Raëd Fathallah
France
Bredin Prat
53 Quai d'Orsay
75007 Paris
France
Tel: 01 44 35 35 35
Email:
raedfathallah@bredinprat.com
Web:
www.bredinprat.fr
Raëd Fathallah is a Partner at Bredin Prat and a leading international arbitration practitioner with more than 25 years of experience acting as both counsel and arbitrator. He has participated in more than 200 proceedings involving corporations, sovereign States, and State-owned entities, across both commercial and investment arbitration. His experience spans ad hoc proceedings and cases under the ICC, ICSID, LCIA, SIAC, HKIAC, UNCITRAL, DIAC, BCDR, CRCICA, and OHADA Rules.
Raëd has particular expertise in disputes involving sovereign States and State entities and has acted in dozens of investor-State cases, including ICSID proceedings, both as lead counsel and arbitrator. His practice has a strong international dimension, with significant experience in matters involving Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and other emerging markets. Prior to joining Bredin Prat, he practised in New York, Montreal, and Lebanon.
Alongside his counsel work, Raëd has developed a substantial practice as an arbitrator. He has served in more than 80 arbitrations, frequently as presiding or sole arbitrator, under major institutional and ad hoc rules including ICC, LCIA, HKIAC, ICSID, and UNCITRAL. He served as Vice President of the London Court of International Arbitration and is currently a member of the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators and Conciliators.
His standing in international arbitration has been recognized by leading legal directories and institutions. Chambers Global and Chambers France have consistently highlighted his work as both counsel and arbitrator, while The Legal 500 EMEA recognizes him as a Leading Partner in International Arbitration. Lexology Index has named him a Global Elite Thought Leader and Thought Leader for Arbitration, and Best Lawyers has recognized him across International Arbitration, Arbitration and Mediation, Construction Law, Energy Law, and Mining Law.
Raëd is also the recipient of the Swiss Arbitration Association Prize for Advocacy in International Commercial Arbitration, awarded in 2014 in recognition of exceptional advocacy and contribution to the effective resolution of international commercial disputes. His practice is particularly noted for complex technical and sector-specific matters, including disputes involving construction, infrastructure, energy, mining, and cross-border investment.
Academically, Raëd has a strong international background. He graduated from the University of Ottawa and New York University School of Law before completing a doctorate in law at Oxford University, Lincoln College, where his research focused principally on investment treaty arbitration. He was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1997, became a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 2005, and was admitted to the Paris Bar in 2007.
Bredin Prat’s Arbitration practice has been a core part of the firm since its inception, representing clients in domestic and international proceedings involving both French and foreign law. The team handles arbitrations under a wide range of institutional rules, including the ICC, LCIA, DIAC, ICSID and AAA, as well as ad hoc proceedings.
The firm has extensive experience acting as counsel in disputes involving sovereign states and state-owned entities, including matters conducted under UNCITRAL, ICC and ICSID rules. Its lawyers have particular experience with investor-state disputes and bilateral investment treaties, combining arbitration advocacy with a detailed understanding of public international law issues.
Bredin Prat’s arbitration lawyers are also regularly appointed as arbitrators in specialised disputes administered by institutions including the ICC, LCIA, DIAC and the French arbitration association, AFA. This combination of counsel and arbitrator experience gives the team substantial insight into the procedural and strategic demands of complex international arbitration.
The firm’s principal practice areas include Corporate/M&A, Securities Law, Litigation and International Arbitration, Tax, Competition and European Law, Banking and Finance, Restructuring and Insolvency, Employment, Public Law, Digital Law and Intellectual Property, and Financial Services and Insurance Regulation. Originally known for its litigation and arbitration work, Bredin Prat significantly expanded its corporate practice from the 1980s onward, giving the firm substantial capabilities across both major transactions and complex disputes.
Bredin Prat emphasizes integrated, high-level advice across its practice groups while maintaining the culture of a focused independent firm. For cross-border matters, its lawyers work closely with leading firms in relevant jurisdictions, allowing Bredin Prat to coordinate international mandates without relying on a formal global network. This approach enables the firm to combine strong French and European capabilities with flexible access to specialist counsel worldwide.
“Raëd Fathallah is one of the most accomplished figures in international arbitration, combining elite advocacy with deep experience as an arbitrator. His work across commercial and investor-State disputes gives him exceptional authority in matters involving sovereigns, State entities, and major cross-border investments.”