Nick specialises in international arbitration and litigation, with a particular focus on investment treaty arbitration and public international law, in a range of sectors including telecoms, energy, banking and finance, pharmaceuticals and mining.

Ranked as a Next Generation Partner in Legal 500 UK, 2024 in both International Arbitration and Public International Law, Nick advises and represents corporates, individuals and governments in international arbitrations conducted under all major arbitration rules, including those of ICSID, UNCITRAL, the ICC and the LCIA.

Nick has been involved in some of the largest investment arbitration cases of recent years. Most recently, he successfully acted for a multinational telecoms company in its landmark victory against the imposition of a US$ 5.5 billion tax liability through retroactive legislation. In addition to India-related disputes, his experience extends to matters involving Africa, Russia / CIS and Latin America (where he spent time working in one of Argentina’s leading law firms).

Recognition

Ranked as a Next Generation Partner
Legal 500 UK, 2024

 Recognised by Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom, 2024

Recent publications

The End Is Near: the European Commission’s Proposed Coordinated Withdrawal from the ECT
NICHOLAS LAWN, ISABEL SAN MARTÍN
In: Kluwer Arbitration Blog, 24 July 2023

Challenging Arbitrators in Investment Arbitration: the Non-ICSID Framework
NICHOLAS LAWN, TRAJAN SHIPLEY
In: B. Legum (Ed.), The Investment Treaty Arbitration Review – 8th Edition, London, 2023

European Union
NICHOLAS LAWN, ISABELLE VAN DAMME, QUENTIN DECLEVE, REBECCA HALBACH
In: E. Triantafilou and S. Jagusch (Eds.), Lexology GTDT – Investment Arbitration 2022, London, 2022

Recent conferences

The Impact of Technology on Time and Costs in Investment Arbitration
NICHOLAS LAWN, Panellist
Bucharest, Bucharest Arbitration Days, 9 June 2023

Do’s And Don’ts in Investment Arbitration: Arbitrators and Party Representatives
NICHOLAS LAWN, Moderator
Mexico City, Mexico City Investment Arbitration Days, 18 May 2023

The Consequences of the Mutually Agreed Termination of Treaties
NICHOLAS LAWN, Panellist
London, BIICL, Thirty Sixth ITF Public Conference, 22 October 2021

The Re-Making of International Investment Law, Institutions and Politics?
NICHOLAS LAWN, Moderator
Milan, Society of International Economic Law Global Conference, 7 July 2021

Current memberships

  • Member of the LCIA European Users’ Council

Career history

  • Partner, LALIVE, 2023 – present
  • Partner, Van Bael & Bellis, 2021 – 2023
  • Counsel, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP, 2016 – 2021

Academic qualifications

  • LLM, Columbia University, 2014
  • MA, University of Oxford, 2000

Practices

  • Arbitration - International Commercial
  • Arbitration - Investment Treaty
  • Public International Law

Sectors

  • Banking & Finance
  • Construction & Infrastructure
  • Energy
  • Pharma
  • Technology

Languages

  • English

Nationality

  • British
  • Italian

Admission

  • England & Wales, 2005