Kamal Shah
Partner - Head of International Arbitration, London
Kamal is the head of Stephenson Harwood's International Arbitration, Africa and India groups.
Partner - Head of International Arbitration, London
Kamal is the head of Stephenson Harwood's International Arbitration, Africa and India groups.
Languages - Hindi, Kiswahili, French, Gujarati, English
Jurisdictions - England & Wales, Africa, India
Kamal Shah leads Stephenson Harwood's International Arbitration, Africa and India groups, offering unparalleled expertise in international arbitration, litigation, and fraud and asset recovery. His clients include governments, banks, and high net worth individuals, who rely on his deep understanding of multi-jurisdictional disputes and his ability to navigate intricate legal landscapes.
Kamal's practice spans a wide array of sectors, from energy and infrastructure to finance and public international law. Kamal provides strategic advice on high stakes matters, including enforcement of arbitration awards and complex shareholder disputes. His work with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Government of India highlights his capability to manage significant international cases, ensuring clients achieve favourable outcomes.
Kamal's approach is both meticulous and innovative, allowing clients to confidently address their most challenging legal issues. Clients value Kamal for his exceptional project management skills and his commitment to finding the right solutions. His leadership in African-related disputes and his role in co-publishing the text of the ‘African Promise’, which seeks to tackle the under-representation of Africans on international arbitration tribunals, demonstrates his dedication to advancing the field of international arbitration. Kamal is also the co-author of the leading text "Arbitration in Africa: A Review of Key Jurisdictions".
LNG dispute
Acted for GAIL (India) Limited, the Indian state-owned gas company, in a LCIA arbitration relating to claims of $1.8 billion arising from a dispute over the non-delivery of LNG supplies. We achieved a successful outcome for the client by way of an amicable settlement shortly before the hearing.
State owned oil company
Acting for a West African state-owned oil company against a leading International Oil Company in an ad hoc arbitration in a claim of over $1.5 billion, arising from a dispute over the application of pre-emption rights in a joint venture contract.
African energy conglomerate
Advised a leading energy and infrastructure conglomerate based in Africa on an arbitration against a southern African government in relation to the failure to pay more than $600 million for the supply and delivery of gasoline products.
Infrastructure project
Representing a large African conglomerate in a LCIA arbitration arising from delay related claims of approximately $150 million concerning a major infrastructure project.
Nigerian bank
Advised a Nigerian bank in respect of protecting its interests in assets in England in connection with proceedings in Nigeria relating to an outstanding debt of over $100 million.
Shareholder dispute in banking sector
Advising one of Africa's largest banking groups in a London-seated LCIA arbitration concerning the exercise of a put option. The dispute is in excess of $50 million.
Shareholder dispute
Acting for an African conglomerate with a significant operation in the ports and infrastructure sector. The London-seated LCIA arbitration concerns allegations that the African conglomerate has breached certain provisions of shareholder agreements, which are governed by the laws of an African state. Co-counselling with an African firm in the arbitration.
East African bank
Acting for an East African bank in a multi-party LCIA arbitration involving a complex syndicated financing dispute. The total value of the claim is circa $1 billion, and the case involves knotty issues of cross border financing, security structuring, and insolvency.
NNPC
Acting for NNPC (Nigeria's state-owned oil company) in a 14-year case resisting the enforcement of a $450 million plus arbitral award in England made in favour of ICPO (Nigeria) Limited. The case led to seven reported judgments of the English Commercial Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court. Our team won Dispute Resolution Team of the Year at the British Legal Awards 2018 for the ground-breaking work in the enforcement of arbitral awards.
Resisting enforcement of ad hoc award
Advising an Asian State-owned entity in resisting the enforcement of an arbitral award across various jurisdictions. This includes advising the client on enforcement risk for its businesses globally, liaising with local counsels in over 10 jurisdictions to develop strategy on the enforcement proceedings in the local courts and advising on steps necessary to defeat the existing and future enforcement attempts.
