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Guled Yusuf

Partner

Guled has extensive expertise in international commercial and investment treaty arbitration as well as public international law.

He has significant experience representing companies, governments and international organisations in institutional and ad hoc arbitral proceedings as counsel and advocate, including arbitrations under the ICC, LCIA, ICSID and UNCITRAL Rules. Guled also has experience across a range of sectors and regions, but has particular expertise in the energy, natural resources and infrastructure sectors as well as disputes relating to the European and African continents. He also regularly advises clients on a broad range of topics in international law, including inter-State disputes, international investment law, international trade law, treaty interpretation, border delimitation, international human rights law and sovereign immunity. In addition to his work as counsel and advocate, Guled is a member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration and the ICC Africa Commission.

He was also appointed to the ICSID Panel of Conciliators by the Federal Republic of Somalia and serves as Somalia’s lead delegate for UNCITRAL, including Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform). Guled was previously the Chair of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre’s (SIAC) Users Council Committee for Africa, a member of the SIAC Users Council Executive Committee and a member of the Young SIAC Committee. He was also previously a member of the New York City Bar Association's Arbitration Committee. Guled has featured in all of the leading legal directories for several years. He is currently designated by Legal500 as a “Next Generation Partner” in both International Arbitration and Public International Law.

He is recognised by clients as “a future leader in the field, standing out for his expertise in international law and international arbitration” and “an outstanding lawyer and a pleasure to work with” (Legal 500 UK, 2021 and 2022). Chambers UK recognises Guled as “Up and Coming” for Public International Law, commenting “Guled is thoughtful, clear and strategic.” Guled has published extensively on the subjects of public international law and international arbitration, including co-authoring a chapter in “Building International Investment Law” (ICSID’s 50th Anniversary book), contributing two chapters to both editions of “Arbitration in Africa: A Practitioner’s Guide” and co-authoring articles in ICSID Review. He also serves on the peer review board of two leading arbitration journals: ICSID Review and the American Review of International Arbitration. Guled also regularly speaks at international arbitration conferences organised by the world’s leading arbitral institutions, including ICC, ICSID, LCIA and SIAC. He has also lectured at several law schools, including Harvard Law School, Columbia Law School, University of Cambridge and NYU School of Law. In addition to his experience in private practice, Guled previously represented an African State at the UN General Assembly and served as a legal adviser to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. Guled is a native English speaker, who is fluent in French and German.

Experience

Representative matters

  • The Kingdom of Morocco in ICSID proceedings commenced by an Italian construction company in relation to an infrastructure project;
  • The Dutch subsidiary of a Russian energy company in ICC arbitral proceedings commenced by an Italian energy services company in connection with the termination of a contract for the construction of a gas pipeline;
  • The Sultanate of Oman in ICSID proceedings commenced by a South Korean investor that arose out of an oil refinery project; and
  • A government agency from East Asia in ICC arbitral proceedings arising out of an investment in the construction sector in Eastern Europe.

Published Work

  • Contributing Author, “Fish Out of Water? Foreign Recognition and Enforcement of U.S. Class Arbitration Awards”, published in State of Arbitration – Essays in Honour of Professor George Bermann (Juris, 2022)
  • Co-Author, “Prohibition, Regulation or Laissez Faire? Policy Trade-Offs of Double-Hatting in Investment Treaty Arbitration”, published in Investment Treaty Arbitration and International Law (Juris, 2021)
  • Contributing Author, Arbitration in Africa: A Practitioner's Guide (Lise Bosman (ed.), Kluwer Law International, 2021)
  • Co-Author, “ICSID Arbitration after Achmea: the Beginning of the End or the End of the Beginning? - United Utilities (Tallinn) BV v Estonia”, ICSID Review (Winter/Spring 2020)
  • Author, “Bridging the Gap between Theory and Practice: Revisiting the Role of Restitution in Investment Treaty Arbitration”, African Yearbook of International Law (November 2018)
  • Co-Author, "Removing the Sword of Damocles: ICSID Denunciation under Articles 71 and 72 - Fábrica de Vidrios Los Andes, CA and Owens-Illinois de Venezuela, CA v Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela", ICSID Review (Spring 2018)
  • Co-Author, "Precedent & Jurisprudence Constante", published in Building International Investment Law: The First 50 Years of ICSID (Meg Kinnear et al. (ed.), Kluwer Law International, 2015)
  • Contributing Author, Arbitration in Africa: A Practitioner's Guide (Lise Bosman (ed.), Kluwer Law International, 2013)
  • Co-Author, "The End Times for Timbuktu?", The New York Times (31 July 2012)

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration
  • Member of the ICC Africa Commission
  • Member of the ICSID Panel of Conciliators
  • Member of the Advisory Board of the American Review of International Arbitration
  • Member of ICSID Review Peer Review Board
  • Member of the Advisory Board for the Harvard International Arbitration Law Students Association

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 2012
Admitted to the bar, State of New York, USA, 2018

Academic

LL.M., Columbia University (James Kent Scholar, Edwin Parker Prize), 2014

LL.B., Law with French Law (Hons), University of Warwick, 2008

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.