Nicola is an England and Wales qualified barrister and International Counsel in the Washington, DC office where she has a broad practice in international dispute resolution. She represents States, international organisations and private parties before a range of international courts and tribunals, including in complex and high value international commercial and investment treaty disputes, as well as in proceedings before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the International Court of Justice.
She also appears in the English courts on arbitration-related matters, including the UK Supreme Court. In 2020, she was appointed Legal Secretary to the International Tennis Federation Ethics Commission and has since led numerous investigations into ethical complaints in sport.
Nicola is ranked in The Legal 500 US, Chambers USA, Chambers Global and Lexology Index and praised as “one of the best arbitration lawyers of her generation”, “demonstrat[ing] an incredible depth of knowledge and sensitivity to strategy”, and “prepared, unflappable on her feet”.
She is a member of the Board of Arbitral Women, and is a member of the CPR Y-ADR’s Steering Committee, the ICCA Task Force on Gender Diversity in International Arbitral Appointments and Proceedings, and the ICC Task Force on Arbitration of Climate Change Related Disputes. Prior to joining Three Crowns, she worked as Assistant Legal Counsel at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.
Nicola holds degrees from the University of Cambridge, Imperial College, London, and University College, London.
Bar and court admissions
Languages
English
"She is one of the best arbitration lawyers of her generation."
Lexology Index
Acting for US financial investor, Elliott Associates, in an investment treaty dispute brought under UNCITRAL Rules arising out of a major State corruption scandal in Korea
Representing a glass manufacturing company in ICC proceedings concerning breach of a cross-license agreement governed by New York law
Acting for the Kingdom of Bahrain in an ICC arbitration relating to a project to design, build and operate a waste-to-energy plant
Representing one of the world’s largest companies in a WIPO arbitration against a leading telecoms operator concerning the use and registration of intellectual property
Acting for an American lifestyle company in an LCIA arbitration and parallel expert determinations relating to the buy-out of an Indian joint venture
Acting as tribunal secretary in an ICC arbitration arising from alleged violations of a share purchase agreement by two businessmen convicted of fraud in the Czech Republic
Representing the Republic of Vanuatu before the International Court of Justice in proceedings concerning the Legal Consequences of the Separation of the Chagos Islands from Mauritius in 1965
Advising the UN Environment Programme in proceedings before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea concerning the Request for an Advisory Opinion submitted by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law
Appearing before the UK Supreme Court on behalf of the ICC International Court of Arbitration in the widely reported Halliburton Company v Chubb Bermuda Insurance Ltd case
"Nicola is tremendously responsive and highly effective, whether it be at drafting, analysis or as part of the advocacy team."
Chambers USA
"Nicola is a true star and a specialist in international environmental law"
Lexology Index
- MA, University of Cambridge
- MSc, Imperial College London (EFTEC Prize)
- LLB, University of Law
- LLM (AHRC Scholar), University College London