Full Profile
Valentin has close to 10 years of experience in international litigation and arbitration in commercial and investment disputes. His practice further covers set aside and enforcement proceedings. Valentin also provides legal advice in relation to cross-border transactions and international investment projects.
He is dual-qualified in France and the US and acts in arbitration proceedings in French, English and Spanish languages.
He has acted as counsel in arbitrations seated in Paris, London, Stockholm, and Washington D.C. under the ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, and SCC arbitration rules, among others, with a variety of applicable laws.
Prior to joining Clyde & Co, Valentin trained and worked at several French and international law firms in Paris.
Valentin has represented both public and private clients in disputes across a diverse range of industries including oil and gas, infrastructure projects, telecommunications, defence, hotel and tourism, and banking, among others.
His investor-State arbitration experience includes the representation of both States and investors, including acting for Ukraine, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates in ICSID arbitrations.
His commercial arbitration experience includes numerous high-value gas price reviews in long-term supply contracts as well as high-stakes patent and know how licensing disputes.
Valentin’s practice also covers set aside and enforcement proceedings.
He has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in France™ since 2023.
Valentin has authored publications on international arbitration and litigation and has given classes and led workshops as part of specialized arbitration training programs at the Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Sciences Po in France.
Valentin speaks French, English, Spanish (working knowledge) and Portuguese (basic).
He holds a Master of Laws degree (LL.M.) in International Business and Economic Law from the University of Georgetown Law (2015, Dean’s List) and a Master 2 degree in International and European Litigation from the Université Paris-Ouest Nanterre (2012, cum laude). He is admitted to the Paris and New York Bars.
Experience
Investment Arbitration Experience
- Representing an Eastern European State in proceedings against a chemical and fertiliser company in a SCC arbitration under the Energy Charter Treaty, concerning arbitral awards arising from natural gas supply contracts (Ostchem Holding Limited v. Ukraine, SCC Case No. V (2022/006)).
- Represented the Kingdom of Morocco in an ICSID arbitration concerning the alleged expropriation of the country’s sole oil refinery initiated by a Swedish investor (Corral Morocco Holdings AB v. Kingdom of Morocco, ICSID Case No. ARB/18/7).
- Represented a Luxemburg investor in an ICSID arbitration against the Kingdom of Spain concerning changes made to the country’s remuneration regime of renewable plants (Watkins Holdings S.à r.l. and others v. Kingdom of Spain, ICSID Case No. ARB/15/44).
- Represented the Kingdom of Morocco in an ICSID arbitration concerning the construction of a tunnel and a road initiated by an Italian investor (Impresa Pizzarotti & C. S.p.A. v. Kingdom of Morocco, ICSID Case No. ARB/19/14).
- Represented the United Arab Emirates in an ICSID arbitration launched by a Turkish construction company claiming compensation in relation to the construction of a road in the capital city of one of the emirates (BM Mühendislik ve İnşaat A.Ş. v. United Arab Emirates, ICSID Case No. ARB/17/20).
- Represented the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in an ICSID arbitration launched by a Turkish construction company claiming compensation in relation to the construction of dozens of schools in the country (DSG Yapi Sanayi Ticaret Anonim Sirketi v. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ICSID Case No. ARB/19/32).
- Represented the Kingdom of Morocco in an ICSID arbitration concerning the alleged unfair treatment of a French Telecom operator exploiting a large network of telecom infrastructure in the country (Finetis SARL and Finetis Maroc SA v. Kingdom of Morocco, ICSID Case No. ARB/21/44).
- Represented the Kingdom of Morocco in an ICSID arbitration concerning the alleged unfair treatment of a Spanish investor exploiting several hotels and luxury resorts in the country (Comercializadora Mediterránea de Viviendas S.L. v. Kingdom of Morocco, ICSID Case No. ARB/22/17).
- Represented an Iranian investor in a PCA arbitration against an Asian State concerning the alleged expropriation of a food & beverage plant amid a variety of corruption claims (confidential).
- Independent adviser for third-party funder seeking to invest in an ICSID claim to be brought by a North-African businessman against a European State (confidential).
- Represented an investor in an ICSID arbitration and annulment proceedings initiated against the Kingdom of Norway in relation to fishing regulation (Peteris Pildegovics and SIA North Star v. Kingdom of Norway, ICSID Case No. ARB/20/11).
- Represented investors in an ICSID arbitration against the Co-operative Republic of Guyana in relation to the termination of a parking concession agreement (Smart City Solutions Holdings Inc. v. Co-operative Republic of Guyana, ICSID Case No. ARB/21/64).
Commercial Arbitration Experience
- Represented a major French high-technology company in two arbitrations (ICC and ad hoc) arising out of a licence and know-how agreement. In both arbitrations, the tribunals issued favourable liability awards (iXblue SAS v. Safran Electronics & Defense SAS and Safran Electronics & Defense Germany GmbH, ICC Case No. 23775/DDA/AZO/SP/ETT).
- Represented a major French utility company in several gas price reviews against the same North African gas producer, under two separate contracts: one LNG contract, one pipeline contract.
- Represented a major German utility company in one gas price review and a contract termination claim against the same Eastern-European gas producer.
- Counsel for a major French energy company in the preparation of a commercial arbitration against a South-East Asian State in relation to the decommissioning of an offshore oil platform.
Cross-border Litigation Experience
- Representing a Malaysian company for the recognition and enforcement in France of a foreign ICC arbitral award rendered against a middle eastern State.
- Represented a German company for the recognition and enforcement in France of an ICC foreign award issued against a European State, and the attachment of its sovereign assets.
- Represented a German businessman for the recognition and enforcement in France of a foreign ad hoc arbitral award rendered against a German company in relation to business dealings in Russia.
- Represented a Canadian businessman for the recognition and enforcement in France of a foreign ad hoc arbitral award rendered against a former business associate.
- Represented a Canadian oil company for the annulment in France of a French ICC award.
