A Paris-based arbitrator with civil and common law qualifications

Ketevan Betaneli is an independent arbitrator based in Paris, with extensive experience as an arbitrator and counsel in complex commercial and investment treaty disputes. Ms Betaneli has acted as sole arbitrator, chair, and counsel in arbitrations administered under a wide range of institutional and ad hoc rules, including the ICC, SCC, HKIAC, ICSID, GIAC, FIBA, and UNCITRAL, as well as under the ICC Expedited Procedure Rules.

Prior to establishing Betaneli Arbitration in 2024, Ms Betaneli practiced international arbitration at leading international law firms in Paris and Tbilisi and worked at the Ministry of Justice of Georgia.

One highlight of Ketevan’s work includes forming part of a team that secured a USD 50 billion award for the majority shareholders of the former Yukos Oil Company, the largest investment award in history.

Dually qualified in New York and Georgia (country), Ketevan is multilingual and has handled arbitrations involving Georgian, Russian, English, and French.

Ketevan has been actively contributing to the development of arbitration by sharing knowledge and know-how through various initiatives. This includes regularly speaking at conferences, teaching at a summer school, delivering client presentations, and publishing on a variety of topics related to arbitration and international law. Ketevan has also developed and led written and oral advocacy training courses for arbitration lawyers worldwide.

Ketevan has been recognized as “Future leader” in arbitration by Who’s Who Legal (and subsequently by Lexology Index) since 2019. 

Arbitration highlights

  • Acting as the President of the Arbitral Tribunal in a dispute under the GIAC Arbitration Rules, seated in Tbilisi, Georgia, involving corporate law issues.

  • Acting as the Sole Arbitrator in a dispute under the ICC Expedited Procedure Rules, seated in Paris, France, concerning the wholesale and retail trade sector.

  • Acting as the Sole Arbitrator in a dispute under the SCC Arbitration Rules, seated in Stockholm, Sweden, involving an agricultural project.

  • Representing the majority shareholders in the former Yukos Oil Company, Claimants in a series of three UNCITRAL arbitrations in The Hague against the Russian Federation in relation to the expropriation of their investment in the company. The claims were brought under the Energy Charter Treaty. The Tribunal ordered the Russian Federation to pay over USD 50 billion in damages, the largest award ever rendered by an arbitral tribunal.

  • Representing the Republic of Lithuania as Respondent in an ICC arbitration initiated by OAO Gazprom. The dispute related to Gazprom’s investment in the Kaunas Heat and Power Plant (Kauno Termofikacijos Elektriné). The proceedings were brought under the 1999 Russia-Lithuania BIT. After Gazprom withdrew the claim, the Republic of Lithuania secured the reimbursement of the entirety of the arbitration costs and of the legal fees and expenses incurred in the proceedings.

  • Representing Viorel Micula et al in an ICSID arbitration brought under Sweden-Romania BIT against Romania, related to the Claimants’ business activities in Romania pertaining to the production and sale of alcoholic spirits in the country.

  • Representing three European chemical companies as Claimants in an ICC arbitration in Paris against the European subsidiaries of a large North American chemical concern. The dispute arose from the confidentiality provision contained in a joint venture agreement formed to manufacture a product used for the production of nylon. French law applied and the languages of the arbitration were both French and English. Settlement was achieved.

  • Representing a European company and its affiliate as Claimants in an arbitration in Hong Kong against an Asian company in the automotive industry, and its affiliate. The dispute arose from an agreement for the manufacture and distribution of automobiles in a CIS State. The arbitration was conducted under the UNCITRAL Rules and administered by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC).

  • Representing Georgia as Respondent in an ICSID arbitration brought by Karmer Marble Tourism Construction Industry and Commerce LLC (ICSID Case No. ARB/08/19).

  • Representing Georgia as Respondent in an UNCITRAL (ad hoc) arbitration brought by Ina Gudavadze under the Georgian Foreign Investment Law, related to the alleged taking of a TV station and a park (in the hills of Tbilisi) without receiving compensation.

  • Advising a Georgian company in relation to a potential ICC arbitration concerning the purchase and installation of warehouse facilities in Georgia.

  • Representing a Ukrainian premier league basketball club as Respondent against a US professional basketball player and his sports agents in an arbitration under the FIBA Rules.

Additional Information

Ms Betaneli’s experience includes cases involving:

Parties from: Georgia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Romania, the Russian Federation, Cyprus, Isle of Man, Turkey, France, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, USA, Canada, China

Seated in: Paris, Stockholm, The Hague, Tbilisi, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan

Applicable laws of: Georgia, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, France, the CISG

Languages: Georgian, Russian, English, French

Applicable arbitration rules: ICC, SCC, HKIAC, ICSID, GIAC, FIBA, and UNCITRAL, as well as the expedited procedure rules

Issues addressed as arbitrator: interim measures, jurisdictional and admissibility objections, document production, bifurcation, unsolicited submissions, applications for the admission of late-filed evidence and submissions

Industries and sectors: agriculture, wholesale and retail, hospitality, food and beverages, car manufacturing, oil and gas, real estate development, sports

Types of disputes: corporate and shareholder, management contracts, joint-venture and confidentiality, contract interpretation and performance, international sales, multi-party and multi-contract disputes

Types of parties: States and State entities (including ministries, local governments, governments of autonomous republics and their departments, and State-owned entities (SOEs)), as well as private parties (corporations and individuals)

Public international law and investment treaties: representing investors and States in investment treaty arbitrations across various sectors including tunnel construction, tax measures, oil and gas, power plants, concessions, telecommunications, hospitality, and food and beverages; as well as acting in post-award proceedings involving investment treaty awards