Belinda has developed a busy and wide-ranging practice, focusing on public international law, civil fraud and complex contract disputes, jurisdiction challenges (including relating to Brexit), and all aspects of international arbitration (including enforcement and challenges to awards in London-seated arbitrations).
Since she joined Chambers in 2015, she has appeared in the Supreme Court (five times), the Court of Appeal (including as sole counsel), the High Court (Commercial Court, Chancery Division, Administrative Court and Family Division), and before arbitral tribunals under a variety of rules (UNCITRAL, ICSID, LCIA, ICC, and LMAA). She also sits as arbitrator, having been appointed as sole or wing arbitrator on 7 separate occasions. She has also been appointed to the Attorney General’s Civil and Public International Law Panels.
Belinda has appeared in several high-profile cases, the subject matter of which attest to the diversity of her practice. These include acting on behalf of a group of lenders in linked Commercial Court anti-suit and arbitration proceedings (Africa Finance v Aiteo [2022] EWHC 768 (Comm)); on behalf of the Foreign Secretary in the Venezuela Gold case before the Supreme Court (Guaidó Board v Maduro Board [2022] 2 WLR 167); on behalf of Ukraine in the Ukraine v Russia application before the European Court of Human Rights arising out of the Russian invasion; on behalf of a defendant in the large-scale fraud claim in Public Institution for Social Security of Kuwait v Al Rajaan before the Commercial Court (one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2020); on behalf of the United States in inter-State cases before the Iran-US Claims Tribunal and the International Court of Justice; and in a rare shipping case before the Supreme Court (The Global Santosh [2016] 1 WLR 1853).
Belinda is described as ‘absolutely exceptional’, a ‘fabulous oral advocate’ and a ‘go-to junior’ by the legal directories, in which she is ranked across the fields of commercial litigation, public international law and international arbitration. In 2022, she was the winner of ‘International Arbitration Junior of the Year’ at The Legal 500 Bar awards. She was also included as one of The Legal 500 Top 10 barristers under 8 years’ call in commercial litigation for two years.
Before joining Chambers, Belinda was an Associate at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP. She brings a modern, practical and team-oriented approach to her work as a result. Belinda has also worked in international courts and tribunals in Cambodia, Tanzania and Australia, including as an associate to the Hon. Justice Dyson Heydon AC, at Australia’s highest court. She is a graduate of the Universities of Cambridge and Queensland.
A selection of Belinda’s most recent reported/ public cases is set out below. More comprehensive information is available on request.
Privacy noticeExample cases
- Public Institution for Social Security v Al Rajaan (2020-present): counsel for the twenty-first defendant in a claim of over US$800 million brought by a Kuwaiti Government entity against over 40 defendants in the Commercial Court, alleging a wide-ranging fraud committed against the State pension fund (with Blair Leahy QC).
- Corinna Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn v His Majesty Juan Carlos Alfonso Victor Maria de Borbon y Borbon (2022-present): counsel for the former King of Spain in a high-profile case before the High Court and Court of Appeal involving preliminary issues of state immunity and service (including as related to Brexit) (with Sir Daniel Bethlehem QC, Philippa Webb and Ben Silverstone). Belinda made oral submissions on His Majesty’s behalf at the consequentials hearing in March 2022.
- Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (and others) v Aiteo Eastern E&P Company Limited [2022] EWHC 768 (Comm): counsel for the successful claimants in a hard-fought anti-suit claim in support of two ICC arbitrations arising out of two facilities agreements to the value of US$2 billion, leading to a three-day Commercial Court trial (with Ben Juratowitch QC).
- AAA PLC v Persons Unknown (2021-2022): sole counsel for the first respondent/ defendant in a fraud-related harassment claim under the Media and Communications List of the Queen’s Bench Division, involving resisting an appeal before the Court of Appeal in relation to an interim injunction and a Part 11 jurisdiction challenge on service and material non-disclosure grounds.
- The “Maduro Board” of the Central Bank of Venezuela v The “Guaidó Board” of the Central Bank of Venezuela [2022] 2 WLR 167: counsel for the Foreign Secretary intervening in high-profile commercial proceedings before the Supreme Court on issues concerning the recognition of foreign heads of government and the foreign act of State doctrine (with Sir James Eadie QC, Sir Michael Wood and Jason Pobjoy).
