Tim Taylor is a Solicitor Advocate who
has specialised in complex international dispute resolution throughout
his professional career since qualifying with Herbert Smith in 1980.
His practice embraces litigation as well as arbitration and mediation
and spans both private international law and public international law
issues.
Tim headed SJ Berwin’s litigation
department from 1997 to 2004, after which time he began to spearhead
the firm’s International Arbitration practice. He has represented
clients affected by disputes, investigations and other crisis
situations involving courts, arbitration tribunals and other national
and international institutions in over 30 different countries.
Tim’s clients have ranged from private
citizens to Heads of State, Governments, Multi-nationals, Hedge Funds,
Private Equity Houses, Investments Banks and a range of other
commercial interests operating across a broad spectrum of industry
sectors including commodities, oil and gas, insurance, pharmaceuticals,
film, media, gambling, satellites, defence procurement and
telecommunications.
International Arbitration
Tim has conducted numerous
arbitrations (both ad hoc and institutional) including ICC, LCIA,
UNCITRAL, IFTA (formerly AFMA) and under various commodity association
rules.
Disputes subject to arbitration in which he has acted recently include:
- disputes concerning both the construction and operation of satellites;
- defending a claim against a leading US travel goods manufacturer (LCIA);
- a fee dispute between a private equity fund manager and a placement agent (JAMS);
- an investment treaty claim against a Central European State;
- disputes relating to film rights (IFTA);
- a dispute concerning an internet gaming site (AAA);
- a dispute concerning the televising of the All Africa Games (LCIA);
- a dispute concerning the acquisition of a brewery;
- a dispute over a central London property development (ICC); and
- a dispute over the acquisition of a dairy equipment manufacturing business (ICC).
In addition to representing parties as counsel, Tim also acts as arbitrator including appointments by both the LCIA and the ICC.
Tim has been appointed to the panels
of arbitrators of the International Film and Television Alliance (IFTA)
and International Court of Arbitration of the Kyrgyz Republic and of
Kazakhstani International Arbitrage.
Public International Law
Throughout his career, Tim has acted
for various states and parastatal organisations in cases raising both
Private International Law issues and, in many instances, Public
International Law issues. Sovereign clients have included:
- the Sultan of Brunei
- the late King of Morocco
- the Estate of a Nigerian Head of State who died in office
- the Republic of Malawi
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
- Peru
- Armenia
- Guinea-Bissau
State interests against which he has
acted have included Nigeria, The Czech Republic, Sweden and The
Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Public International Law issues raised have included:
- the Impact of the UN Resolutions
- the Legality and resolution of Armed Conflict
- Self-Determination, Plebiscites and Referenda
- Sovereign Immunity
- Diplomatic Privileges
- the Assignability of Sovereign debt and Paris and London Club issues.
In addition, Tim acts in Investment
Disputes in which Public International Law is engaged alongside the
municipal law of investee States.
Tim is recognised as a leader in the
field of dispute resolution in the Legal Business, Legal Experts’
Directory and the Chambers Global Directory of the World Leading
Lawyers. He is variously described in Chambers and Legal 500 as
"superb", "a strong and intelligent advocate", "a marvellous and
mercurial figure", and as having "an extraordinary mind which allows
him to bring something different to any piece of litigation".
Tim lectures and writes
internationally on issues in dispute resolution. He was co-author of
Sweet & Maxwell’s’ European Litigation Handbook and has been the
author of published articles on subjects as diverse as the legality of
war; "War the Mother of All Mass Torts" (Sedona Journal) and "Good
Faith in International Commercial Transactions" (Arbitration
International).
Tim is a member or affiliate of the
IBA, ABA, LCIA ASA and BIICL. He is also the founding director of
International Lawyers for Africa (www.ilfa.org.uk)