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Claire Stockford
Claire Stockford
Called: 1999
‘Claire Stockford puts in the hours to get the job done and leaves no stone unturned.‘
Legal 500, 2023

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Claire Stockford

Publications
Claire has published widely on the subject of arbitration, including co-authoring “Is the Sun Setting on the Energy Charty Treaty?” and “A Plague on both your Houses” about the P&ID v Nigeria case with Alexander Uff, and “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it?” on the Law Commission’s review of the Arbitration Act 1996 with Poonam Melwani KC. Claire also wrote the LCIA Chapter in the Arbitration edition of Getting the Deal Through (2016 and 2017) and co-authored "YUKOS - the first instalments in the post-award story" (International Energy Law Review 2016). In addition to her publications on arbitration, she has also written on the subject of Brexit "Office leases could be the canary in the Brexit coalmine" (The Times, 2 October 2018) and whether regulatory fines really influence corporate behaviour: "Is $8billion a big enough price to pay to make Google change its ways?" (Scottish Business Insider, 21 March 2019). Claire has also considered some of the challenges facing those wishing to push environmental agendas through the courts in “Is innovation best left to the scientists? ClientEarth’s novel legal challenge falls at the first hurdle”.
Presentations
Claire is a frequent speaker at events. In January 2024, she discussed the implications of the judgment in P&ID v Nigeria as part of Quadrant’s international arbitration review of 2023. At London International Disputes Week 2023 she spoke on resolving energy disputes in light of supply chain constraints, and later in the year spoke on the issues that can arise during the life cycle of a renewable contract. In 2021, in addition to speaking on a panel discussion entitled "Climate Change Disputes are on the Rise: How Courts and International Tribunals Will Play An Essential Role in Addressing the Climate Crisis" at New York Climate Week 2021, Claire participated in a panel discussing "Corruption in International Arbitration" at the Legal Business International Arbitration Summit in 2021, presented to the Association of Corporate Counsel (Houston) on Energy Disputes and participated in a panel discussing "How Not to Apply to Litigation Funding" both also in 2021.
In-house Experience
Claire's law firm experience includes the following law firm roles. She has also undertaken a secondment to Visa Europe's in-house team.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP (2019 to 2022), London. Partner in the Commercial Dispute Resolution and International Arbitration group.

Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP, London (2015-2019). Partner in the International Dispute Resolution group.

Crowell & Moring, London (2008-2014). Counsel (promoted from Associate) in the International Dispute Resolution team.

LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, London (2007). Associate in the International Arbitration team.

Weil Gotshal & Manges, London (2002 to 2006). Associate in the Dispute Resolution team.

Claire undertook pupillage at Littman Chambers, London and in DG Competition of the European Commission, Brussels.
Languages
French (fluent)

Claire Stockford specialises in arbitration, both international commercial arbitration and investor state disputes.  Claire was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1999.  Before joining Quadrant, Claire spent more than 20 years practising from the London offices of international and UK law firms, for the last seven of those years as a partner.

Claire advises and advocates for clients in disputes across a range of industries from oil and gas to hospitality, concerning jurisdictions as diverse as Kazakhstan and Madagascar. Recently, Claire's practice has focused on renewables, including solar, on-shore and off-shore wind and battery storage. She is particularly interested in climate change disputes. Claire's experience encompasses arbitrations under many of the most frequently encountered arbitration rules including the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) rules.

Claire's experience positions her to act not only as sole counsel or in combination with other barristers, but also as part of a team with in-house lawyers or instructing lawyers from law firms in the UK and elsewhere.  She is experienced in working as part of a team, and also managing teams of lawyers, as well as overseeing the strategic direction and conduct of disputes.

Claire was recognised as a "Future Leader" in international arbitration by Who's Who Legal from 2018 to 2023 and is currently a member of the ICC's UK Energy and Environment Committee. She is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and accepts appointments as arbitrator.