- Dynasty Co for Oil and Gas Trading Ltd v Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq y [2021] 3 WLR 1095; [2021] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 275: counsel for the claimant in a US$1.6 billion claim arising out of a production sharing contract in Iraq, raising complex issues of state immunity and the application of the Brussels Regulation in a preliminary issue trial before the Commercial Court (with Charles Kimmins QC, Richard Waller QC and Daniel Benedyk).
- Certain Iranian Assets(2019-present): counsel to the United States of America in proceedings brought by Iran in the International Court of Justice concerning alleged violations of the Treaty of Amity (with Sir Daniel Bethlehem QC).
Arbitration
Arbitration claims before the English courts
- Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (and others) v Aiteo Eastern E&P Company Limited [2022] EWHC 768 (Comm): counsel for the successful claimants in a hard-fought anti-suit claim in support of two ICC arbitrations arising out of two facilities agreements to the value of US$2 billion, leading to a three-day Commercial Court trial (with Ben Juratowitch QC).
- Y v State of X (2021): sole counsel for an Eastern Europe State seeking to resist the enforcement of an award under the UK’s ICSID enforcement regime.
- PL Holdings v The Republic of Poland(2018-present): counsel for the defendant in enforcement proceedings under ss 66 and 103 Arbitration Act 1996 pending before the Commercial Court involving questions as to the applicability of the CJEU’s judgment in Achmea (with Sara Masters QC).
- RJ v HB[2018] EWHC 2833 (Comm) and [2018] EWHC 2958 (Comm): counsel for the defendant in challenge to an award under s 68 Arbitration Act 1996 involving a novel question as to the removal of an arbitrator by the court (with Charles Kimmins QC).
- W v X Company[2017] EWHC 3430 (Comm): counsel for the claimant in Commercial Court proceedings, successfully obtaining a rare order under s 42 Arbitration Act 1996 to enforce a peremptory order of a tribunal, as well as uncontested orders under s 43 and s 44 (with Michael Ashcroft QC).
- The Kyrgyz Republic v Stans Energy Corp and Kutisay Mining LLC[2017] EWHC 2539 (Comm): counsel for the defendants in Commercial Court proceedings, successfully resisting a challenge to the jurisdiction of an UNCITRAL tribunal in an investment treaty claim under s 67 Arbitration Act 1996 (with Ben Juratowitch QC).
- Section 66 Application(2016-2017): counsel for the defendant in Commercial Court proceedings resisting the enforcement of a US$1.2 billion LCIA Award in the Commercial Court under s 66 Arbitration Act 1996, which ultimately settled (with Laurence Rabinowitz QC, Charles Kimmins QC and others).
Commercial arbitration
- ICC Arbitrations (2020-present): counsel for the claimants in two separate ICC arbitrations seeking to recover a substantial debt arising out of facilities agreements created to finance the purchase of an interest in a substantial oil mining lease in Nigeria (with Ben Juratowitch QC and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP).
- LCIA Arbitration (2020-present): sole counsel for the claimant claiming under a logistics services agreement in respect of a substantial power plant project in South America.
- LCIA Arbitration (2019): counsel for the respondent in a London-seated arbitration arising out of the collapse of business relations between two individuals, concerning allegations of fraud and forgery (with Paul Lowenstein QC).
- ICC Arbitrations (2019-2020): counsel for the claimants in linked ICC arbitration proceedings seated in Hong Kong arising out of a private equity investment (with Charles Kimmins QC).
- LCIA Arbitration (2019-2020): counsel for the respondents in a dispute concerning the sale of shares in a mining investment in Africa and the alleged failure of the respondents to offer the claimant the first right of refusal (with Paul Key QC and Adam Woolnough).
- ICC Arbitrations(2018-2020): counsel for the claimant in two consolidated arbitrations under the ICC Rules arising out of a high-value corporate acquisition (with Nigel Rawding QC).
- LMAA Arbitrations(2017-2018): counsel for the claimant in two arbitration references under the LMAA Terms concerning the breach of termination of agreements for the sale and purchase of two newbuilding vessels (with Michael Ashcroft QC).
- UNCITRAL Arbitration(2017): part of the counsel team for the claimant, a major national oil company, in a US$300+ million dispute under a drilling services contract (with Duncan Matthews QC and Edward Ho), including applications before the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court (with Timothy Young QC).
Investment arbitration
- Invenergy v Republic of Poland (PCA Case No. 2018-40) (2019-present): counsel for the Republic of Poland in a claim arising under the US-Poland BIT concerning the claimants’ alleged US$700 million investment in the wind energy sector (with Guglielmo Verdirame QC and Michal Hain).
