Henry Simpson
Associate
Henry has acted on many arbitrations and enforcement matters, and has particular experience of cases with complex legal, commercial, and political elements.
Associate
Henry has acted on many arbitrations and enforcement matters, and has particular experience of cases with complex legal, commercial, and political elements.
Language - English
Jurisdiction - England & Wales
Since qualifying in March 2021, Henry's practice has developed to include international arbitration, award enforcement, and commercial disputes, with a particular focus on energy and shareholder disputes, and cases with political dimensions.
Henry has acted for HNW individuals, corporates, and state-owned entities in a variety of disputes before Tribunals and the Courts. He provides focused, practical legal advice, which reflects clients' commercial and political concerns.
He is an experienced arbitration practitioner, having acted in large number of arbitration matters, under a variety of institutional rules including the LCIA, ICC, and various commodity trading frameworks. Henry is also an English-qualified solicitor-advocate (Higher Courts Civil), seeks to make oral advocacy part of the services offered to clients, and has been appointed as tribunal secretary in an ICC arbitration.
An important part of Henry's practice also concerns arbitration enforcement matters. He has successfully represented clients seeking to either enforce, or resist, the enforcement of arbitral awards both in the English Courts and internationally. He is also particularly experienced in enforcement matters across multiple jurisdictions, involving complex corporate structures and State-owned entities.
Henry enjoys practicing as a disputes' lawyer and helping clients navigate, and successfully resolve, their legal problems.
Asian State-owned entity
Advising an Asian State-owned entity in resisting the enforcement of an arbitral award across various jurisdictions, including 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.
West African state-owned oil company
Acted for a West African state-owned oil company against a leading International Oil Company in a claim of over US$1.5 billion as part of 4-lawyer team which represented a state-owned oil company arising out of a joint venture agreement. The matter involved no English law and required close cooperation with the local counsel and the client to achieve a positive outcome. Henry was a key part of the team, assisting with drafting of written pleadings, liaising with client day-to-day, and with multiple witnesses and experts, to ensure persuasive, effective advocacy of the client's position.
African energy conglomerate
Advised a leading energy and infrastructure conglomerate based in Africa on an ad hoc arbitration against a southern African government in relation to the failure to pay more than US$600 million for the supply and delivery of gasoline products, governed by foreign law. The matter involved enforcement proceedings in separate jurisdictions, and required strategic advice, reflecting the legal, commercial, and political elements of the dispute, to achieve a positive outcome for the client.
African Terminal Operator
Acting for a terminal operator in a large West African seaport in a LCIA arbitration relating to claims commenced by a shipping line concerning certain financial incentives in an operating agreement. The matter concerns a US$95+ million claim, and draws upon Henry's experience of English seated arbitrations and working with local counsel to ensure the provision of efficient, effective legal services to clients.
Enforcement of an award in English Courts
Successfully obtained the recognition of a multimillion arbitration award under Section 66 of the English Arbitration Act 1996 within weeks of instruction then obtained from the English Courts freezing orders over banks accounts held by the award debtor, leading to complete recovery of outstanding funds under the award within 4 months of instruction.
Eastern European Real Estate dispute
Represented Respondents in a €20m+ ICC arbitration arising out of a disputed property deal in Eastern Europe, successfully coordinating with local counsel in parallel proceedings in three other jurisdictions. Henry represented the client through the interlocutory phase of the arbitration involving requests for freezing injunctions, security for costs, and bifurcation, and provided oral submissions at the hearing.
Sanctions agriculture dispute
Acted for a leading agricultural products provider in three €30m+ LCIA arbitrations concerning the application of sanctions arising out the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
High Court fraud case
Acting for an English corporate in a matter relating to alleged fraud by a finance provider.
HNW individual
Acting as a 'General Counsel' to a HNW individual, assisting in contractual disputes with service providers, strategic advice relating family members targeted by foreign governments, estate planning, and re-structuring of the family corporate vehicles.