What the Directories Say
  • ‘Claire Stockford puts in the hours to get the job done and leaves no stone unturned.‘ (Legal 500 2023)
  • Very extensive experience in advising states ... ‘Claire Stockford acts in investor-state arbitration claims’ (Legal 500 2023)
International Arbitration
  • LCIA arbitration: advising the Respondents in a dispute regarding alleged unpaid invoices relating to work allegedly carried out by a foreign law firm
  • LMAA arbitration: advising the Owners in a dispute regarding settlement of arbitration proceedings
  • Advising a manufacturer of wind turbines in relation to a potential dispute regarding installation
  • ICDR arbitration: Representing the Claimant in a dispute concerning a power plant in Sub-Saharan Africa
  • ICC arbitration: Representing the Claimant in proceedings relating to a power plant in Madagascar
  • ICSID arbitration: Representing the Claimant investor in an investor-state claim against the State of Egypt under the Netherlands-Egypt bilateral investment treaty regarding the pipe sector (Future Pipe International B.V. v Arab Republic of Egypt (ICSID Case No ARB/17/31))
  • UNCITRAL arbitration: Defending a state in relation to investor-state claims made arising from the events of the "Arab Spring" brought under the Agreement for Promotion, Protection and Guarantee of Investments among the Member States of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (commonly known as the OIC Treaty) (D.S. Construction FZCO v State of Libya (PCA Case No 2017-21))
  • ICSID arbitration: Representing the Claimant in a claim against Kazakhstan under the Kazakhstan – USA bilateral investment treaty relating to an oil and gas investment (Caratube International Oil Company LLP v Republic of Kazakhstan (ICSID Case No ARB/08/12)
  • ICSID arbitration: Representing a Dutch investor in a claim made under the Netherlands-Turkey bilateral investment treaty relating to an infrastructure project in Turkey (Tulip Real Estate v Turkey (ICSID Case No ARB/11/28))
  • UNCITRAL arbitration: Representing an Italian investor in a claim against the Lithuanian state under the Italy-Lithuania bilateral investment treaty regarding a public tender relating to the manufacture of beverages (Luigiterzo Bosca. Republic of Lithuania (PCA Case No 2011-05))
  • ICDR arbitration: Representing a Fortune 100 company in relation to an ICDR arbitration and related foreign court proceedings concerning a dispute in the hospitality industry
  • Advising a Chinese state-owned enterprise in relation to an expert determination and potential arbitration in relation to a post-completion accounts dispute concerning an investment in a substantial wind farm
  • Advising in relation to a mediation and potential litigation proceedings regarding a solar and battery storage project in the UK
  • Advising in relation to potential arbitration proceedings concerning the development of a photovoltaic project in Sicily
  • Advising a European state fund in relation to a potential arbitration regarding a joint venture in an electricity supply and battery storage business
  • Advising  an  international  beverage  alcohol  company  on  UNCITRAL  arbitration  and  related  litigation proceedings concerning a dispute arising under a cost-sharing agreement
  • Advising on an ad hoc arbitration taking place in Switzerland regarding the battle for control of a US$2billion Russian mobile network

Claire also undertakes pro bono work and has recently been part of a team advising on the establishment of a centre for transitional justice in a post-conflict zone. 

Investment Treaty Disputes
  • ICSID arbitration: Representing the Claimant investor in an investor-state claim against the State of Egypt under the Netherlands-Egypt bilateral investment treaty regarding the pipe sector (Future Pipe International B.V. v Arab Republic of Egypt (ICSID Case No ARB/17/31))
  • UNCITRAL arbitration: Defending a state in relation to investor-state claims made arising from the events of the "Arab Spring" brought under the Agreement for Promotion, Protection and Guarantee of Investments among the Member States of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (commonly known as the OIC Treaty) (D.S. Construction FZCO v State of Libya (PCA Case No 2017-21))
  • ICSID arbitration: Representing the Claimant in a claim against Kazakhstan under the Kazakhstan – USA bilateral investment treaty relating to an oil and gas investment (Caratube International Oil Company LLP v Republic of Kazakhstan (ICSID Case No ARB/08/12)
  • ICSID arbitration: Representing a Dutch investor in a claim made under the Netherlands-Turkey bilateral investment treaty relating to an infrastructure project in Turkey (Tulip Real Estate v Turkey (ICSID Case No ARB/11/28))
  • UNCITRAL arbitration: Representing an Italian investor in a claim against the Lithuanian state under the Italy-Lithuania bilateral investment treaty regarding a public tender relating to the manufacture of beverages (Luigiterzo Bosca. Republic of Lithuania (PCA Case No 2011-05))
     
Energy
  • Advising a manufacturer of wind turbines in relation to a potential dispute regarding installation
  • ICDR arbitration: Representing the Claimant in a dispute concerning a power plant in Sub-Saharan Africa
  • ICC arbitration: Representing the Claimant in proceedings relating to a power plant in Madagascar
  • ICSID arbitration: Representing the Claimant in a claim against Kazakhstan under the Kazakhstan – USA bilateral investment treaty relating to an oil and gas investment (Caratube International Oil Company LLP v Republic of Kazakhstan (ICSID Case No ARB/08/12)
  • Advising a Chinese state-owned enterprise in relation to an expert determination and potential arbitration in relation to a post-completion accounts dispute concerning an investment in a substantial wind farm
  • Advising in relation to a mediation and potential litigation proceedings regarding a solar and battery storage project in the UK
  • Obtaining an anti-suit injunction in restraint of proceedings in the United Arab Emirates courts in breach of an exclusive jurisdiction clause in favour of the English Courts (Commercial Court) in relation to a contract for the sale and purchase of crude oil
  • Advising in relation to potential arbitration proceedings concerning the development of a photovoltaic project in Sicily
  • Advising a European state fund in relation to a potential arbitration regarding a joint venture in an electricity supply and battery storage business
     
Commercial Dispute Resolution
  •  Obtaining an anti-suit injunction in restraint of proceedings in the United Arab Emirates courts in breach of an exclusive jurisdiction clause in favour of the English Courts (Commercial Court) in relation to a contract for the sale and purchase of crude oil
  • Representing a major supermarket in relation to a dispute concerning a product withdrawal following safety concerns
  • Representing a major European airline in the long-running air cargo private competition litigation in the High Court and Court of Appeal (Emerald Supplies v British Airways and others)
  • Advising a Middle Eastern company in its claim in the High Court for breach of a settlement agreement (Al Saif Group v Robert Cable)