- C v State D(2018): sole counsel for the claimant in an investment treaty case under the Greece-Russia BIT for claims including breach of the fair and equitable treatment standard.
- A v State B (2017): sole counsel for the respondent in an investment treaty case under the India-UK bilateral investment treaty brought under the UNCITRAL Rules for claims including a breach of the fair and equitable treatment standard.
- China Heilongjiang International Economic & Technical Cooperative Corp (and others) v Mongolia(PCA Case No. 2010-20): counsel for the Claimants in a PCA-administered ad hoc arbitration (using both the UNCITRAL and ICSID Rules for guidance) under the China-Mongolia BIT relating to the expropriation of a mining licence (with Peter Turner QC).
- Yosef Maiman v The Arab Republic of Egypt(PCA Case No. 2012-026) and Ampal-American Israel Corporation v The Arab Republic of Egypt (ICSID Case No. ARB/12/11): counsel for two consortiums of investors in multi-billion dollar arbitrations under the UNCITRAL and ICSID Rules against Egypt involving the cessation of gas supply to Israel (with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP).
- Guaracachi America & Rurelec v Bolivia(PCA Case No. 2011-17): counsel for the claimants in a UNCITRAL arbitration seated in The Hague and administered by the PCA regarding measures taken by Bolivia affecting their investments in the electricity industry (with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP).
Arbitrator appointments
- LCIA Arbitration (2021-present): sole arbitrator appointed by the LCIA in a dispute relating to the non-payment of solicitor’s fees.
- LCIA Arbitration (2021): sole arbitrator appointed by the LCIA in a claim made under a sales and purchase contract for granular sulphur involving the application of the defence of force majeure in the context of COVID-19.
- LCIA Arbitration (2020): sole arbitrator appointed by the LCIA in a claim for outstanding amounts alleged to be due under a facilities agreement.
- LCIA Arbitrations (2019): sole arbitrator appointed by the LCIA in three separate commercial arbitrations in the field of consumer credit loans.
- LMAA Arbitration (2016): tribunal-appointed arbitrator in a dispute under a voyage charterparty on the Exxonmobil VOY2005 form involving a claim for freight, interest and costs.
Civil fraud
- Public Institution for Social Security v Al Rajaan (2020-present): counsel for the 21st defendant in a claim of over US$800 million brought by a Kuwaiti Government entity against over 40 defendants in the Commercial Court, alleging a wide-ranging fraud committed against the State pension fund (with Blair Leahy QC).
- AAA PLC v Persons Unknown (2021-2022): sole counsel for the 1st respondent/ defendant in a fraud-related harassment claim under the Media and Communications List of the Queen’s Bench Division, involving resisting an appeal before the Court of Appeal in relation to an interim injunction and a Part 11 jurisdiction challenge on service and material non-disclosure grounds.
- Trafalgar Multi Asset Trading Company Limited (In Liquidation) v Platinum Pyramid Limited (2017-present: eg [2022] EWHC 641 (Ch)): counsel for the Claimant in long-running proceedings concerning a complex pensions fraud, and involving a myriad of interim applications – including Norwich Pharmacal/ Bankers Trust Orders and a summary judgment application concerning the claimant’s bribery claim (with Justin Higgo QC).
- Medsted Associates Ltd v Canaccord Genuity Wealth (International) Ltd[2019] EWCA Civ 83, [2019] 1 WLR 4481 (appeal) and [2020] EWHC 2952 (Comm) (quantum): counsel for the successful appellants in a case concerning the alleged receipt of secret commissions by introductory brokers (with Henry Byam-Cook QC).
Commercial litigation
- Public Institution for Social Security v Al Rajaan (2020-present): counsel for the twenty-first defendant in a claim of over US$800 million brought by a Kuwaiti Government entity against over 40 defendants in the Commercial Court, alleging a wide-ranging fraud committed against the State pension fund (with Blair Leahy QC).Venezuela
- Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (and others) v Aiteo Eastern E&P Company Limited [2022] EWHC 768 (Comm): counsel for the successful claimants in a hard-fought anti-suit claim in support of two ICC arbitrations arising out of two facilities agreements to the value of US$2 billion, leading to a three-day Commercial Court trial (with Ben Juratowitch QC).
- Ablynx NV v VHsquared Ltd and Others (2020-2021): counsel for the claimants in an appeal before the Supreme Court concerning a substantial jurisdictional challenge in a patent case involving novel issues as to Articles 24(4), 25 and 31(2) of the Brussels Regulation (with Thomas Raphael QC).
