🔷Chérine Sophia Ftouki is an International Arbitrator and Expert Consultant in Energy & Environmental Policy. She has expertise in International Dispute Resolution and Public International Law, she combines top-tier legal experience with academic experience as Visiting Lecturer at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, where she taught Investor-State-Disputes Settlement (ISDS).

🔷With previous experience as a Global International Arbitration Specialist (Consultant) at an international law firm, she has established herself as a trusted advisor in arbitration, particularly within the energy, maritime, infrastructure, and resources sectors. Her expertise seamlessly blends Public International Law knowledge with commercial acumen. Drawing on a rich background in International Arbitration, she offers valuable perspectives on advisory aspects pertaining to arbitration and post-arbitration proceedings, particularly related to energy and infrastructure projects.

🔷Before becoming independent, Chérine Sophia worked at a boutique law firm in London, primarily collaborating with the arbitration practice. She assisted on contentious and arbitration matters related to the U.S. and Latin America, focusing on disputes arising from global instability, regulatory changes, and financial pressures affecting energy projects, oil and gas facilities, offshore drilling, and maritime transactions.

🔷Later, she joined the Energy & Infrastructure group of a large American global firm in the UK, where she concentrated on advising clients in the MENA region. She worked on several projects in the construction and shipping industries, advising governments, NGOs, and corporations. Her experience spans cross-border energy negotiations, covering both upstream and downstream operations. Chérine Sophia specializes in energy transition and green energy governmental incentives, with expertise in market access issues, including LNG, solar, hydrogen, infrastructure, and mining disputes.

🔷In addition to her role as an arbitrator, Chérine Sophia has played a key part in complex, high-value cross-border investment and commercial arbitrations under leading international institutions such as ICSID, ICC, and LCIA, as well as ad hoc proceedings. Her experience spans cases involving parties across LATAM, CIS, Africa, and the Middle East.

🔷She has experience of Environmental, Climate Change, and Natural Resources Dispute Resolution. Particularly noteworthy are her leading roles in research projects related to the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) and matters involving state/state-owned entities, diplomatic privilege, and sovereign immunity