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Gemma Read

Senior Associate
About

Gemma Read has experience in high-value, complex, domestic and cross-border disputes involving litigation, international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.

Gemma has acted in international arbitrations under various institutional and ad hoc rules, including LCIA, ICC, SCC and LMAA. Her clients include companies and States with disputes across a wide variety of sectors including Energy, Telecommunications, Real Estate and Leisure.

Professional QualificationsSolicitor-Advocate in England and WalesSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

EXPERIENCE

Gemma’s experience includes advising:
  • A Cypriot shareholder in London-seated, LCIA arbitration proceedings involving a USD400 million shareholder dispute, in relation to an Armenian bank.
  • A Russian biotechnology company in relation to a dispute with a Latin-American biosimilar manufacturer in respect of a suite of complex English law contracts and license agreements, involving issues of misrepresentation, breach of contract and contractual and common law termination options, and potential procedural issues involving conflicting arbitration provisions.
  • A trustee in bankruptcy in relation to interlinked litigation in Iceland, the British Virgin Islands and Luxembourg which represent significant assets in the bankrupt's estate valued at €600 million, involving issues of market manipulation, fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of duty and restitution.
  • A southern African State in London-seated, UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings relating to a dispute of a largescale English law governed construction contract valued at USD270 million.
  • An EU Member State government in an application to set aside an order of the English High Court permitting enforcement of a significant Award in respect of an intra-EU Bilateral Investment Treaty, involving arguments on the basis of the recent European Court of Justice decision in Slovak Republic v Achmea.
  • A high-net-worth individual in Dubai-seated, ICC arbitration proceedings relating to the division of numerous family businesses, properties and other assets in UAE, India, England and Portugal and involving joinder of parties and consolidation of proceedings.
  • Acting for the third respondent, a Maltese registered entity, in a London-seated, LCIA CIS-related shareholder dispute valued at USD450 million.
  • As English counsel for the respondent, a Maltese registered entity, in relation to two Statutory Demands and subsequent Set-Aside applications issued in the BVI High Court.
  • The respondent, a Maltese registered entity, in London-seated, LCIA arbitration proceedings brought by a Panamanian investment company for breach a loan agreement, and acting as English counsel in related proceedings whereby the investment company obtained a worldwide freezing injunction in Cyprus.
  • A South American State-owned company operating in the natural resources sector, against a BVI registered energy and commodities entity in two London-seated, LMAA arbitration proceedings for breach of time charter party contracts.
Languages
  • English
Education
  • Higher Rights of Audience (Civil), 2016
  • BPP, London, Legal Practice Course, 2016
  • The College of Law, London, Bar Professional Training Course, 2011


    King's College London, LLM in Intellectual Property Law, Merit, 2010


    Kingston University, London, Law, LLB, First-class honours (1st), 2009

Prior Experience

Gemma trained with a London planning law boutique, undertaking a wide variety of contentious and non-contentious planning matters, including judicial review and related High Court litigation. On qualification, Gemma joined the international arbitration department of a leading litigation-only law firm where she spent three years and enjoyed a mix of court work and arbitration across a variety of sectors for states, high-net worth individuals and large domestic and international corporations.

Memberships And Affiliations

  • LCIA Young International Arbitration Group
  • ICC Young Arbitrators Forum
  • The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple

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