Brian’s broad-based expertise as a disputes lawyer – energy, natural resources, telecoms, government, and corporate clients – is testament to a mind that never shies away from detail. He credits his success to pursuing insider-level knowledge, far beyond the legal issues at play: understanding the technical intricacies of a client’s business, the broader terrain of their industry, and the commercial footing between the parties. Every nuance may inform strategy for the right result.
Educated in the US and Sweden and fluent in Spanish, Brian’s practice has an international footprint that stands out in a notably international firm. Admitted to the bar in California and New York, he represents clients across Latin America, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific. While frequently published and in demand on the lecture circuit, Brian sees international arbitration as a contact sport and relishes working alongside a wealth of diverse professional people in his day-to-day.
When not traveling or hunkered down in an arbitral centre on a case, Brian is a proud Londoner who enjoys exploring his adopted hometown’s vibrant neighbourhoods. He can be heard on the podcast he co-founded in 2017: the Arbitration Station – or taking a rare break from all things professional to turn his eye for detail to writing intricately plotted fiction. It’s the one project he never really wants to bring to an efficient close.
If you compete with others, you’ll become bitter; if you compete with yourself, you’ll become better.
Own Motto
Experience
M.B. KEMP LLP, London, UK
Partner
November 2020 - present
Winston & Strawn (London) LLP
UK
Attorney
2018 – 2020
Mannheimer Swartling Advokatbyrå
Stockholm, Sweden
Senior Associate, 2018
Associate, 2012 – 2017
Baker & McKenzie
Madrid, Spain
Trainee, 2010
The Walt Disney Company
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Legal Intern for Regional Legal Counsel – Latin America, 2009
Education and Admissions
Stockholm University
Stockholm, Sweden
LL.M., June 2012
American University
Washington College of Law
Washington, D.C.
Juris Doctor, May 2011
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor
MI
Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Spanish
May 2008
Bar admissions
New York
California
Membership
American Bar Association
Swedish Arbitration Association
Young Arbitrator’s Sweden
Young ISDS Club
Notable Deals
- Counsel for the Vattenfall group in Vattenfall et al. v. Germany before ICSID under the Energy Charter Treaty regarding the shutdown of three nuclear power plants in Germany for claims amounting to EUR 4.5 billion.
- Counsel for Ioan Micula and the corporate claimants in Ioan Micula, et al. v. Romania (Micula II) before ICSID regarding breaches of the Sweden-Romania BIT concerning taxation on spirits and wine production with claims amounting to EUR 2 billion.
- Counsel for a Swiss commercial satellite company in an UNCITRAL arbitration against a Russian space company regarding a satellite launching service agreement.
- Counsel for Ioan Micula and the corporate claimants in Ioan Micula, et al. v. Romania (Micula I), where an ICSID
ad hoc Committee rejected Romania’s application to annul a previous award in the amount of EUR 250 million. - Counsel for Dominion Minerals Corporation in Dominion v. Panama before ICSID under the U.S.-Panama BIT
regarding the mining exploration concession for the Cerro Chorcha mining property in Western Panama (pending). - Counsel for an international fast food chain in an SCC arbitration against two Russian individual franchisees concerning the serial violation of numerous franchise agreements.
- Secretary to a Sole Arbitrator in an LCIA arbitration concerning a manufacturing agreement between a
US company and a German company.
Credentials
Who's Who Legal
The Arbitration Station
Interview
What sets you apart as a lawyer?
To achieve an optimal result for my clients, it’s crucial that I understand the client, the specific industry, the commercial relationship between the parties and the commercial context beyond the factual matrix of a particular dispute.
What’s the best part of your job?
The field of international arbitration is at its essence a people’s business. In my career, I have met people from all corners of the globe that share a passion for this niche area of law. On any given day, you are bound to meet either counsel, clients, experts, arbitrators or administrators with different legal backgrounds and education
How would you pitch KEMP to a stranger you met in an elevator?
The business model of Big Law has become outdated – it’s been greatly weakened by the vast networks of conflicts of interest and exorbitant fee structures. KEMP was set up by Big Law alumni who wanted to create a nimble, adaptable and “current” international law practice that could be customised to meet the expectations and budgets of any type of client.
Unlike other firms of its size, M.B. KEMP is a truly international firm with the capacity to offer legal services in a broad spectrum of practice areas without ever sacrificing the quality of our work.
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