 Bennett Jones Vasilis F. L. Pappas, FCIArbPartner Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto pappasv@bennettjones.com Education University of British Columbia, BA, 1999 McGill University, LLB, 2002 McGill University, BCL, 2002 Bar Admissions New York, 2003 Ontario, 2011 Alberta, 2011 British Columbia, 2014 Manitoba, 2023 Overview Vasilis Pappas is Co-Head of the firm’s International Arbitration Practice Group and a member of the firm’s Construction Group. He is a recognized leader in the fields of domestic and international commercial arbitration, investor-state arbitration, and construction litigation and arbitration. He has been recognized by clients and market commentators as “a prominent figure in the arbitration world” who “gives expert advice”, “wins considerable support for his articulacy, responsiveness and quality of service”, and "is well regarded for his experienced work on international disputes related to the energy and mining sectors" (Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business). Vasilis has represented companies all over the world in complex commercial disputes worth many billions of dollars in a diverse range of sectors, including energy, mining, banking, insurance, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals. He has particular expertise in construction disputes, acting for owners, contractors, subcontractors and engineers in a wide range of disputes arising from large construction projects. Vasilis has acted as arbitration counsel under all of the world's leading international arbitration rule systems, including ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, ICDR, AAA, JAMS, SIAC, HKIAC, VanIAC and ADRIC, and as litigation counsel before the courts of the United States and Canada. Vasilis also represents sovereign states and multinational companies in investor-state disputes under the ICSID Convention, NAFTA Chapter Eleven, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Energy Charter Treaty and other bilateral and multilateral investment treaties. Prior to joining Bennett Jones, Vasilis practised for eight years in New York City with a leading international law firm. He also practised with the Government of Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (now Global Affairs Canada), representing Canada in investor-state arbitrations and investment treaty negotiations. Vasilis now works out of the firm's Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto offices. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Law in the field of international commercial arbitration and investor-state arbitration, is on the Canadian roster of arbitrators of the ICC International Court of Arbitration and is a Fellow and Director of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He also publishes and speaks regularly on topics pertaining to international commercial arbitration and investor-state arbitration. When away from the office, Vasilis can be found at the rink or on the softball field, coaching both of his daughters’ hockey and softball teams. He is also the President of the New Westminster Minor Hockey Association, where he volunteers many hours giving back to his community. ,,Vasilis is organized, articulate and not afraid of a challenge. I doubt there are many better. International Commercial Arbitration • Representation of a British oil and gas company in multiple UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings exceeding USD $1.25 billion in value against a U.S. geological development corporation in relation to the development, production and sale of two gas and condensate fields in Kazakhstan • Representation of Norwegian aluminium manufacturer in a USD $350 million dispute subject to ICC arbitration seated in London against U.S. and Korean contractors in relation to the construction of a power plant and aluminium smelter in Qatar • Representation of a Canadian utilities company in a USD $250 million LCIA arbitration seated in Mexico City against a Mexican state-owned electricity commission in relation to the construction of a natural gas pipeline in Mexico • Representation of an Australian contractor in a USD $100 million ICC arbitration seated in London against an Omani state-owned entity in connection with the construction of a gas and condensate processing plant in Oman • Representation of a Canadian construction contractor in a USD $100 million LCIA arbitration seated in St. Kitts and Nevis against a state-owned air and sea ports authority in connection with the construction of a cruise ship pier in St. Kitts and Nevis • Representation of a Qatari subcontractor in a USD $135 million ICC arbitration seated in Doha against Lebanese and Qatari contractors in relation to the construction of three LNG facilities in Qatar • Representation of a German biofuel contractor in a USD $100 million dollar AAA arbitration seated in Chicago against a U.S. oil and gas company in connection with the construction of an ethanol production facility in the United States • Representation of a Norwegian aluminium manufacturer in a USD $200 million dispute subject to ICC arbitration seated in London against European insurers and reinsurers arising from the construction of a power plant and aluminium smelter in Qatar • Representation of a Japanese energy company in a USD $400 million UNCITRAL arbitration seated in Calgary against a Japanese contractor arising from the construction of an oil sands facility in Canada • Representation of a Canadian pipeline contractor in a CAD $75 million ad hoc arbitration seated in Calgary against a Canadian energy company in connection with the construction of a natural gas pipeline in Canada • Representation of a Norwegian-Qatari joint venture in a USD $85 million insurance dispute subject to ARIAS arbitration seated in London against European insurers and reinsurers arising from a fire at a power plant in Qatar • Representation of a US energy company in a USD $20 million arbitration seated in Paris against a Romanian state-owned oil and gas company arising from the operation of seven and gas fields in Romania • Representation of a Canadian engineering company in connection with a CIETAC arbitration seated in Beijing against a Chinese company in relation to the manufacture of piping in the oil and gas industry • Representation of a Canadian contractor in a multimillion dispute subject to ADRIC arbitration seated in Vancouver against a Canadian subcontractor arising from the construction of a hospital in the Northwest Territories • Representation of a Southeast Asian government in connection with a multimillion dollar ICC arbitration seated in Paris against Swiss and Dutch companies in relation to the purchase and sale of rice • Representation of a French cosmetics company in a multimillion dollar ad hoc arbitration seated in New York with a Chinese company in connection with a purchase price adjustment dispute • Representation of a Polish state-owned television broadcaster in connection with a multimillion dollar PCC arbitration seated in Warsaw against a Canadian licensee in relation to the distribution of Polish language television and radio content in the Western Hemisphere • Representation of a multinational cement manufacturer in a multimillion dollar ad hoc arbitration seated in Edmonton against a Canadian power producer in connection with the sale of classified and unclassified fly ash • Representation a multinational chemical manufacturer in the enforcement of a multibillion dollar ICC arbitral award against a Middle Eastern government
Investment Treaty Arbitration • Representation of a North American government in a CAD $105 million investment treaty arbitration under NAFTA Chapter Eleven with a foreign investor in connection with the revocation of the investor's permits to develop a large-scale waste management facility • Representation of a foreign investor against a North American government in a USD $120 million investment treaty arbitration under NAFTA Chapter Eleven in connection with the revocation of the investor's permit to undertake shale gas exploration • Representation of an Eastern European government in connection with a USD $20 million dollar investment treaty arbitration with a foreign investor under a bilateral investment treaty with respect to foreign investments made in Eastern Europe's aviation industry • Representation of a foreign investor in connection with a USD $20 million investment treaty arbitration with a government in the Caribbean under a bilateral investment treaty arising from the destruction of the foreign investor's nature preserve in the Caribbean • Representation of a North American government in a USD $100 million investment treaty arbitration under NAFTA Chapter Eleven with a foreign investor in connection with the revocation of the investor's application to develop a large-scale mining project • Representation of a foreign investor in connection an investment treaty dispute with a government in Eastern Europe under a bilateral investment treaty arising from the expropriation of the foreign investor's office building • Representation of a North American government in a CAD $65 million investment treaty arbitration under NAFTA Chapter Eleven with a foreign investor in connection with the application of performance requirements on the investor in the energy industry • Representation of a foreign investor in a multimillion dollar investment treaty dispute under a bilateral investment treaty with a Southeast Asian Government regarding the revocation of the investor's permits to develop a large-scale mining project in Southeast Asia
Commercial Litigation • Representation of a Japanese bank in a series of litigations exceeding USD $5 billion in value in New York, Indonesia and Singapore against an Indonesian pulp and paper company in connection with its default on indenture agreements • Representation of a Canadian energy company in a USD $767 million dispute against a European contractor in connection with claims arising from the construction of five oil sands projects in Canada • Representation of a Chinese state-owned Vitamin C producer in a series of antitrust and price fixing class actions exceeding USD $150 million in value throughout the United States • Representation of a German pharmaceutical company in a multimillion dollar patent infringement dispute with a Japanese pharmaceutical company and its U.S. licensee in a litigation based in Chicago • Representation of a U.S. technology company in a multimillion dollar trademark infringement dispute with a Canadian technology company in a litigation based in Calgary • Representation of a Romanian contractor in a criminal trial based in Trenton, New Jersey in connection with the alleged bribing of military officials in Iraq • Representation of a California biotechnology company in a multimillion dollar breach of contract dispute with an Illinois company in connection with the distribution of HIV/AIDS drugs in Africa in Chicago • Representation of a Hollywood celebrity in a trademark infringement dispute with his brother in a litigation based in New Jersey • Representation of a California trust owning The Beatles and Michael Jackson music libraries against creditors to Michael Jackson's estate in a multimillion dollar litigation based in New York • Representation of a Belgian gemological laboratory in a multimillion dollar trademark infringement dispute with a California company in a litigation based in Chicago |