Experience
Mélissa joined Herbert Smith Freehills Spain in September 2015.
She has experience in pre-arbitration negotiations and international arbitration proceedings under the rules of institutions including the ICC, ICSID, LCIA, SCAI and UNCITRAL as well as in commercial disputes. Mélissa is a native French speaker and she is also fluent in Spanish and English.
Mélissa's experience includes:
- representing the Kingdom of Spain in an investment arbitration under the UNCITRAL Rules filed by multiple claimants who invested in the Spanish photovoltaic industry under the Energy Charter Treaty
- representing a leading Spanish Construction, Energy and Infrastructure group in an investment arbitration against the Algerian Government under the ICSID Rules
- advising a leading Spanish engineering and construction group in an arbitration proceedings against a Kenyan State owned company relating to a dispute arising out of an EPC contract for the construction and development of an integrated electricity transmission network in Kenya
- advising a Spanish energy and construction company in an arbitration against a Chinese State owned company related to a dispute over quality defects in photovoltaic modules installed in plants constructed and operating in various European countries
- advising a Spanish State owned company in an arbitration against a Brazilian port operator relating to disputes arising out of an EPC Contract for the development of a large private port terminal in Brazil
Background
Mélissa holds a Degree of International Economic Law from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne in Paris, France. Mélissa also studied public international law at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Mélissa is qualified to practice law in France and Spain.