Professor Stavros Brekoulakis
Practice Overview
Stavros Brekoulakis is the Michael & Laura Hwang Professor of International Arbitration at the National University of Singapore and an arbitrator at 3 Verulam Buildings, Gray’s Inn. With more than 25 years of experience in international law and arbitration, he is widely recognised as a leading authority in the field.
He has consistently been ranked as a Global Elite Thought Leader in arbitration and as one of the 25 most highly regarded arbitrators in the EMEA region. He has been shortlisted three times for the GAR Best Prepared/Most Responsive Arbitrator Award and received the 2020 GAR Award for Best Speech.
Stavros has served as chair, sole arbitrator, co-arbitrator, and emergency arbitrator in more than 100 investment and commercial arbitrations conducted under all major institutional rules. His practice encompasses complex contractual and treaty disputes in infrastructure, energy and natural resources, corporate transactions and M&A, and other high-value commercial sectors.
He currently serves as a member of the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators, following his designation by the Government of the Hellenic Republic, as Vice-President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, and as a member of the ICCA Governing Board. He has also held senior positions with the ICC Institute of World Business Law, the ICC Commission on Arbitration, the LCIA Court, the ITA Task Force on the Rule of Law and Arbitration (as Co-Chair), the UK Department for International Trade’s Investment Expert Group, and the Africa Arbitration Academy’s Model BIT Drafting Committee.
Stavros is also widely regarded as a leading scholar in international arbitration and has been invited to deliver the 2026 Summer Course on Private International Law at the Hague Academy of International Law. He has authored several leading monographs and books, as well as numerous articles published in the foremost international law journals. He is General Editor of the Journal of International Dispute Settlement, Co-Editor of Kluwer’s International Arbitration Law Library series, and Deputy General Editor of Arbitration International. His research has been cited with approval by arbitral tribunals and national courts, including the UK Privy Council, the High Court of England and Wales, the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, and the Supreme Court of India.
Recommendations
Peers and clients say:
“Stavros is an incredible academic mind with impressive practical experience”; “He is a real star in the arbitration field”; “He runs a tight ship as arbitrator.”
— WWL Arbitration 2026, which ranks Stavros as a Global Elite Thought Leader and one of the most highly regarded arbitrators worldwide
“Stavros is extremely knowledgeable about all things arbitration-related”; “He is not afraid to delve into complicated factual and technical issues”; “He is highly recommended for construction matters.”
— WWL Arbitration 2025, which ranks Stavros as a Global Elite Thought Leader and one of the most highly regarded arbitrators worldwide
“Stavros is one of the best arbitrators of his generation—a brilliant mind”; “One of the foremost arbitrators practising in England”; “He is tremendously intelligent and hardworking.”
— WWL Arbitration 2024, which ranks Stavros as a Global Elite Thought Leader and one of the most highly regarded arbitrators worldwide
“Stavros is just fantastic, combining legal expertise with practical knowledge”; “He is an arbitration specialist with a brilliant mind”; “He consistently explores boundaries in international arbitration, always coming up with interesting ideas.”
— WWL Arbitration 2023, which ranks Stavros as a Global Elite Thought Leader and one of the most highly regarded arbitrators worldwide
“One of the great minds in the international arbitration world”; “Extremely intelligent, hard-working and highly respected arbitrator”; “Has established a reputation as the go-to in arbitration”; “Highly recommended for his impressive experience in commercial and investment arbitration.”
— WWL Arbitration 2022, which ranks Stavros as a Global Elite Thought Leader and one of the most highly regarded arbitrators worldwide
“He is excellent and very active in construction work”; “He is a critical and novel thinker as an academic, and is pragmatic as counsel or arbitrator”; “He has a complete command of the applicable law and of best practices in international arbitration”; “He is an excellent arbitrator and academic.”
— WWL Arbitration 2021
“A powerhouse in international arbitration”; “He is highly respected and is making a name for himself as one of the great minds in the international arbitration world”; “A very well-regarded academic and arbitrator.”
— WWL Arbitration 2020
“Stavros has a seemingly encyclopaedic recall of jurisprudence”; “Stavros is extremely intelligent, a true team player and a pleasure to work with”; “A reigning thought leader in the arbitration space.”
— WWL Arbitration 2019
“Stands out as a first-rate arbitrator regularly engaged in matters arising out of major infrastructure projects around the world.”
— WWL Arbitration 2018
Arbitrator Appointments
Investment treaty arbitrations
- Chair under the UNCITRAL Rules in a PCA-administered, multi-million investment treaty arbitration brought by an investor from an African state against a Middle Eastern state.
