Image of Bianca Vasilache

Bianca Vasilache

Associate

Email

bianca.vasilache@aoshearman.com

Phone

+44 20 7655 6743

Offices

London

V-CARD
Bianca practises international investment treaty and commercial arbitration, as well as English and international litigation. She advises on general commercial disputes and complex energy disputes. She has particular experience in Africa and South Asia.
Bianca is passionate about advocacy and has won the Best Advocate Award at the 2024 Delos Remote Oral Advocacy Programme for EMEA. She also has a keen interest in legal tech and has developed and leveraged legal tech tools to improve efficiencies on her matters.

Expertise

Experience

Representative matters

  • An oil & gas major operating in South Asia on its ICSID claims under production sharing contracts with the State and a State-owned entity, its potential investment treaty claims against the State, its investment planning, its defence of hundreds of local court proceedings by employees and contractor employees, and its stakeholder engagement strategy.
  • EFG Bank on its defence of an English litigation claim brought by The Public Institution for Social Security in Kuwait, in relation to alleged money laundering and bribery offences under several applicable laws.
  • Morocco on its defence of an ICSID arbitration claim brought by a Swedish investor under the Sweden-Morocco investment treaty, in relation to the operation of the only oil refinery in Morocco.
  • A number of individuals and their companies on their LCIA claims for breach of contract, termination and repudiation as well as their defences to counterclaims, in relation to the separation of a business venture.
  • A South African heavy equipment contractor on its defence of an arbitration claim under local arbitration rules, in relation to alleged welding defects on components supplied to two power plant construction megaprojects.
  • A bank and an African coal mining company on their defence on jurisdiction in an UNCITRAL arbitration, in relation to non-payment of debt.
  • The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) in a successful disciplinary action under the CIMA rules against one of its members, in relation to fraudulent tax evasion.

Pro bono

  • Advised on several successful Z2K benefits appeals.
  • Advised on an application for further leave to remain in the UK for Kids in Need of Defense.
  • Advised on a negotiations briefing book for the Public International Law & Policy Group.
  • Advised on a communication to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights for the International Service for Human Rights.
  • Advised at Toynbee Hall Women's Legal Clinic.
  • Tutored young people through Legal Experts in Schools, Action Tutoring and the Tower Hamlets Education Partnership.
  • Mentored young people through Future Frontiers and A&O Shearman's award-winning Smart Start program.

Published Work

  • Bevan A., Skinner M., Hume D., Livesey A., Vasilache B., Elliott J., (2023) “Reform of the Arbitration Act 1996: Law Commission's Final Report and Amendment Bill”, Shearman & Sterling Perspectives
  • Skinner M., Livesey A., Vasilache B., (2022) “Reform of the Arbitration Act 1996 – Section 44: The Courts’ Supportive Powers”, Shearman & Sterling Perspectives
  • Vasilache B., (2021) “The Yukos saga: Making sense of the English rules on stay of enforcement and security”, Jus Mundi
  • Vasilache B., (2021) “‘Without prejudice’ mediation materials admissible to uphold settlement agreement”, Allen & Overy Litigation and Dispute Resolution Review
  • Vasilache B., (2021) “Top UK finance litigation and contract law development from 2020”, Allen & Overy Litigation and Dispute Resolution Review
  • Freeman J., Vasilache B., (2020) “UK Supreme Court clarifies English law on arbitrators’ duties of impartiality, disclosure and confidentiality”, Allen & Overy Litigation and Dispute Resolution Review
  • Vasilache B., (2020) “The limits of without prejudice protection”, Allen & Overy Litigation and Dispute Resolution Review
  • Vasilache B., (2020) “Can’t get no satisfaction? Think again!”, Allen & Overy Compact Contract Blog
  • Vasilache B., (2019) “Default interest rate of one-month LIBOR plus 12% is no problem”, Allen & Overy Compact Contract Blog

Speaking Engagements

  • Creator & Host, A&O Shearman’s “Launch: The Careers Podcast”, 2019-2021
  • Guest Speaker, “Tales of the Tribunal” podcast, “Ask the Author” segment, October 2021

Awards

Best Advocate Award, Delos Remote Oral Advocacy Programme for EMEA, 2024

Qualifications

Admissions

Solicitor, England & Wales, 2020

Academic

LLM, Commercial Legal Practice, BPP Law School, 2018

LPC, BPP Law School, 2018

LLB, King's College London, 2017

Languages

English (fluent)

Romanian (native)

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.