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William Lowery

Of Counsel

Washington +1 202 662 5748

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    William Lowery is of counsel in the firm’s international arbitration and litigation practices. His recent work includes securing an award in excess of $5 billion as compensation for expropriated oil and gas assets, representing clients in enforcement proceedings, representing clients in international arbitration proceedings in a variety of sectors (e.g., energy, construction, insurance, and life sciences), and advising clients in gas price review negotiations.

    William has represented clients in ad hoc proceedings and arbitrations governed by a variety of arbitration rules, including those of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). He also has represented clients in court litigation related to the recognition and enforcement of arbitration awards and foreign court judgments, as well as discovery under 28 U.S.C § 1782.

    William has specialized experience in the energy and natural resources sectors, including disputes arising under: production sharing contracts, joint-operating agreements, and other license related agreements; oil and gas services contracts (both onshore and offshore); gas storage contracts; pipeline transportation agreements; long-term supply agreements for a variety of energy-related commodities (including oil, gas, LNG, LPG, coal, U3O8, UF6, and EUP); and various electricity-market related contracts and regulatory issues. William has also regularly represented and advised clients in prices reviews under gas supply agreements and LNG sale and purchase agreements.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • Representing a multinational biopharmaceutical company in an ICC arbitration against a license rights holder concerning deductions in the calculation of royalty payments, with an amount claimed in excess of $300 million.
    • Representing a life sciences company in a SIAC rules arbitration to recover an unpaid milestone payment.
    • Representing a global biotechnology company in a JAMS international rules proceeding concerning a CDMO's obligation to exercise good faith in mitigating damages.
    • Advising an international pharmaceutical company in negotiations to respond to and resolve a claim subject to expedited arbitration proceedings under the ICC rules.
    • Advising a European trading company on a "price majeure" claim by Niger state-owned entity, and its refusal to deliver quantities under a long-term supply agreement for U3O8, subject to New York law.
    • Advising a nuclear fuel marketing company on issues related to sanctions and the delivery of enriched uranium to a state-owned utility, under a series of long-term nuclear fuel contracts subject to various laws.
    • Representing a UK oil and gas company in arbitration proceedings against the Russian Federation arising from the expropriation of oil and gas investments.
    • Advising a mining company on a dispute with a Chinese utility company concerning the delivery conditions under a long-term supply agreement for U3O8.
    • Representing a uranium mining company and nuclear fuel supplier in ICDR arbitration proceedings against a utility company related to breach of a long-term supply and conversion agreement and decision to abandon the construction of a nuclear power plant.
    • Advising a commodities company on issues relating to Canadian export licenses, and the impact of sanctions on the delivery of uranium to a utility under a long-term nuclear fuel supply agreement, subject to New York law.
    • Advising a commodity broker on claims by a Niger state-owned entity that sanctions imposed by regional authorities prevent delivery of U3O8 under a mid-term sale and purchase agreement, subject to New York law.
    • Representing an American midstream energy company in pursuing general liability insurance coverage claims in London arbitrations valued at over $175 million.
    • Representing Ukraine’s state-owned oil and gas company, Naftogaz, in an investment treaty arbitration against the Russian Federation arising from Russia’s expropriation of Naftogaz’s assets in Crimea, resulting in an award in excess of $5 billion.

    • Advising a European gas buyer in consecutive price review negotiations against a North African seller under the terms of two long-term gas supply contracts, related to issues arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, with a cumulative value in dispute in excess of $500 million.
    • Representing a joint-venture in an ICC arbitration arising under an EPC Contract related to a concession for the rehabilitation, improvement, and construction of highways in Colombia.
    • Representing a major gas utility company in a LNG price-review arbitration under the UNCITRAL rules with a value in dispute of approximately $800 million.
    • Representing a North American mining company in an ICDR arbitration arising from cost plus construction, project management, and construction management agreements in connection with the construction of a mining project in Chile and Argentina.
    • Representing a nuclear fuel supplier in ICC arbitration proceedings against a Japanese utility company related to breach of a long-term supply agreement.
    • Representing a UK utility in an UNCITRAL Rules arbitration against a Central American state agency arising from a turn-key contract for the design and construction of a drinking water plant.
    • Representing a provider of government services in U.S. court proceedings related to the recognition and enforcement of a foreign court judgment.
    • Representing Naftogaz in U.S. discovery proceedings in support of efforts to collect a $2.56 billion arbitral award against Gazprom.
    • Advising a consortium of Asian buyers in a price review with an Asian seller under two LNG SPAs, with a value in dispute exceeding $800 million.
    • Representing a logistics company for the defense sector in ad hoc arbitration proceedings arising from a multinational entity's failure to pay invoices.
    • Representing an investment company in an LCIA arbitration under the terms of a shareholders’ agreement with a value in dispute exceeding $80 million. The dispute related to the operation of an oil terminal connected to the CPC pipeline.
    • Representing an operator of semi-submersible oil platforms and drillships in an LCIA arbitration against a shipbuilder arising from delay under a construction contract for a drillship.
    • Representing an independent oil and gas company in court proceedings against a drilling contractor related to the interpretation of a charter party agreement and delays with respect to the commencement date.
    • Advising a state-owned oil company in a pricing dispute valued in excess of $16 billion under a long-term crude oil supply contract, including the preparation of a request for arbitration for potential proceedings under the LCIA rules.
    • Representing the oil trading affiliate of a major international oil and gas company in a multiparty arbitration (seated in Stockholm and under the UNCITRAL rules) concerning the component variables of a complex quality bank calculation, including the successful challenge of a party-nominated arbitrator due to conflict of interest.
    • Representing a consortium of foreign contractors in an ICC conciliation against a North African state oil company in relation to the proper construction of a production sharing contract and the impact of changes to tax legislation.
    • Representing a power purchasing company in an expert determination related to the interpretation of outage planning provisions within the grid code for Northern Ireland.
    • Representing an energy trading and distribution company in an arbitration related to LPG supplies under the LMAA rules.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • George Mason University School of Law, J.D., 2010
    • Calvin College, B.A., 2006
        • Political Science and Philosophy
    Bar Admissions
    • District of Columbia
    • New York
    Memberships and Affiliations
    • Association of International Energy Negotiators
    • American Bar Association
    • Energy Bar Association
    Previous Experience
    • Associate in the energy disputes practice at an international law firm.
    • Stagiaire at the Paris office of an international law firm.
    • Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of International Commercial Law

    Areas of Expertise

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