- AAA PLC v Persons Unknown (2021-2022): sole counsel for the first respondent/ defendant in a fraud-related harassment claim under the Media and Communications List of the Queen’s Bench Division, involving resisting an appeal before the Court of Appeal in relation to an interim injunction and a Part 11 jurisdiction challenge on service and material non-disclosure grounds.
- Dynasty Co for Oil and Gas Trading Ltd v Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq y [2021] 3 WLR 1095; [2021] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 275: counsel for the claimant in a US$1.6 billion claim arising out of a production sharing contract in Iraq, raising complex issues of state immunity and the application of the Brussels Regulation in a preliminary issue trial before the Commercial Court (with Charles Kimmins QC, Richard Waller QC and Daniel Benedyk).
- Medsted Associates Ltd v Canaccord Genuity Wealth (International) Ltd[2019] EWCA Civ 83, [2019] 1 WLR 4481 (appeal) and [2020] EWHC 2952 (Comm) (quantum): counsel for the successful appellants in a case considering novel points of law as to whether the introducing broker owed fiduciary duties to the introduced clients; this later led to a three-day quantum trial (with Henry Byam-Cook QC).
Private international law
- Corinna Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn v His Majesty Juan Carlos Alfonso Victor Maria de Borbon y Borbon (2022-present): counsel for the former King of Spain in a high-profile case before the High Court and Court of Appeal involving preliminary issues of state immunity and service (including as related to Brexit) (with Sir Daniel Bethlehem QC, Philippa Webb and Ben Silverstone).
- AAA PLC v Persons Unknown (2021-2022): sole counsel for the first respondent/ defendant in a fraud-related harassment claim under the Media and Communications List of the Queen’s Bench Division, involving resisting an appeal before the Court of Appeal in relation to an interim injunction and a Part 11 jurisdiction challenge on service and material non-disclosure grounds.
- Ablynx NV v VHsquared Ltd and Others (2020-2021): counsel for the claimant in an appeal before the Supreme Court concerning a substantial jurisdictional challenge in a patent case involving novel issues as to Articles 24(4), 25 and 31(2) of the Brussels Regulation (with Thomas Raphael QC).
- Dynasty Co for Oil and Gas Trading Ltd v Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq y [2021] 3 WLR 1095; [2021] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 275: counsel for the claimant in a US$1.6 billion claim arising out of a production sharing contract in Iraq, raising complex issues of state immunity and the application of the Brussels Regulation in a preliminary issue trial before the Commercial Court (with Charles Kimmins QC, Richard Waller QC and Daniel Benedyk).
Public international law
Inter-State cases
- Ukraine v The Russian Federation (Application No. 11055/22; European Court of Human Rights): counsel for Ukraine in an application relating to violations of Articles 2, 3, 5, 8, 10 and 11 of the European Convention (among others) arising out of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 (with Timothy Otty QC, Guglielmo Verdirame QC and juniors from Twenty Essex and Blackstone Chambers).
- Certain Iranian Assets(2019-present): counsel to the United States of America in proceedings brought by Iran in the International Court of Justice concerning alleged violations of the Treaty of Amity (with Sir Daniel Bethlehem QC).
- Case B1 (Claims 2 and 3), Iran v. United States(2017-present): counsel to the United States of America in proceedings before the Iran – U.S. Claims Tribunal concerning the foreign military sales program between Iran and the United States in the 1970s and 1980s. Belinda argued on behalf of the United States before the Full Tribunal at hearings in February and May/June 2018, April 2019 and June 2019 (with Sir Daniel Bethlehem QC).
Domestic cases
- Corinna Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn v His Majesty Juan Carlos Alfonso Victor Maria de Borbon y Borbon (2022-present): counsel for the former King of Spain in a high-profile case before the High Court and Court of Appeal involving preliminary issues of state immunity and service (including as related to Brexit) (with Sir Daniel Bethlehem QC, Philippa Webb and Ben Silverstone). Belinda made oral submissions on His Majesty’s behalf at the consequentials hearing in March 2022.
- The “Maduro Board” of the Central Bank of Venezuela v The “Guaidó Board” of the Central Bank of Venezuela [2022] 2 WLR 167: counsel for the Foreign Secretary intervening in high-profile commercial proceedings before the Supreme Court on issues concerning the recognition of foreign heads of government and the foreign act of State doctrine (with Sir James Eadie QC, Sir Michael Wood and Jason Pobjoy).
