Laurie ACHTOUK-SPIVAK

Laurie Achtouk-Spivak is a Cleary Gottlieb partner and co-leads the firm’s international arbitration practice in Paris. She has over 15 years of experience in handling the most high stake international arbitration matters. Laurie also has experience acting as an arbitrator and is a CEDR-accredited mediator.

Laurie has significant experience in representing clients in arbitrations in a wide range of industry sectors, including energy and natural resources, infrastructure projects, financial services, and life sciences. She often provides companies with investment structuring advice, and she advises and lectures on sustainability matters.

Laurie is a thought leader in her field, being widely published on international arbitration and international investment law. She also takes part in the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, as well as the ICC Task Force on “Addressing Issues of Corruption in International Arbitration.” She is a member of the ICC Institute of World Business Law, ArbitralWomen, ILA, CFA, and ICCA. She is on the board of the French branch of the International Law Association.

EDUCATION
Harvard Law School (LL.M.)
Université de Paris II - Panthéon-Assas (D.E.A.)
Université de Paris I - Panthéon-Sorbonne (D.E.S.S.)
Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po)

LANGUAGES
French
English
Italian

BAR ADMISSION
Paris
New York

DISTINCTIONS
Most Highly Regarded, The “amazing” Laurie Achtouk-Spivak of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is a “smart, driven and gifted lawyer” with “phenomenal advocacy skills.” Who's Who Legal – Arbitration – 2021 and 2022
Rising Star, Legal 500 EMEA – International Arbitration – 2022
Rising Star, Legal Media Group Expert Guides – 2021

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND CONFERENCES
— “Anticipating and Mitigating ESG-Related Risks and Disputes,” RESOLVE Conference 2023 (March 6, 2023)
— “Action Filed in UK Against Shell’s Board Members Regarding Management of Climate Risk,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum (February 2023) “
— “CIArb Nigeria 2022 Annual Conference,” (November 11, 2022)
— “Arbitration and Climate Change in the Current Context of Global Crisis: Where Do We Stand?,” (November 10, 2022)
— OECD National Contact Point Specific Instances: When ‘Soft Law’ Bites?,” Journal of International Dispute Settlement, Oxford University Press (August 2022)
— “Anticipating and Mitigating ESG-Related Risks and Disputes,” RESOLVE 2023 (March 6, 2023)
— “Action Filed in UK Against Shell’s Board Members Regarding Management of Climate Risk,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum (February 2023)
— “Five International Arbitration Trends And Topics For 2023,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum (January 2023)
— “Arbitration and Climate Change in the Current Context of Global Crisis: Where Do We Stand?,” (November 10, 2022)
— “A Social Taxonomy for Europe: Extending the EU ESG Framework to Socially Sustainable Activities and Companies’ Corporate Governance,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum (March 2022)
— “Trends in African Arbitration” (April 2022)
— “Investor-State Arbitration in the Energy Sector Likely as Green Transition Accelerates,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum (February 2022)
— “Climate Change Litigation: Corporates at Risk,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum (January 2022)
— “Global Corporate Social Responsibility Disputes, Fourth Annual Schiefelbein Global Dispute Resolution Conference,” (January 14, 2022)
— “Trade and Foreign Direct Investment Stimulus In Africa: Impacts on Dispute Resolution,” International Bar Association, Arbitration Committee bulletin (November 2021)
— “Investment Arbitration and the Green Transition,” Paris Arbitration Week (September 22, 2021)
— “Natural Resources Disputes in Africa,” Africa Outlook Quarterly Wrap (September 2021)
— “The European Commission’s “Fit for 55” Legislative Package to Meet 2030 Emissions Target,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum (August 2021)
— “Recent Developments in Business and Human Rights Frameworks in Europe,” Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum (January 2020)