Practice Expertise

  • Energy, Mining and Infrastructure
  • Environmental
  •  
  •  

Areas of Practice

  • Energy, Mining and Infrastructure
  • Environmental
  •  
  •  

WSG Practice Industries

WSG Leadership

  • Mining Group - Group Leader
  • Energy Group - Member
  • Intellectual Property Group - Member

Profile

Thierry Lauriol is a recognised specialist in the fields of mining, energy and natural resources law, and in international, commercial and investment arbitration, and OHADA law.

A Partner since 1997 and Manager of the Energy, Mining and Infrastructure Department, he has almost thirty years experience in France, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Thierry, who has a Doctorate in Law, teaches at Paris II Panthen-Assas University, where he co-leads a university diploma dedicated to economic international law in Africa.

Education
Doctor of law. Thesis: “Les contrats relatifs a  l exploitation des ressources naturelles" (Contracts regarding the exploitation of natural resources) (Paris XI Paris-Sud University, 1989). First class honours summa cum laude. Prix Henri Capitant award
Researcher at the Faculty of Law, University of Berkeley (Boalt Hall). Subject: US contract and mining law (1983 1985)
Diploma from the Institute of Comparative Law (Paris II Pantheon-Assas University, 1983)
Postgraduate Diploma (DESS) in International Comparative Energy Law (Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne University, 1982)
Postgraduate Diploma (DEA) in Private International Law and International Commercial Law (Paris II, Pantheon-Assas University, 1981)

Areas of Practice

  • Energy, Mining and Infrastructure
  • Environmental

Professional Career

Significant Accomplishments
Assistance to Montero Mining & Exploration Ltd in an ICSID investment arbitration against the Republic of Tanzania following the withdrawal of a mining licence.
Assistance to AECI Ltd in an ICSID investment dispute with Burkina Faso.
Assistance to the Republic of Congo in a dispute with Congo Iron and Sundance Resources following the withdrawal of a mining licence for almost US$8 billion.
Assistance to the Republic of Congo in a dispute with Avima Iron Congo and Greyridge Iron Holding Inc. following the withdrawal of a mining licence for almost US$24 billion.
Appointment as Chairman of an ICC arbitral tribunal in a dispute between a foreign investor and a national mining company in an African country.
Appointment as co-arbitrator of an ICC arbitral tribunal in a dispute between several partners in the context of an infrastructure project in Africa.
Acting as an expert in hydrocarbon law in an ICC arbitration for a dispute in Senegal.
Assistance to Vicat, a French cement group, against the Republic of Senegal, in an ICSID arbitration based on the violation of equal treatment of foreign investors.
Assistance to GDF-Suez in an ICSID arbitration, and in the annulment proceedings, against Togo for the expropriation of an electricity company.
Assistance to the Republic of Burkina Faso in an ICSID arbitration against the French Société d'Investigation de Recherche et d'Exploitation Minière regarding mining investments.
Assistance to the interests of Lafarge against the Republic of Cameroon in an ICSID arbitration concerning an industrial investment.
Assistance to BRGM in a dispute with Peru regarding mining investments.

Professional Associations
  • Energy Law Group (ELG)
  • IDEF
  • African Association of the Paris Bar


Articles

+ L’Ohada, Le temps pour un acte uniforme minier
Recueil Penant, juillet – aout 2015

+ « La rupture unilatérale des contrats d’exploitation »
Le Contentieux Extractif, ICC Publications, 2015

La rupture unilatérale des contrats d’exploitation
Le Contentieux Extractif, ICC Publication, 06/2015

Les techniques conventionnelles du droit international des investissements ; le traitement national
Revue générale de droit international public, n°1-2015

The international comparative legal guide to Oil & Gas Regulation 2015 : Chapter France
Overview on Natural Gaz Sector

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