- Co-arbitrator under the UNCITRAL Rules in a PCA-administered investment treaty arbitration brought by an Eastern European investor against an Eastern European state.
- Chair under the UNCITRAL Rules in a PCA-administered, multi-million investment treaty arbitration brought by an investor from a Central Asian state against an African state in relation to a major infrastructure project.
- Co-arbitrator under the UNCITRAL Rules in a PCA-administered, multi-billion investment treaty arbitration brought by a North American investor against a Southeast Asian state in relation to a major infrastructure project
Infrastructure, Construction, & Engineering
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of the International Chamber of Commerce in a multi-million dispute arising out of a water purchase agreement for a major reverse-osmosis desalination project in Abu Dhabi, concerning extensions of time, COVID-19 and force majeure, prolongation costs and delay counterclaims (seat in Abu Dhabi, UAE and Abu Dhabi law).
- Arbitrator under the UNCITRAL Rules in an OMR 330 million dispute arising out of a civil engineering and construction contract supporting oil and gas operations in Oman, involving valuation of variations, alleged underpayments and an overpayment counterclaim (Omani law).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of Singapore International Arbitration Centre in a SGD 3.5 billion dispute arising out of a major EPC/Turnkey Project for the construction of a High Speed Railway (seat in Singapore, Indonesian law).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of Singapore International Arbitration Centre in a US$ 900 million dispute arising out of a series of contracts for the construction of LNG carriers (seat in Singapore, English law).
- Chairman under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration in a US$ 260 million dispute arising out of a subcontract for the construction of a desalination plant in Saudi Arabia (seat in London, Saudi law including Sharia law).
- Chairman under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration in a dispute arising out of an EPC contract between a Chinese and a Ghanaian party (seat in London, Ghanaian law).
- Chairman under the Rules of Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of an engineering project in Kazakhstan between a Turkish engineering company and a UAE contractor (seat in Abu Dhabi, Kazakh law).
- Chairman under the UNCITRAL Rules in a multi-million dispute arising out of an EPC contract for a refinery and terminal project between a Saudi Arabian and an English party (seat in London, English governing law).
- Chairman under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a US$ 250 million dispute arising out of a contract for the construction of a hydropower plant between a German construction company and a Romanian employer (seat in Paris, Romanian law).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a US$ 350 million dispute arising out of an EPC contract for the construction of a desalination plant between a UAE party and a Spanish party (seat in Dubai, UAE law).
- Chairman under the UNCITRAL Rules concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of a transport and road infrastructure project (FIDIC conditions) between an Italian party and a Moldovan party (seat in Paris, Moldovan law).
- Chairman under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of a licence and distribution agreement between an Irish and Finnish party (seat in Dublin, Finnish law).
- Co-arbitrator in a consolidated case under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce, concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of an EPC contract and subcontract between a French, a Spanish and a German party (seat in France, French law).
- Chairman under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of a subcontract for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant (FIDIC conditions) between a Romanian party and a German party (seat in Bucharest, Romanian law).
- Chairman under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of a construction project between a Brazilian and a US party as Claimants, and a Brazilian party as Respondent (seat in New York, Brazilian law).
- Chairman under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a multi-million dispute between a German contractor and a Romanian State entity arising out of the construction of a major infrastructure project (FIDIC Rules, seat in Bucharest, Romanian law).
- Sole Arbitrator under the Rules of Stockholm Chamber of Commerce concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of a construction project between a Moldovan JV and a State entity (seat in Stockholm, Russian law).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a US$ 500 million dispute arising out of an engineering subcontract (seat in Doha, law of Qatar).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a US$ 220 million dispute arising out of the construction of a desalination plant in UAE (seat in Dubai, laws of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and UAE federal laws).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce, concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of the construction of a major infrastructure project between a multi-national construction consortium and a State entity (seat in Athens, Greek law).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of Singapore International Arbitration Centre, concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of a contract for engineering, procurement and supply of LNG -related goods and technology (seat in Singapore, English law).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of London Maritime Arbitrators Association, concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of a contractor for design, procurement and construction of a luxury yacht (seat in London, English Law).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce between a German contractor and a State entity arising out of the construction of a major infrastructure project (FIDIC Rules, seat in Bucharest, Romanian law).
Energy & Natural Resources
- Arbitrator under the Rules of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre in a multi-million dispute arising out of agreements for the fabrication and delivery of power modules and a substation for the Arctic LNG 2 project, involving sanctions, termination, delay and non-delivery claims (seat in Singapore, English law).
- Arbitrator under the Rules of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre in a multi-million dispute arising out of a parent company guarantee relating to the fabrication and delivery of power modules for the Arctic LNG 2 project (seat in Singapore, English law).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of the International Chamber of Commerce in a US$ 104 million dispute arising out of an EPCI agreement for the pipeline system of the Alexandroupolis liquefied natural gas terminal (seat in Athens, Greek law).
