JULIE SHEILA FORSYTH
Julie has been a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in London since 1993, she is a committee member of the Society of Construction Arbitrators and sits on the executive group of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation. She is also a member of the CEDR ADR Officials Panel.
As an English solicitor, Julie has been helping parties to avoid conflict and resolve disputes for almost 30 years.
She is available for international and domestic arbitral appointments and mediations in all types of commercial dispute.
Julie is a partner in a London law firm and consultant in a Paris arbitration practice.
Experience
Julie's practice focuses on the construction, engineering and energy sectors, and she has worked on projects in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Julie believes that the management of risk and the effective handling of conflict is at the forefront of every successful project. She is an active member of the Executive Team of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF) and is a firm advocate of early intervention to avoid and limit conflict.
Choosing the right arbitrator is key. The arbitral process must be handled professionally and efficiently to achieve the right and just result. Julie’s arbitration experience and in-depth knowledge of how disputes are handled, will help to ensure that the right result is achieved in a timely, cost effective and fair process.
Services
Julie is available for appointments as arbitrator, in international and domestic UK arbitrations, for all types of commercial dispute.
She is also able to sit on dispute boards and to act as adjudicator or mediator.
Fees
The hourly rate will depend on the complexity of the dispute, the amounts in dispute and any other material factor.
The bands within which the fees are set are:
International Arbitrations
Per hour: £275 - £475 or
Daily rate: £1,650 - £2,850
Domestic Arbitrations
Per hour: £225 - £425 or
Daily rate: £1,350 - £2,550
Please call to discuss the fees for your particular case.
Curriculum Vitae
Profile
My practice focuses on the construction, engineering and energy sectors and general commercial arbitration. In my current role, and previously at Stephenson Harwood and as a partner at Berrymans Lace Mawer, I have represented and advised clients on contentious national and international construction, infrastructure and oil and gas projects. These include:
African arbitration
LCIA arbitration relating to exploration and development of wells in a Nigerian oil field, with claims and counterclaims valued at approximately $750m.
Representing, and acting as counsel for, the engineer in a multi-million-pound arbitration relating to a storage and transport depot in Blantyre, Malawi.
Investigating and resolving threatened claims against the engineer relating to design on works to the Mohale Dam in Lesotho.
Advising insurers on various other arbitrations and threatened proceedings in Botswana, Libya, South Africa relating to roads, air bases, pipelines, bridges and dams.
Middle East Arbitrations/Disputes
Representing the engineer on multi-million-pound claims relating to alleged design and construction faults, and delays relating to the construction of a luxury hotel in Dubai.
Advising the engineer and its insurer in a long running dispute on liability for defects and delays on the construction and redevelopment of docks in Abu Dhabi.
Aerospace experience
Working with the Chief Engineer of an aeronautic technology group and tier 1 supplier of systems and equipment in the aerospace and defence markets. My role included the analysis of the legal aspects in preparing documentation and presentations for a variety of committees and symposiums on airworthiness, environmental concerns and sustainability in aircraft design and production.
Oil and Gas experience
Consultant and adviser to senior management in various international oil and gas companies and their suppliers and sub-contractors. This included:
Working with the General Secretary of a French company to advise and assist on governance and daily business decisions on English-based projects. Also working with the company's Director in charge of an onshore plant at Lacq, France (with around 2000 employees), a major platform for gas and chemical production. I provided consultancy services to advise and assist in his work, which included a pioneering carbon capture, transport and storage project costing over €60 million and a decommissioning and re-conversion project of the gas plant.
PROFESSIONAL ROLES
March 2018 – present
Leboulanger & Associés, Paris
Of Counsel
Sept. 2016 – present
Gunnercooke LLP, London.
Partner
Feb. 2016 – Aug. 2016
Stephenson Harwood LLP, London.
International Arbitration Team
Nov. 2014 – Nov. 2015
Birketts LLP, Chelmsford.
Legal Director
Sept. 2005 - July 2014
Conseil et Formation, Pau, France.
Business owner
Jan. 2001 – Dec. 2004
Speechly Bircham, London.
Senior Associate
Feb. 1993 – July 1999
Berrymans Lace Mawer, London.
Partner
Sept. 1989 – April 1992
Freedmans Solicitors, London.
Trainee and Solicitor
Memberships and Qualifications
Professional Engagements
● Panel - ADR Officials Panel for Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR)
● Panel - London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
● Committee Member - Society of Construction Arbitrators (SCA)
● Executive Group Member - Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF)
Memberships
● Chartered Institute of Arbitrators: Fellow (since 1996)
● Society of Construction Arbitrators (SCA)
● Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF)
● Society of Construction Law (SCL)
● Technology and Construction Court Solicitors’ Association (TecSA)
● Law Society of England and Wales
Languages
● English – native speaker
● French – fluent
Qualifications
● 1995 - 1996 Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration, (CIArb London).
● 1997 - 1998 Arbitrator pupillage
● 1988 - 1989 Solicitors’ Finals, College of Law, Guildford
● 1984 - 1988 Law degree: LLB (Hons), University of London