James McGlaughlin

Mr. McGlaughlin specialises in investment treaty and commercial arbitration disputes, representing both sovereign states and private parties from across the world, including Latin America, Europe and the Middle East, in proceedings conducted under the main procedural and institutional rules (ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC and LCIA).

Mr. McGlaughlin’s practice also includes advising sovereign States on arbitration-related litigation dealing with the enforcement of arbitration awards, as well as advising international private and state-owned parties in commercial litigation disputes, before the English Courts.

He also advises on matters of public international law, including sovereign immunity issues and UN administrative law, including matters before the UN Appeals Tribunal.

To complement his practice, Mr. McGlaughlin is a guest lecturer on the International Economic Law LL.M programme at the University of Edinburgh, and has previously undertaken policy and research positions with the International Institute for Environment & Development (IIED) and the Centre for International Law & Governance (University of Copenhagen), respectively.

James McGlaughlin frequently writes and presents on international arbitration topics, particularly in relation to energy sector disputes and the ‘Green Transition’, including:

• "The Impact of Multilateral Investment Treaties in Resolving Investment Disputes in the Energy and Mining Sectors: Lessons from the European Experience", The Palgrave Handbook of Arbitration in the African Energy and Mining Sectors (March 2024).
• "Big Shoes to Fill? Exploring Potential Legal Frameworks to Govern Foreign Energy Investments in an Energy Charter Treaty Lacuna", Kluwer Arbitration Blog (9 May 2023).
• "Trafficking and Slavery of a Domestic Worker as 'Commercial Activity' - Diluting Diplomatic Immunity?", New Law Journal (10 March 2023).
• “The Modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty: Implications for Investment, Climate and EU Law”, EU Law Live (Volume 15, 2022).
• “Gustav F W Hamester GmbH & Co KG v. Republic of Ghana (ICSID Case No. ARB/07/24), Summary and digest”, ICSID Reports (Volume 20, 2022).
• “Developments in European Succession Law”, Journal of International Tax, Trusts & Corporate Planning (Volume 23(3), 2016).
• “Leavers, arrivers and day trippers: new rules for UK tax residence”, Journal of International Tax, Trusts & Corporate Planning (Volume 20(1), 2013).