Melissa is a dispute resolution lawyer practicing in commercial litigation and international arbitration. She resolves complex, often cross-border, disputes and has specialist experience in Russian and Middle Eastern disputes. She has worked in London, Moscow, Dubai and Perth and is dual-qualified in England and Australia. She has advised on many multi-jurisdictional disputes and acted in a range of industry sectors including commercial, energy and resources, real estate, infrastructure, corporate and finance.
Melissa has conducted commercial and international arbitrations under a variety of laws. She has represented clients in institutional and ad hoc arbitrations including under the LCIA, ICC, SCC, DIAC and UNCITRAL Rules.
She speaks English (native), Italian (fluent) and Russian (conversational).
Expertise
- Arbitration
- Litigation
- International disputes
- Cross-border arbitration and litigation
- Commercial contract disputes
- Commodity pricing disputes
- Real estate development
- Finance and investment fund disputes
- Enforcement
Experience
- Acted for a Cayman company in a multijurisdictional shareholder dispute involving multiple proceedings, devising the litigation strategy, handling the disputes and providing strategic risk management advice throughout (Cayman Islands, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar).
- Acted in a number of large Dubai real estate development disputes, including against a Dubai Government-owned master developer and acting in one of the DIAC’s largest arbitrations (UAE).
- Acted for one of the world’s largest steel producers on a pricing dispute involving ICC arbitration proceedings and freezing order proceedings concerning more than US$400m of assets (England, Russia, Switzerland and Australia).
- Acted for a major public utility against a consortium of major gas sellers in a large gas price review and arbitration under a long-term gas supply agreement (Australia).
- Acted for a European real estate company in LCIA arbitration proceedings seated in London regarding a dispute under a gas supply agreement and jurisdictional challenge (England, Europe and Russia).
- Acted in an investment fund dispute for a Cayman Islands fund including freezing order proceedings (England, Cayman Islands and Russia).
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
“Most feared woman in complex litigation” UAE 2017 (MEA Markets)
Career
Melissa qualified as a solicitor in Australia in 2000, and in England and Wales in 2004. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2018, she worked at the following firms:
- Hadef & Partners
- Clifford Chance
- SNR Denton