The bill making its way through the Russian Duma that would nationalize the assets of withdrawing companies has prompted considerable interest within the international arbitration community and affected multinationals. In response to these recent developments, CIAA is hosting a Zoom discussion on jurisdiction and enforcement strategies against Russia on April 12 (Tuesday), 12pm-1pm.
Participants can register for the event here to receive a Zoom link for the event. Please note that this event will not be recorded.
Speaker Biographies:
David Pinsky is a partner in the New York office of Covington & Burling LLP, where his practice focuses on international arbitration. He is also a member of Covington's Management Committee.
David's arbitration practice focuses both on investor-state and on commercial disputes, often arising in Russia and Eastern Europe. David is lead counsel to Ukraine's largest company, Naftogaz, in an investment arbitration against Russia, arising from Russia's unlawful expropriation of Naftogaz's assets upon annexing the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. He is also counsel to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in an investment dispute with Russia, arising from the Kremlin's crackdown on independent media. Most recently, in the aftermath of Russia's further invasion of Ukraine and the resulting sanctions regimes, David has been advising foreign investors in Russia in response to Russia's threats to nationalize the property of companies from so-called "unfriendly countries," with a focus on investment treaty protections.
David has handled administered proceedings under the ICC, SCC, LCIA, ICDR, and AAA Rules, as well as ad hoc proceedings under the UNCITRAL Rules. On the commercial side of his arbitration practice, David has particular expertise in disputes arising under the Uniform Commercial Code. In U.S. litigation, his practice focuses on international law issues, including litigation in support of arbitration and applications for discovery under 28 U.S.C. § 1782.
Jef Klazen focuses on international asset recovery, including the enforcement of judgments and arbitration awards. Described by the publishers of Global Arbitration Review as “renowned for his deep expertise in asset recovery” and his “excellent written advocacy,” he advises companies and individuals on how to monetize their legal claims and judgments and has particular experience with enforcement efforts arising from investor-state disputes that may involve state immunity.
With degrees in both U.S. and international law, Mr. Klazen is able to help clients develop and execute a global asset-tracing and recovery strategy, which may include the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and offshore jurisdictions. Mr. Klazen also litigates commercial disputes in New York courts and across the United States and is an aggressive advocate for clients in matters involving complex financial products at both the trial and appeal levels.
Before joining Kobre & Kim, Mr. Klazen worked at the International Court of Justice and at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands. He also practiced with Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in New York. Mr. Klazen served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Betty B. Fletcher of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Scott Vesel, a partner the Washington, DC office of Three Crowns, has a decade and a half of experience handling complex international investment and commercial arbitrations in the oil and gas, construction, energy, mining, gaming, defence, technology, and agribusiness sectors. In addition to his private practice in international arbitration, he has served as an attorney-advisor at the U.S. Department of State and at an international organisation.
Who’s Who Legal has recognised him every year since 2016, noting that clients singled him out as “one of the smartest lawyers I have ever worked with”, describing him as “a thoughtful and well-regarded practitioner”, and praised his “impressive pre-hearing preparation and his advocacy”. He is listed in The Legal 500’s 2019 UK Arbitration Powerlist and recommended in The Legal 500 UK where he “attracts praise for his ability to ‘master complex issues’”.
Scott holds JD, MA, and BA degrees from Yale University, as well as an MPA degree from Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. He is qualified as an attorney in New York and as a barrister in England & Wales and speaks English, French, German, Russian, and basic Latvian.
Joana Rego, founding partner at Raedas, has over 15 years’ experience advising on commercially and politically sensitive disputes, Joana is skilled at gathering evidence, obtaining leverage, and developing strategies in support of complex litigation, arbitration, and high-value asset recovery. Ranked in Chambers as a ‘Spotlight Individual’ for Asset Tracing & Recovery (Investigations) in 2020 and 2021, she has supported enforcement actions against individuals, companies and sovereign states across European, US and Caribbean courts.
Recognised in Chambers as “outstanding”, and “adept at getting quick results”, clients praise Joana’s “ability to analyse complex matters” and “her excellence in pursuing alternative investigative strategies”. Joana is frequently invited to speak on asset recovery, fraud and corruption investigations at leading industry conferences. She is a Founding Committee member of ThoughtLeaders4 FIRE Starters, an industry group for the next generation fraud and asset recovery practitioners.
Prior to co-founding Raedas in 2016, Joana was a partner and co-chair of the dispute consulting group at investigations firm GPW. She was previously an investigator for Diligence in Brussels and London. She began her career working in international development cooperation at the OECD and the United Nations.
