Claudia Woodward-Quail

Full Profile

Whilst Claudia's particular focus is upstream energy, she has experience across the industry.  She has acted for and advised parties in respect of their rights and obligations arising under JOAs and PSCs, disputes arising under rig contracts, and general contractor and service provider contracts, through to pricing disputes under long-term gas supply agreements and disputes concerning transportation and storage.  Claudia also gained valuable experience from her time as a non-contentious lawyer in-house at a super major.  Clients include licence holders, operators, co-venturers, rig owners and contractors, with operations around the world.

In addition to advice on specific issues, Claudia has significant international arbitration experience (ICC, ICSID, LCIA, UNCITRAL and other ad-hoc arbitration).  She has acted in expert determination, as well as before the English courts, including to challenge enforcement of arbitration awards, to appeal awards, and in relation to interim relief.

Experience

• Advising in relation to the consequences, including closure of several refineries in Germany and Poland, resulting from contaminated Russian (Urals) Export Blend Crude Oil; quantifying refinery claims, defending PERN claims relating to unexpected storage and blending costs, and assisting with settlement.
• Acting in a high value UNCITRAL arbitration against a NOC concerning over 50 claims for day rate and performance breaches arising under a drilling contract. 
• Advising a supermajor concerning attempted termination of an LNG project involving a FSRU.
• Acting in a LCIA arbitration concerning termination of a drilling contract in West Africa. 
• Assisting in overturning an injunction in the High Court between two co-venturers of a licence offshore Cameroon, concerning communications with the government and obligations under the JOA and PSC.
• Obtaining Partial Award for USD 15 million and additional Final Award for USD 40 million for drilling contractor against Indian agent in LCIA arbitration. 
• Acting in a high value, expedited ICC arbitration concerning flow of confidential information under various contracts between co-investors in a licence in the Middle East, and related litigation. 
• Acting in a LCIA arbitration involving delivery of an offshore rig in an unworkable condition, involving complex interplay of contractual terms and tortious arguments alongside factual issues; settled in our client's favour for over five times the contractual limit and avoiding a six week hearing 
• Acting in an ICC arbitration between supplier and trader, achieving a USD 45 million award plus 100 percent legal costs. 
• Advising vessel owners of rights and obligations in respect of offshore vessels under various charterparties.