Gaëtan is a founding partner of Three Crowns. He has close to 25 years of experience serving as advocate or arbitrator in both commercial and investment treaty arbitrations.
Gaëtan is a past Senior Co-Chair of the Arbitration Committee of the International Bar Association. He presently serves as a member of the SIAC Court of Arbitration and was appointed by the Kingdom of Belgium to the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators. He teaches investment treaty law at King’s College School of Law in London and has taught the same subject at Columbia Law School in New York.
Before entering private practice, Gaëtan served as a legal advisor at the World Trade Organization in Geneva, where he advised dispute settlement panels adjudicating disputes between sovereigns across a range of industry sectors.
Gaëtan has been ranked as a leading international arbitration practitioner in all major publications, including Chambers, The Legal 500, The Legal 500’s Arbitration Powerlist, and Who’s Who Legal. Gaëtan has been described in Chambers as having “a phenomenal reputation” and is praised for “articulating his arguments well and being good at devising the right legal strategy while also convincing the tribunal during his submissions”. Who’s Who Legal has noted that Gaëtan is recognised by his clients, peers, and opponents as “the number-one person I have ever encountered on the other side”, “impressive and thorough oral advocate”, and that “he is liked by peers for his style and presence; he definitely deserves to be on any list of the best”.
Gaëtan is admitted to practice in England & Wales, Spain and France.
Bar and court admissions
Languages
English
Spanish
Dutch
French
“An all-round amazing lawyer who leaves no loose ends and is good in devising the right legal strategy while also convincing the tribunal”.
Who's Who Legal
Representing the Republic of Finland in two ICSID arbitrations under the Energy Charter Treaty in the power distribution sector
Representing a PETRONAS subsidiary in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of South Sudan under a domestic investment promotion statute
Representing a European State in an ad hoc arbitration under a bilateral investment treaty in the energy sector
Representing various European integrated energy companies in an LCIA arbitration against a NOC arising from breach of contract
Successfully defended the Sultanate of Oman against a $200 million claim in connection with an investment dispute relating to an oil and gas engineering and construction contract
Reduced a $430 million claim against an Asian national oil company to $10 in nominal damages in an ICC arbitration arising from the client’s withdrawal from a production sharing contract in Central Asia
Secured a $175 million damages award including interest for a Trafigura subsidiary in an UNCITRAL arbitration against the Government of Ghana arising from a power purchase agreement
Represented a European wind farm manufacturer in an ICC arbitration relating to a cross-licensing agreement for wind turbine patents
Secured a $150 million award for an Asian national oil company in an ICC arbitration arising from a production sharing agreement with another Asian national oil company, while defeating a $140 million counterclaim in the same proceeding
Represented an Asian national oil company in a $490 million ICC arbitration arising from a gas transportation agreement
“Gaëtan's attention to detail and client needs is excellent. His capacity to grasp the big picture is unique. His work is always diligent, sophisticated and elegant”.
Chambers UK
“Gaëtan’s “delivery is extraordinary – he is beyond sophisticated and professional”.
Chambers UK
“Gaëtan is without doubt one of the best professionals out there. He has world-class experience and skill”.
Chambers UK
- Columbia Law School, J.S.D., 2001 – New York
Belgian American Educational Foundation Fellow - Columbia Law School, LL.M., 2000 – New York
Herman Finkelstein Fellow - Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, Graduate Diploma in International Relations, 1997 – Bologna
- Catholic University of Leuven, Lic. Jur., 1996 – Leuven
magna cum laude - University of Antwerp, Cand. Jur., 1993 – Antwerp
cum laude