Associate Tenants
Sam is an experienced arbitrator and mediator of international commercial disputes. Prior to joining Littleton Chambers, he was for 25 years a partner of Kirkland & Ellis in the Chicago and New York offices. During this time, in addition to serving as arbitrator and mediator Sam represented many of the Firm’s clients in major domestic and international commercial disputes in a variety of substantive areas. Sam also provided corporate counseling to clients concerning securities, competition and corporate governance issues. While based in the US Sam became involved in mediation of disputes, a process which was at that point reasonably developed in the US but still in its infancy in the UK. Sam was one of the early qualifiers as an accredited CEDR mediator in the UK and has since 1996 conducted a number of successful international and UK domestic law mediations.
As the founding partner of the London office in 1994, Sam oversaw the growth of the office into a highly successful multi-jurisdictional practice. Upon retiring from Kirkland & Ellis in 2003, Sam became affiliated with Littleton Chambers where he enjoys an increasingly active practice as an arbitrator and mediator of international commercial disputes. In addition to his arbitration and mediation activities, he also advises US and European companies on corporate governance matters, particularly in light of the changes brought on by recent Sarbanes – Oxley US legislation. He is a director of Innospec Inc., a US public company listed on NASDAQ where he is Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee.
Areas of Specialization and Experience
Sam regularly serves as tribunal member, chairman and sole arbitrator in ad hoc and administered arbitrations under International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), American Arbitration Association (AAA), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), ICSID, and UNCITRAL Rules. He is a CEDR accredited mediator. His substantive arbitration/mediation experience includes:
- investment disputes including governmental privatization and valuation
- intellectual property, patent, trademark and technology issues
- insurance coverage regarding Lloyds, London market and Bermuda Form disputes
- antitrust and unfair competition
- securities
- construction
- banking and investment
- joint ventures
- maritime issues
Recommendations
Chambers & Partners: recommended as one of the UK’s international arbitrators.
Legal Business: recommended by Legal Business in its International Arbitration Report.
Global Arbitration Review: recommended as one of “London’s Superarbitrators”
Background and Professional Qualifications
Harvard Law School JD
Northwestern University BS Science Engineering and Nuclear Physics
Member of New York and Illinois Bars
Admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court, numerous federal Courts of Appeal and District Courts
Partner Kirkland & Ellis, New York and Chicago 1970-1994
Founding and Senior Partner Kirkland & Ellis International, London 1994-2003
Member Board of Directors, Innospec Inc. and Chairman of Governance Committee (US NASDAQ listed company)
Member: ABA, IBA, LCIA
Examples Of Recent Arbitration Appointments Include Disputes Relating To The Following:
- Partnership Agreement involving departing partners in a large international law firm (Sole Arbitrator).
- Agreement between French bank and former Nigerian subsidiary regarding international banking rights (Sole Arbitrator).
- Refurbishment of ship designed for laying undersea pipelines (Chairman).
- Commodity sales contract between Syrian and US party (Party Appointment).
- Joint venture between Korean and Sri Lankan parties pertaining to industrial manufacturing operations in Sri Lanka (Chairman).
- Coverage dispute regarding Catastrophic Financial Risk Insurance Policy (Institutional Appointment).
- Charter party between US and Liberian parties concerning long term charter of cruise ships (Sole Arbitrator).
- Contract for construction of petrochemical plant (Party Appointment).
- Investment dispute involving privatization of water utility by South American country (Institutional Appointment).
- Agreement between Hong Kong internet and US service provider for internet rights in China (Sole Arbitrator).
- Agreement between Saudi and US parties for freight forwarding of military equipment to Saudi Arabia (Party Appointment).
- Contract between Swiss company and Indian company concerning demurrage on commodity shipments (Sole Arbitrator).
- Bermuda form insurance policy involving employment practice liability coverage (Party appointment).
- Property damage and business interruption insurance claim arising out of Southeast Asian Tsunami (Party Appointment).
- Contract involving file swapping technology relating to internet advertising (Party Appointment).
- Contract between Egyptian and US companies for machinery designed for offloading of cement (Party Appointment).
Publications and Presentations
- Littleton Arbitration Forum Seminar presentation 2007: Res Judicata in International Arbitration: When is A Final Award Not the
Final Word?
- Littleton Arbitration Forum Seminar presentations 2005: Avoiding the Pitfalls in Drafting International Arbitration Agreements.
- Consultant Editor on arbitration for Amicus Curiae, Journal of the Society for Advanced Legal Studies, University of London.
- Author of "Evidence - Problems of Proving Damages" included in Commercial Damages treatise published by Matthew Bender.
- Authored section on "Trial and Court Procedures in the United States" which formed part of Trial and Court Procedures
Worldwide, published under auspices of the IBA by Graham and Trotman.
- Member of Advisory Council, Institute of The Americas, University of London.
- Member of Advisory Council, Chatham House