Baiju Vasani
Overview
Baiju is a renowned leader in ISDS, international commercial arbitration, and public international law as both counsel and arbitrator. Before he joined the Bar in November 2022, Baiju spent 20 years in international law firm practice, including 12 as partner, leading large teams of lawyers in dozens of international arbitration disputes worth several tens of billions of dollars in aggregate.
His treaty practice has encompassed representation of States and investors under both ICSID and UNCITRAL Rules. Until February 2022, he split his time between Moscow and London leading the Russian Federation’s defence in six major investment treaty arbitrations. He has also advised States on the negotiation and drafting of investment treaties. Prior to that he led the international arbitration practices of major American law firms in London and Washington DC. In those roles, he won several high-profile treaty awards, with particular experience in creating and managing winning global strategies for investors in high-stakes, sensitive disputes involving geopolitical issues or major criminal allegations.
His international investment law experience has also been at the forefront of the intersection of international arbitration and public international law, having acted as lead counsel on seminal cases on treaty succession, disputed territories, and the effect of alleged illegality on arbitral jurisdiction.
His commercial arbitration record is equally robust. He is often called on to lead cases involving English law or a London seat, but has equally led cases seated elsewhere involving laws ranging from those of India, Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, UAE, Brazil, various US states, to Russia and the FSU, among others.
Baiju also regularly sits as arbitrator in treaty and commercial arbitrations, and welcomes such appointments through Chambers.
Finally, Baiju is a Senior Fellow of International Law at SOAS, University of London, where he teaches international arbitration to postgraduates from around the world. He also has an active pro bono practice using international dispute resolution techniques to further the global rule of law, and is passionate about bringing diversity into the international arbitration field.
Example Speeches
A selection of speaker engagements is below. A full list is available
upon request.
“Panel Discussion on Sanctions: New Challenges for
“Renewable Arbitration: insight for Asia-Pacific Parties”
“Arbitration in the era of web 3.0 and tokenomics” India ADR
“Bifurcation of liability and quantum should be the default”
“Roundtable on Sanctions: New Challenges for International
“Energy Projects and Investment Disputes: Complex Issues”
“Investment Arbitration and Investment Treaties at
“Special Features of International Arbitration in the Energy
“The Ukraine Conflict – What is at Stake?” The Center for
“Damages and Compensation in Investment Arbitration”
“Building Arbitrator Diversity in International Law” World
“Second Bite of the Apple: Is Public Policy Really only a Last
“Can BITs Apply in Disputed Territory?” Delos Tagtime
“What makes CIS disputes different?” Keynote address at
“Most Controversial Decisions under CIS Treaties” Thought
“Advocacy Workshop: How to Prevail in Multi-Billion Dollar
“Recent Controversial Decisions in the English Courts”
Education
Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, IL: Juris
Inns of Court School of Law, London, UK: Bar Vocational Course (BVC), May 1999.
University of Oxford – St. Peter’s College, Oxford, UK:
London School of Economics and Political Science, London,
University of London – King’s College, London, UK: Bachelor
Representative investor State matters
Sitting as Claimants-appointed arbitrator in Rand Investments Ltd and others v Republic of Serbia, ICSID Case No.
Sitting on ICSID Annulment Committee in BayWa r.e. Renewable Energy GmbH and BayWa r.e. Asset Holding GmbH v
Lead counsel in representation of a Canadian company and individual in an UNCITRAL arbitration against Kazakhstan in
Lead counsel in representation of a Canadian company in ICSID annulment proceedings against Kazakhstan in relation to
Lead counsel in representation of a Canadian company in UNCITRAL proceedings against Kazakhstan in relation to its
Counsel to Indian company in treaty arbitration against Mozambique in relation to a construction project (2022).
