Representing a subsidiary of the Libyan sovereign wealth fund in High Court proceedings with a Dubai-based counterparty involving allegations of breach of contract, fraud and conspiracy. Value US$500 million.
-
Baturina v Chistyakov [2017] EWHC 1049 (Comm) – Advising a high-net-worth Russian client in a dispute arising out of a failed joint venture property development project in Morocco. Value €74 million.
-
Montvale Invest Ltd (In Liquidation) v Terra Raf Trans Traiding Ltd and another [2016] EWHC 1664 (Ch) – Representing defendants in freezing order and related proceedings in the English High Court brought by the liquidator of a BVI entity. Value US$24.7 million.
-
SC Mezhdunarodniy Promyshelnniy Bank and another v Pugachev and others [2015] EWHC 2623 (Ch) – Advising a private Russian client in High Court of Justice proceedings brought by a liquidator of a major Russian bank. Value US$1.5 billion.
-
Re Kombinat Aluminijuma Podgorica AD (in bankruptcy) [2015] EWHC 750 (Ch) – Representing VTB Bank (Austria) AG in High Court proceedings against a foreign liquidator under the Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations 2006.
-
Terra Raf Trans Traiding Ltd v Aidar Assaubayev and Ors [2014] EWHC 4211 (Comm) – Successfully representing a Gibraltar-based company in High Court proceedings against a number of Kazakh defendants arising out of a loan agreement. Value US$7.3 million.
-
Vitol FSU BV v Ascom Group S.A. Case No 2014 Folio 506 – Representing a Moldovan defendant in worldwide freezing order proceedings in aid of a London-based UNCITRAL arbitration with a major commodity trading company. Value US$100 million.
-
Sphereinvest Global High Yield Fund Limited et al v Eximtech Investments Ltd at al BVIHC (COM) 2011/0087 – Advising several defendants in BVI court proceedings against a Bermuda-based investment fund in a dispute involving alleged breach of contract, fraud and tort arising out of the parties’ joint venture in Russia. Value US$84 million.
-
Altimo Holdings and Investment Ltd and others v Kyrgyz Mobil Tel Ltd and others [2011] UKPC 7 – Privy Council proceedings on behalf of a Kyrgyz telecom holding company on appeal from the Isle of Man concerning a dispute over a Kyrgyz mobile operator. Value US$600 million.
-
BNP Paribas SA v Open Joint Stock Co Russian Machines and another [2011] EWHC 308 (Comm) – Anti-suit proceedings in the High Court of Justice relating to an LCIA arbitration involving a large Russian automobile manufacturer and a major European investment bank.
-
Mobil Cerro Negro Ltd v Petroleos De Venezuela SA [2008] EWHC 532 (Comm) – Advising a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil in freezing order proceedings under section 44 of the Arbitration Act 1996 against a Venezuelan state-owned oil & gas company. Value US$12 billion.
-
Kolden Holdings Ltd v Rodette Commerce Ltd and another [2008] EWCA Civ 10 – Advising two Cypriot entities in English court proceedings concerning breach of agreements about the transfer of shares in a Russian company and related proceedings in Cyprus for negative declarations.
-
Intermet FZCO and others v Ansol Ltd and others [2007] EWHC 226 (Comm) – Civil fraud and conspiracy proceedings involving claims under six separate governing laws before the High Court of Justice in London on behalf of France, Cyprus and Dubai based investors in the Tajik aluminium plant. Value US$65 million.