- Western Sahara Campaign UK v HMRC and Foreign Office (2021-present): counsel for the defendants and first interested party in relation to a judicial review concerning the UK-Morocco FTA and its compatibility with the international law of self-determination, involving issues including the foreign act of state doctrine, non-justiciability and treaty interpretation (with Sir James Eadie QC and Paul Luckhurst).
- Dynasty Co for Oil and Gas Trading Ltd v Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq y [2021] 3 WLR 1095; [2021] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 275: counsel for the claimant in a US$1.6 billion claim arising out of a production sharing contract in Iraq, raising complex issues of state immunity and the application of the Brussels Regulation in a preliminary issue trial before the Commercial Court (with Charles Kimmins QC, Richard Waller QC and Daniel Benedyk).
- Shamima Begum v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2021] AC 765 and [2020] 1 WLR 4267: counsel for the UN Special Rapporteur in a case relating to a British citizen detained in Syria, intervening on public international law issues relating to arbitrary deprivation of citizenship before the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal (with Guglielmo Verdirame QC and Jason Pobjoy).
- A Local Authority v AG and others[2021] Fam. 404; [2021] 3 WLR 875: counsel for the Foreign Secretary in this claim under the Human Rights Act 1998 concerning the application of diplomatic immunity in a case of alleged child abuse, which is proceeding to the Court of Appeal in November 2022 (with Sir James Eadie QC, Professor Vaughan Lowe QC, Joanne Clement QC and Jason Pobjoy).
- Sathananthan v Brigadier Fernando (Westminster Magistrates Court, 2019): sole counsel for the Foreign Secretary intervening in the prosecution of a former Sri Lankan diplomat on the question of his entitlement to diplomatic immunity.
Public law and human rights
- Ukraine v The Russian Federation (Application No. 11055/22; European Court of Human Rights): counsel for Ukraine in an application relating to violations of Articles 2, 3, 5, 8, 10 and 11 of the European Convention (among others) arising out of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 (with Timothy Otty QC, Guglielmo Verdirame QC and juniors from Twenty Essex and Blackstone Chambers).
- Western Sahara Campaign UK v HMRC and Foreign Office (2021-present): counsel for the defendants and first interested party in relation to a judicial review concerning the UK-Morocco FTA and its compatibility with the international law of self-determination, involving issues including the foreign act of state doctrine, non-justiciability and treaty interpretation (with Sir James Eadie QC and Paul Luckhurst).
- Shamima Begum v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2021] AC 765 and [2020] 1 WLR 4267: counsel for the UN Special Rapporteur in a case relating to a British citizen detained in Syria, intervening on public international law issues relating to arbitrary deprivation of citizenship before the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal (with Guglielmo Verdirame QC and Jason Pobjoy).
- A Local Authority v AG and others[2021] Fam. 404; [2021] 3 WLR 875: counsel for the Foreign Secretary in this claim under the Human Rights Act 1998 concerning the application of diplomatic immunity in a case of alleged child abuse, which is proceeding to the Court of Appeal in November 2022 (with Sir James Eadie QC, Professor Vaughan Lowe QC, Joanne Clement QC and Jason Pobjoy).
- B (Algeria) v Special Immigration Appeals Commission and the Secretary of State for the Home Department[2018] UKSC 5: counsel for the secretary of state in her appeal to the Supreme Court which concerned the circumstances in which immigration bail may be granted to an individual (with Robin Tam QC).
- The Queen (on the application of VC) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2018] EWCA Civ 57: counsel for the secretary of state in an appeal concerning an unlawful detention claim, as well as a claim under the Equality Act 2010 that ‘reasonable adjustments’ had not been made (with Julie Anderson).
- R (on the application of O) v Secretary of State for the Home Department[2016] UKSC 19; [2016] 1 WLR 1717; [2016] 4 All ER 1003: counsel for the secretary of state in a Supreme Court unlawful detention case relating to the application of Home Office policy relating to the detention of the mentally ill pending deportation (with Robin Tam QC and Julie Anderson).
Shipping
- NYK Bulkship (Atlantic) NV v Cargill International SA [2016] UKSC 20; [2016] 1 WLR 1853: counsel for the respondent in a Supreme Court case raising important points on the NYPE form and agency in the context of delegated or vicarious performance of contractual rights and obligations (with Timothy Young QC).
Sports law
- Jersey Football Association v UEFA, Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS 2016/ A/4787) (2017): counsel for the appellant in its appeal against UEFA’s refusal to admit it to membership of UEFA, which was partially upheld (with Christopher Hancock QC).