- Co-arbitrator under the ICC Rules in a US$ 1,2 billion dispute concerning the development of a nuclear plant in Northern Europe (seat in Geneva, English law).
- Chairman under the UNCITRAL Rules concerning a dispute arising out of a gas pricing agreement in Eastern Europe (seat in Stockholm, English law).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of Stockholm Chambers of Commerce in a US$ 150 million dispute arising out of the development of a major gas-condensate field in the Republic of Uzbekistan between a Malaysian and an Uzbek party (seat in Stockholm, law of Uzbekistan).
- Co-arbitrator under the UNCITRAL Rules in a multi-million dispute arising out of a contract supply contract between a Russian and a Swiss Party (seat in London, English Law).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a US$ 200 million dispute arising out of a contract for the delivery of crude oil between a State entity and a group of buyers from Switzerland, the UK and UAE (seat in Singapore, English law).
- Chairman under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce in a dispute arising out of a series of coal supply contracts between a Brazilian and a US party (seat in London, English law).
- Chairman under the UNCITRAL Rules concerning a dispute arising out of a contract for the construction of underground natural gas storage between a Polish and an Italian party (seat in Warsaw, Polish law).
- Co-arbitrator under the ICC Rules in a multi-million dispute arising out of a hydroelectric power project between an investor and an African State (seat in Paris).
- Co-arbitrator under the UNCITRAL Rules in a multi-million dispute arising out of a series of coal supply agreements (seat in Paris, English law).
Corporate and M&A
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of the International Chamber of Commerce in a US$ 299 million dispute arising out of a share purchase agreement for a portfolio of operational solar and wind energy assets and development projects in India (seat in London, Indian law).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre in an HKD 400 million dispute arising out of a share purchase agreement and alleged corporate raid involving Cypriot and Russian parties (seat in Hong Kong, Russian law).
- Chairman under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration in a breach of warranties and indemnities dispute arising out of Share Purchase Agreement (seat in London, English Law).
- Chairman under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce in a dispute arising out of a Shareholders Agreement between English and Swiss Parties (seat in London, Swiss law).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of the International Chamber of Commerce concerning a Shareholders Agreement dispute between a Turkish party and a UAE party (seat in Istanbul, Turkish law).
- Sole Arbitrator under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration concerning a post-M&A dispute between a Singaporean and a Swiss party (seat in London, English law).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a dispute in the field of hospitality between a Cypriot and a Greek party (seat in Cyprus, English law).
- Chairman under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a post-M&A dispute between two Greek parties (seat in Athens, Greek law).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration concerning a post-M&A dispute between a BVI party and a US party (seat in London, English law).
- Sole Arbitrator under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration concerning a multiparty dispute between a number of Kuwaiti and Swiss parties arising out of an M&A and investment agreement (seat in London, English law).
Commercial
- Chairman under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration, concerning a dispute arising out of a sale of goods contract (CISG) between an English and a Dutch party (seat in London, English law).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a multi-million dispute arising out of a concession contract between a Greek construction company and a State entity (seat in Athens, Greek law).
- Co-arbitrator under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules concerning a dispute between an Irish and a Singaporean party arising out of a coal supply contract (seat in London, English law).
- Co-arbitrator under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules concerning a consulting agreement for a major concession contract in Botswana (seat in Johannesburg, law of Botswana).
- Chairman under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration concerning a dispute arising out of a supply contract between an English party and a Lebanese party (seat in London, English law).
- Chairman under the Rules of International Chamber of Commerce concerning a multi-million pharmaceutical dispute between a UK and a Swiss Party (seat in Paris, English law).
- Sole Arbitrator under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration concerning a dispute arising out of a finance agreement between an English party and a UAE party (seat in London, English law).
- Sole Arbitrator under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration concerning a dispute arising out of a finance agreement between an English party and a Swiss party (seat in London, English law).
- Sole Arbitrator under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration concerning a dispute arising out of a sale of goods contract between a Swiss party and a US party (seat in London, English law).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration concerning a dispute arising out of a finance agreement between a US party and a Jordanian party (seat in London, English law).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of London Court of International Arbitration concerning a dispute arising out of a carbon credit project development between an Australian Bank, and a German, a Chinese and a Swiss company (seat in London, English law).
- Co-arbitrator under the Rules of Danish Institute of Arbitration concerning a dispute between a Danish party and a Greek party arising out of an exclusive distribution agreement (seat in Copenhagen, Danish law).
