Samuel Pape represents clients in a broad range of high-stakes international disputes. He is a strategic advisor and trial advocate in international commercial and investment treaty arbitration. He also acts in complex commercial litigation in England and overseas.

Samuel is widely recognized as one of the leading dispute resolution lawyers of his generation. Two of his recent arbitration wins have earned him recognition in The American Lawyer’s Litigators of the Week. Samuel is ranked as a Next Generation Partner by The Legal 500 UK 2024 and a Future Leader in Arbitration by Who’s Who Legal 2024.

Drawing on over a decade of experience, he represents multinational companies, financial institutions, private equity firms and sovereign States in disputes across a range of sectors including energy, mining, banking, technology, manufacturing and aviation. His experience includes acting in financial, corporate and shareholder disputes, as well as in transnational tort class actions. Samuel's cases often involve novel and complex issues, including ESG issues.

Samuel is bilingual in English and French and also speaks Spanish and Portuguese. He frequently handles disputes involving these languages. 

Samuel is an active member of the international arbitration community. He is the Representative for the United Kingdom on the ICC Young Arbitration & ADR Forum. He is also managing editor of the European Investment Law and Arbitration Review and has authored a number of publications. He is frequently invited to lecture and to speak on panels on subjects relating to international arbitration.

Samuel's experience includes representing:

Commercial Arbitration

  • A leading mining company on a very high value shareholder rights and environmental dispute arising from projects in Latin America
  • A state-owned oil company in defending a US$1 billion HKIAC arbitration concerning alleged events of default under a loan agreement
  • A syndicate of banks in an LCIA arbitration enforcing equity support and completion guarantees provided in a complex Islamic project financing transaction in the renewable energy sector
  • A supplier of aircraft engine components in an ICC arbitration against an aircraft engine manufacturer
  • A technology company in an ICC arbitration against a key supplier concerning a tortious conspiracy and the non-conformity of products with contractual specification
  • The purchaser of an aircraft in an ICC arbitration concerning the termination of an aircraft purchase agreement and related litigation in the United States
  • A multinational group of companies in an ICC arbitration arising out of the termination of a Concession agreement with a State 
  • An oil major in an ad hoc arbitration against another oil major arising out of a long-term transportation and processing contract*

Investment Treaty Arbitration

  • The Republic of Colombia in three ICSID arbitrations under the Canada-Colombia FTA relating to mining prohibitions adopted to protect fragile ecosystems and biodiversity in the Andes 
  • The Republic of Colombia in an ICSID arbitration brought by a mining company under the Canada-FTA relating to the alleged failure to protect gold mining projects from artisanal and small-scale mining activities 
  • Mason Capital in its investment treaty claim against the Republic of Korea following the exposure of corruption involving South Korean political and business leaders
  • A UK property development group in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Mauritius
  • A sovereign party in a PCA-administered investor-State dispute concerning a bank rescue program
  • Mobile TeleSystems in its US$2.5 billion investor-state arbitration against Uzbekistan brought under the Additional Facility of the ICSID, including successfully defending an Article 45(6) application*

Litigation

  • Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria in their defence of transnational human rights and environmental class actions
  • A minority shareholder in multi-billion dollar unfair prejudice petitions against the majority shareholder in a multinational joint-venture in the real estate and energy sectors
  • A syndicate of banks in proceedings relating to the enforcement of an LCIA arbitration award 
  • Daewoo Motors in a challenge to an ICC arbitration award brought by General Motors arising from the acquisition of Daewoo’s automotive business*

*Matter handled prior to joining Latham

Bar Qualification

  • England and Wales (Solicitor)

Education

  • Legal Practice Course, College of Law, 2010
    with distinction
  • Graduate Diploma in Law, College of Law, 2009
    with distinction
  • BA (Hons) Philosophy, Politics and Economics, University of Oxford, 2008

Languages Spoken

  • English
  • French
  • Spanish