Lead counsel to the Russian Federation in six investment treaty arbitrations brought by Ukrainian investors over the
Lead counsel to an Estonian company in an ICSID arbitration against Kazakhstan in relation to its investment in the
Lead counsel to the Republic of Kyrgyzstan in an ICSID Additional Facility arbitration brought by Uzbek investors in
Lead counsel to a Turkish company and individuals in an ICSID arbitration against Uzbekistan in relation to their
Lead counsel to twelve Kazakh nationals in an ICSID arbitration against Uzbekistan in relation to their investment in the
Counsel to US company in UNCITRAL proceedings against Georgia in relation to its investment in the country’s retail
Counsel to a US company in ICSID annulment proceedings against Peru in relation to its investment in the country’s
Counsel to a US company in ICSID arbitration against Ecuador in relation to its investment in the country’s energy sector
Counsel to a US company in ICSID arbitration against Peru in relation to its investment in the country’s energy sector
Advised the Republic of Korea’s Justice Ministry in connection with its investment treaty program, with a special emphasis
Full list and further details (subject to confidentiality) available on request.
Representative commercial arbitration matters
Sitting as party-appointed arbitrator in ICC case in relation to tax sector. Ghanaian law, London seat (ongoing).
Sitting as arbitrator in several arbitrations under the ICC, LCIA, SIAC, ICDR, AAA, and UNCITRAL arbitration rules as sole,
Co-counsel to investment company in SIAC arbitration against Russian company. English law, Singapore seat, mining
Lead counsel to Montenegro in LCIA arbitrations with Greek resort owners. Montenegrin law, London seat, hospitality
Lead counsel to Swiss company in SIAC arbitration against Ukrainian company. English law, Singapore seat, banking
Lead counsel to Ghanaian company in LCIA arbitration with Ghanaian bank. Ghanaian law, London seat, banking (2021).
Lead counsel to US company in ICC arbitration with Indian company. English law, London seat, mining (2016-2019).
Lead counsel to US company in ICC arbitration with Saudi company. Washington law, London seat, defense (2016-2018).
Lead counsel to Kyrgyzstan in ICC arbitration with Canadian company. English law, London seat, IT (2015-2016).
Counsel to Kyrgyzstan in LCIA arbitration with UK company. English law, London seat, construction (2015-2016).
Lead counsel to two Ghanaian companies in ICC arbitration against Ghana. Ghanaian law, London seat, gold mining
Counsel to Kazakh company in an UNCITRAL arbitration with Kazakhstan. Kazakh law, London seat, agriculture
Counsel to Dutch company in ICC arbitration against English company. Swiss law, Paris seat, coal mining (2010-2011).
Counsel to Luxembourg companies in ICC arbitration with UAE company. UAE law, London seat, hospitality (2008-2011).
Counsel to Chilean company in AAA arbitration against US company. California law, Los Angeles seat, wine. (2008-2010)
Counsel to US company in ICC arbitration against Nigerian individual. English law, London seat, agency/oil (2004-2005)
Counsel to US company in ICC arbitration against Angolan individual. English law, London seat, agency/oil (2004-2005).
Counsel to UAE companies in ICDR/AAA arbitration against US company. Cayman Islands law, Houston seat, agency/oil
Counsel to Brazilian company in ICC arbitration against Brazilian state-owned entity. Brazilian law, Paris seat, electricity
Full list and further details (subject to confidentiality) available on request
Example Publications
A selection of recent publications is below. A full list is available upon request.
“Guarantees Against Expropriation in
“Chapter 1 – General Provisions” ICSID
“Article 50 of the ICSID Convention” The
“Why Domestic Parties in India Should be
“Bi-Trifurcation of Investment Disputes,”
“Burden of Proof Regarding Jurisdiction,”
Academic Appointments
SOAS, University of London, UK, Senior
Canterbury Christchurch University, UK,
University of Bedfordshire, Luton, UK,
Georgetown University, Washington, DC,
Ad hoc law school lectures: Harvard,
Professional Activities
Moderator of OGEMID, a leading email
Head of the Legal Task Force for the c
New York Convention Task Force for S
Head of the Program Committee for the