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Tomas Vail

Tomas Vail is an international lawyer based in London, with over a decade of arbitration experience. He is fluent in English, French and Russian. Mr Vail is recognised as a leading arbitration practitioner by Chambers UK, Legal 500 UK and Who’s Who Legal (including being recently listed as one of 15 “Most Highly Regarded” arbitration practitioners in EMEA). He has served in leadership positions of several prominent arbitration organisations and initiatives, including as an Advisory Board member of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration. He serves as a legal specialist to the American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative and in this capacity presented to the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan on arbitration matters. Mr Vail is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and regularly sits as arbitrator under the rules of major arbitral institutions. He is listed on the arbitrator databases of the LCIA, ICC, SCC, SIAC, AIAC, KCAB, VIAC. He regularly speaks and publishes on aspects of international arbitration and public international law. His recent writings include two book chapters: one on the Brčko Arbitration, in a book on non-state actors under international law (Nijhoff Brill); and a second on tribunal appointed experts, in a commentary on the UNCITRAL Model Law (Cambridge University Press). Further to his role as arbitrator, Mr Vail represents clients throughout the world, most frequently in Russia and the CIS, Eastern Europe and Africa, conducting disputes under the LCIA, SCC, ICC, ICSID and UNCITRAL rules and related court litigation. He has particular experience of the petroleum and mining industries, advising on high-value disputes between energy companies and states/state-owned entities. Mr Vail’s experience includes independently negotiating aspects of multi-billion dollar disputes and settlements at the highest levels of government, on behalf of both states and investors. He also has experience of complex disputes in the construction, telecommunications, financial services, commodities, consumer goods and manufacturing sectors, including joint-venture and post-M&A disputes. · Vail Dispute Resolution

EnglandInternational Arbitration, Commercial LitigationEnglish, Russian, French

About

International lawyer based in London with over a decade of arbitration experience who regularly sits as arbitrator and represents clients in LCIA, SCC, ICC, ICSID and UNCITRAL proceedings. He frequently advises on high‑value disputes in the energy and mining sectors and is fluent in English, French and Russian.

Practice areas

International ArbitrationCommercial LitigationPublic International Law

Office

England

Vail Dispute Resolution · Tomas Vail is an international lawyer based in London, with over a decade of arbitration experience. He is fluent in English, French and Russian. Mr Vail is recognised as a leading arbitration practitioner by Chambers UK, Legal 500 UK and Who’s Who Legal (including being recently listed as one of 15 “Most Highly Regarded” arbitration practitioners in EMEA). He has served in leadership positions of several prominent arbitration organisations and initiatives, including as an Advisory Board member of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration. He serves as a legal specialist to the American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative and in this capacity presented to the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan on arbitration matters. Mr Vail is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and regularly sits as arbitrator under the rules of major arbitral institutions. He is listed on the arbitrator databases of the LCIA, ICC, SCC, SIAC, AIAC, KCAB, VIAC. He regularly speaks and publishes on aspects of international arbitration and public international law. His recent writings include two book chapters: one on the Brčko Arbitration, in a book on non-state actors under international law (Nijhoff Brill); and a second on tribunal appointed experts, in a commentary on the UNCITRAL Model Law (Cambridge University Press). Further to his role as arbitrator, Mr Vail represents clients throughout the world, most frequently in Russia and the CIS, Eastern Europe and Africa, conducting disputes under the LCIA, SCC, ICC, ICSID and UNCITRAL rules and related court litigation. He has particular experience of the petroleum and mining industries, advising on high-value disputes between energy companies and states/state-owned entities. Mr Vail’s experience includes independently negotiating aspects of multi-billion dollar disputes and settlements at the highest levels of government, on behalf of both states and investors. He also has experience of complex disputes in the construction, telecommunications, financial services, commodities, consumer goods and manufacturing sectors, including joint-venture and post-M&A disputes.

England

Expertise

Energy & Natural Resources (petroleum & mining)Investor–State ArbitrationRussia & CISEastern EuropeAfricaConstructionTelecommunicationsFinancial ServicesCommoditiesConsumer GoodsManufacturingJoint‑venture & Post‑M&A disputesArbitrator appointments / institutional panels

Education

  • American University Washington College of Law, Juris Doctor
  • Université Paris X Nanterre, Masters studies in International Commercial Arbitration and Private International Law
  • Macalester College, Bachelor of Arts

Admissions

  • Solicitor, Senior Courts of England and Wales
  • Attorney and Counsellor at Law, New York
  • Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)

Languages

EnglishRussianFrench