International protections for a global crisis: legal tools to mitigate investment/country risk for foreign operations/projects

For the past three years, the world has been engulfed in a global energy and supply-chain crisis. At the same time, countries are accelerating their green transition and encouraging foreign investments in renewable energies. As a result of this tension between crisis and opportunity, governments (both in developing and developed countries) are led to adopt fast-changing policies and protectionist measures, especially in the field of energy and resources. These policies and measures are often taken in disregard of – or even against – foreign companies’ operations and investments.

This seminar aims to provide a practical overview of little-know yet effective and accessible legal solutions available to Icelandic energy companies doing business with or in foreign countries to mitigate investment risk and prevent disputes, ranging from the use of host-government contracts to the optimisation of corporate structure to secure the protection of international investment treaties (including access to international arbitration).

 A Franco-Maltese national, Rodolphe Ruffié-Farrugia is an international lawyer at Clifford Chance with a specific focus on energy and resources in a variety of regions worldwide. He specialises in international investment protection and dispute settlement (ISDS), commercial arbitration, and project development. Splitting his time between Asia-Pacific and Europe, Rodolphe maintains professional ties with (and personal interests in) Iceland, where he has been making regular visits over the past ten years. He has personally represented the largest Icelandic companies in international arbitration proceedings against a foreign government.

Registration by email: info@energycluster.is and members will receive a calendar invite link.