Flavio Ponzano
ArbLit
Italian
Italy
Milan
M&A, corporate, construction, energy, commercial contracts and sport.
Italian (native); English.
Ph.D. in international law (Catholic University of Milan, 2018)
International Academy for Arbitration Law (Paris, 2014)
Degree in Law (Catholic University of Milan, 2012)
Publications:
- The CJEU judgment in London Steam-Ship Owners’ Mutual Insurance Association Limited v. Kingdom of Spain: a further blow to arbitration?, comment to CJEU judgment of June 20, 2022, C-700/20, EU:C:2022:488, in ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin, 2022, 3, p. 13 ff.
- Treaty shopping according to the Swiss Federal Tribunal: towards greater legal certainty?, comment to Federal Tribunal judgment 4A_398/2021, in Diritto del Commercio Internazionale, 2022, 3, p. 779 ff.
- The need for arbitration-specific rules on ethics: a plea for a collective effort, with Luca G. Radicati di Brozolo, in M. S. Abdel Wahab et al. (eds.), Leadership, legitimacy, legacy: a tribute to Alexis Mourre, ICC Publication, 2022, p. 105 ff.
- La res judicata nell’arbitrato commerciale internazionale: note a margine della monografia di Silja Schaffstein, in Rivista dell'Arbitrato, 2017, 1, p. 181 ff.
- Representative aspects of “mass claim” proceedings in investor-State arbitration, with Luca G. Radicati di Brozolo, in B. Hanotiau & E. A. Schwarz (eds.), Class and Group Actions in Arbitration, Dossiers - ICC Institute of World Business Law, 2016, p. 127 ff.
- La giurisdizione ICSID ratione personae: il ritorno della dicotomia forma-sostanza in tema di nazionalità dell’investitore persona giuridica, comment to ICSID Case No. ARB/12/22, Venoklim Holding B.V. v. Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela, in Diritto del Commercio Internazionale, 2016, 2, p. 513 ff.
- Confidentiality within arbitration, with Luca G. Radicati di Brozolo, in E. Geisinger (ed.), Confidential and Restricted Access Information in International Arbitration, ASA Special Series no. 43, 2016, p. 1 ff.
- Determinazione della legge applicabile alla convenzione arbitrale in assenza di scelta espressa delle parti, comment to FirstLink Investments Corp Ltd v GT Payment Pte Ltd and others [2014] SGHCR 12, in Rivista dell’Arbitrato, 2014, 4, p. 833 ff.
- Clausole arbitrali e clausole di elezione del foro: un’antinomia solo agli occhi dei ‘non reasonable observers’?, comment to British American Insurance (Kenya) Ltd v (1) Matelec SAL (2) Thika Power Ltd [2013] EWHC 3278 (Comm), in Diritto del Commercio Internazionale, 2014, 2, p. 508 ff.
Speaking engagements:
- ICC YAAF, Milan, Catholic University, May 12, 2023, “Ethical issues in international arbitration”.
- CAM (Milan Chamber of Arbitration) – AIA-ArbIt-40, Milan, April 14, 2023, “La convenzione di arbitrato” (lecture within the course “L’arbitrato, da vicino”).
- ASA below 40, Spring Event, Genève, June 10, 2022, What co-operation is expected between counsel and the expert?
- ICC YAF – AIA-ArbIt-40, webinar, Oct. 21, 2020, Selection of factual witnesses and drafting of witness statements.
- Delos-Y, webinar, Oct. 2, 2020, Hearings – the ultimate test for an arbitration associate.
- Catholic University, Milan, Nov. 29, 2019, Il diritto internazionale privato nell’esperienza dell’avvocato d’affari.
- Bonelli Erede, Milan, Feb. 20, 2019, The Prague Rules: wind of change?
- ICC YAF, CFA-40, PVYAP, Paris, July 5, 2018, Career opportunities in international arbitration.
- ArbLit, Milan, Nov. 10, 2017, Res Judicata in international arbitration.
- ICC YAF, Milan, April 8, 2016, International energy investments and the ECT – a focus on investments in renewables.
- Member of ArbIt, ICC YAAF and Young ICCA.
- Member of the board of editors of Diritto del Commercio Internazionale (since 2016).
- Former member of the Executive Committee of AIA-ArbIt-40 (2019-2022).
- Former coach of the Catholic University of Milan team participating in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (2014-2018).
- Co-author of the Italian Report for the research project of the IBA “Comparative Study on ‘Arbitrability’ under the New York Convention” (2016).
- Recognized in Who’s Who Legal rankings “Arbitration Future Leaders” and “Italy: Arbitration” (since 2018).
- Recognized in Euromoney Legal Media Group, Expert Guides ranking “Rising Stars – Commercial Arbitration” (since 2019).
I'm a partner at ArbLit specializing in commercial and investor-State arbitration. I have been involved – as counsel, arbitrator or tribunal secretary – in almost 40 arbitrations conducted under major arbitration rules and subject to a variety of governing laws in different seats. My experience includes acting as counsel in investor-State energy arbitrations under the ECT and intra-EU BITs, in company law disputes arising from private equity investments, in construction disputes under FIDIC contracts, in a distribution dispute involving a Japanese manufacturer and in a dispute over the image rights of a famous football player.
I hold a Ph.D. in International Law from the Catholic University of Milan with a dissertation on res judicata, and for many years assisted Professor Radicati di Brozolo with his courses of Private International Law and Law of International Arbitration. I'm a qualified attorney in Italy, speak English fluently and have an intermediate knowledge of French.