Isuru Devendra

isuru.devendra@lw.com

+44.20.7710.4763

Profile

Isuru Devendra is an associate in the London office of Latham & Watkins and a member of the firm’s International Arbitration Practice.

Mr. Devendra acts for clients in investor-State and international commercial arbitrations and advises on public international law matters. His international arbitration experience includes representing clients in a range of industry sectors, including mining, energy, industrial, manufacturing, technology, telecommunications, and media. This experience includes representing States, State-owned entities, and companies in disputes arising under investment treaties, free-trade agreements, national investment laws, and joint-venture agreements, and proceedings conducted under major arbitral rules including, ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, LCIA, and SIAC arbitration rules.

Mr. Devendra’s public international law experience includes advising States, State organs, international organisations, NGOs, and private entities on matters involving privileges and immunities of States, State officials and international organisations, maritime boundary changes and disputes, the right of self-determination, secession of entities, statehood, recognition of governments, international human rights law, international labour law, international criminal law, and the design of bespoke international dispute resolution regimes.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Devendra served as a judicial law clerk to a judge of the Court of Appeal division of the Supreme Court of Queensland.

He is the Secretary of the Asia-Pacific Forum for International Arbitration and on the Steering Committee of the Young MCIA (Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration).

Mr. Devendra is ranked as a Future Leader in Arbitration by Who’s Who Legal and a Rising Star in Public International Law by The Legal 500. He is the author/co-author of a number of articles and book chapters on international arbitration and international law.

Experience

Mr. Devendra’s experience includes representing/advising:

Investor-State Arbitration

Ipek Investment Limited in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Turkey
Ukraine in an ICSID arbitration commenced by Gilward Investments BV, an alleged investor in the aviation sector
Cortec Mining Kenya Ltd and its affiliates in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Kenya*
Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd and Kingsgate Capital Pty Ltd in an ad hoc arbitration against the Kingdom of Thailand*
Oleovest Pte Ltd in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Indonesia*
PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd in an ICSID arbitration against the Independent State of Papua New Guinea*

International Commercial Arbitration

A private equity fund in a SIAC arbitration concerning an investment in the telecommunications sector in South-East Asia
An Asian conglomerate in an ICC arbitration concerning a multi-billion dollar dispute under a share purchase agreement
An international oil company in an LCIA arbitration against another international oil company concerning a dispute under a share purchase agreement
A UK company in an ad hoc arbitration against an Indian company concerning a dispute under a joint venture agreement in the automotive manufacturing sector
An Asian State-owned entity in relation to contractual claims with a Netherlands incorporated entity
A Mauritian mining company in an ICC arbitration concerning a joint venture dispute with the national mining company of an African State*
A US media conglomerate in a SIAC arbitration against its Indian joint venture partner*

Public International Law

A State on the adoption of countermeasures under international law
A State on matters related to privileges and immunities of State officials
A State on matters related to diplomatic immunity
A State on matters related to self-determination, secession, and statehood
A State on matters related to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant
An award creditor in English court proceedings with respect to recognition and enforcement of an arbitral award against a State
A central bank on matters related to state immunity
A central bank on foreign investment protections and the right to regulate
An international organisation in respect of immunities
An international humanitarian NGO on matters related to international labour law and international refugee law
A consortium of international oil companies in a dispute on maritime boundaries and resulting tax changes following the discovery of a group of small islands in the area of a gas field*
An international oil company in relation to offshore oil and gas assets affected by a maritime boundary dispute and related proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)*
An Australian oil and gas company on legal implications resulting from a maritime boundary dispute*
An international oil company on international law matters arising in connection with a major cross-border oil project*