David Herlihy

He also has experience acting in arbitration-related court proceedings and ICSID annulment actions. David has particular experience in disputes relating to the renewable energy, telecoms and technology sectors. He is also well-versed in handling disputes related to anti-trust and taxation issues.

David is qualified in England & Wales, New York and Ireland. He is fluent in Spanish and has a wealth of knowledge in handling cases in the Americas, in addition to his experience in Europe, India and beyond. He has an undefeated track record of success in investor-state arbitration, acting both for investors and for states over the last two decades. His recent victories include representing Vodafone in its high-profile investment treaty win against India (where the amount in dispute exceeded USD 5 billion); successfully defending the Republic of Cyprus in a EUR 1 billion investment treaty claim arising out of the Eurozone financial crisis; and winning the largest-ever investment treaty award in the renewables sector for Dutch subsidiaries of NextEra Energy.

David is ranked by the main legal directories, including Chambers, Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration. He has been described as “very knowledgeable, smart and flexible”, and with “a strong commercial sense and a very positive attitude”, “an outstanding talent,” “nothing but exceptional” and “a strong practitioner with a great reputation”.

David was named as a 2019 International Arbitration MVP by Law360 (a ranking of its five most successful arbitration lawyers worldwide for that year).