Volterra Fietta

Volterra Fietta is a global law firm recognised as the only firm worldwide specialising exclusively in public international law. It is regularly engaged by States, leading multinational corporations, and international organisations to handle high-profile and complex legal matters. The firm has assembled the largest dedicated team of public international law practitioners in the world, with every lawyer holding at least one degree in the field and bringing extensive practical experience. Its senior lawyers are internationally acknowledged as thought leaders, contributing to teaching, writing, and practice at the highest level.

The firm is consistently ranked in the top tier of public international law by leading global legal directories, reflecting an unparalleled record of success. It has one of the most active investor-State arbitration practices globally, having recovered tens of billions of dollars for investors while successfully defending States against claims exceeding US$11 billion. Volterra Fietta also maintains a prominent State-to-State disputes practice, frequently representing governments before the International Court of Justice and other international courts and tribunals, including those under the PCA and UNCLOS.

In addition, the firm advises on the application of public international law before domestic courts, including matters concerning sovereign and State immunity. Its practice spans a wide range of areas, such as bilateral and multilateral investment treaties, territorial and maritime boundary disputes, treaty law and interpretation, property rights and expropriation, the Energy Charter Treaty, oil and gas concessions, air and water rights, treaty negotiations, State responsibility, choice of law and jurisdiction, enforcement proceedings, maritime law, sovereign and diplomatic privilege, international agreements, offshore resources, trans-boundary pipelines, international human rights law, State succession, international environmental law, sovereign debt, trade law, foreign corrupt practices, the laws of war, and economic sanctions.

Notable recent engagements include representing Malaysia in its defence against a fraudulently obtained US$15 billion arbitration award, acting as counsel in a multibillion-dollar investor-State arbitration involving a nuclear energy company, representing Barbados before the International Court of Justice in climate change advisory proceedings, and securing a favourable decision for Kenya in a maritime delimitation dispute at the ICJ. The firm has also represented the United Arab Emirates, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bahrain, and Egypt in high-profile proceedings, and acted for investors in an expropriation claim against the French Republic valued at over EUR9 billion.

Languages
English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Dutch, Cantonese, Chinese, Arabic

Staffing
4 UK partners
20 other UK fee-earners