Kristopher Kerstetter

Senior Partner

kk@humphrieskerstetter.com

+44 207 632 6902

Kristopher Kerstetter is the senior partner of Humphries Kerstetter LLP with over twenty years’ experience in contentious legal practice, noted in the 2022 edition of Legal 500 as a key individual in the field and as “a highly regarded international disputes specialist”.

Kristopher is an international disputes lawyer who is qualified in both the US and UK. before joining Humphries Kerstetter LLP, Kristopher worked in the New York and London offices of Linklaters LLP. Kristopher maintains a broad dispute resolution practice but with particular expertise in international arbitration and associated litigation.

Kristopher is a Solicitor-Advocate with rights to appear in all Higher Courts (Civil) of England and Wales. Kristopher has an excellent reputation among clients and colleagues, being described in the Global Arbitration Review as ‘a very competent lawyer who is always well prepared‘ and as ‘very business-oriented‘ with ‘powerful negotiation skills‘.

Experience.

Kristopher has very broad litigation and arbitration experience with an emphasis on complex disputes with an international dimension. Kristopher has particular expertise in international arbitration including the settlement of international investment disputes. He has handled arbitrations under most of the leading sets of international arbitration rules, including ICC, LCIA, ICSID, UNCITRAL and SCC and acted in high profile international disputes in the High Court of England and Wales and the US federal courts.

Kristopher has worked closely with clients in many commercial sectors including energy, telecommunications, financial services, pharmaceuticals, oil & gas, media, insurance and industrial projects. He also has experience acting both for and in opposition to sovereign states. He is often called upon to provide strategic advice in anticipation or in lieu of formal proceedings.

Kristopher also conducts internal investigations and provides advice for purposes of compliance with international anti-corruption laws as well as representing clients before associated regulators. He has acted pro bono for asylum seekers from countries with oppressive regimes.

He has authored numerous publications, been quoted in the legal press and given seminars and training sessions on international arbitration and anti-corruption issues.

Education and Languages.

  • 2003: LL.M. Cambridge University.
  • 1998: J.D. (hons) George Washington University Law School, Washington D.C.
  • 1993: B.A. (hons) Colgate University, New York.

Kristopher speaks English and has a working knowledge of Spanish.

Representative Matters.

  • International investment fund in dispute with joint venture partner subject to LCIA arbitration in London arising out of oil and gas exploration licences in Georgia.
  • Global life sciences major in arbitration in London under the LCIA rules in dispute over distribution agreement in Malaysia and Singapore.
  • UK drilling technology manufacturer in IP dispute with major multi-national oilfield services provider and US competitor subject to ICC arbitration in London and proceedings in Texas federal district court.
  • Provider of steel manufacturing management services in arbitration in London under the LCIA rules against an Eastern European state and state-owned entity arising out of the privatisation of a major steel manufacturing facility.
  • International private equity fund in arbitration in London under the LCIA rules against multiple investors over sale of a Turkish factoring business.
  • Multiple founders of IT services business in dispute in the English Commercial Court arising out of warranties in an M&A transaction.
  • Private equity fund in arbitration in Paris under the ICC rules against co-investors arising out of the privatisation of a telecommunications business in an eastern European state.
  • Cyprus-based lender in LCIA arbitration in London against Russian oligarch arising out of a promissory note and guarantee.
  • UBS AG in dispute with Deutsche Postbank in the English Commercial Court over sale of leveraged asset backed securities.
  • Various individual employees of international investment banks in international investigations into LIBOR and FX rigging.
  • Caixa Bank in dispute with co-investor over buy-out rights in a telecoms business in English Commercial Court and Spanish courts.
  • Spanish media group in fraud dispute over the sale of a Chinese business in ICC arbitration in Hong Kong, applying New York law.
  • Czech Republic in investment treaty arbitration in London under UNCITRAL Rules in claim over media licences.
  • UK defence and aerospace major in ICC arbitration in The Hague against a Middle Eastern State arising out of a suite of nine separate contracts.
  • BP plc in dispute with Russian joint venture partners in dispute over joint venture subject to UNCITRAL arbitration in Stockholm applying English law.
  • Standard Chartered Bank in dispute in the English Commercial Court with state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Company arising out of the sale of derivative hedging products.