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  • Karel Daele
Karel Daele
Karel Daele

Karel Daele

Associé

  • Londres Royaume-Uni
+44 20 7300 4684
vCard
Écrire Call me
Prix à l'honneur

Legal 500 UK 2025

Leading partner

Scroll to featured award

Karel Daele specialises in international arbitration, focusing on both investor-state arbitration (ICSID, PCA, ad hoc) and commercial arbitration (LCIA, ICC, CEPINA, UNCITRAL). His broad expertise covers sectors such as oil and gas, mining, energy, public infrastructure works (water distribution, ports, border post operations), real estate and construction, technology and telecoms. 

Since 2012, Karel has been consistently ranked in all the major legal directories including Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, GAR 100, Who's Who Commercial Arbitration and Expert Guides Commercial Arbitration. Most recently he was profiled on Who's Who legal 2022 as a global leader in international arbitration. He is dual qualified, trilingual and accepts appointments as arbitrator and adjudicator.

 

Expertise

Services et Groupes

Résolution des litiges
Environmental, social & governance (ESG)
Arbitrage international
Groupe Afrique

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CV

Since 2022 Partner, Taylor Wessing (London)
2012 - 2021 Partner, Head of International Arbitration, Mishcon de Reya LLP (London)
2006 - 2012 Partner, Mkono & Co Advocates (Tanzania)
2004 - 2004 Counsel, Wilmer Hale (Brussels)
2002 - 2004 Senior Associate, Freshfields (Brussels)
1996 - 2002 Trainee and associate, Stibbe (Brussels)
2016 Admitted as a solicitor, England and Wales
2009 Diploma International Arbitration, Queen Mary University (UK)
1999 Qualified as a solicitor, Brussels
1996 Admitted as a solicitor, Brussels
1996 LLM European Legal Studies, Exeter University (UK)
1995 Master degree law, Ghent University (Belgium)
1992 Bachelor degree law, University of Ghent (Belgium)

Carrière

Since 2022 Partner, Taylor Wessing (London)
2012 - 2021 Partner, Head of International Arbitration, Mishcon de Reya LLP (London)
2006 - 2012 Partner, Mkono & Co Advocates (Tanzania)
2004 - 2004 Counsel, Wilmer Hale (Brussels)
2002 - 2004 Senior Associate, Freshfields (Brussels)
1996 - 2002 Trainee and associate, Stibbe (Brussels)

Formation

2016 Admitted as a solicitor, England and Wales
2009 Diploma International Arbitration, Queen Mary University (UK)
1999 Qualified as a solicitor, Brussels
1996 Admitted as a solicitor, Brussels
1996 LLM European Legal Studies, Exeter University (UK)
1995 Master degree law, Ghent University (Belgium)
1992 Bachelor degree law, University of Ghent (Belgium)

Publications

'Challenge and Disqualification of Arbitrators in International Arbitration', Second Edition, Kluwer Law International, in preparation (2022)

'Investment Treaties and Investor-State Arbitration under the ICSID Convention', in L. Bosman, 'Arbitration in Africa: A Practitioner's Handbook' (2021)

'The Standard for Disqualifying Arbitrators Finally Settled and Lowered – Case Comment Saint Gobain v. Venezuela and Blue Bank v. Venezuela', 29(2) ICSID Review-Foreign Investment Law Journal (2014)

'Arbitrating and Mediating Disputes – Benchmarking arbitration and mediation regimes for commercial disputes related to foreign direct investment', World Bank 2013 Report (contributor)

‘Investment Arbitration Involving African States’, in L. Bosman, Arbitration in Africa: A Practitioner’s Guide (2013)
 
'Getting to grips with the EU's approach to BITs', 8(4) Global Arbitration Review (2013)

'The New EU Policy on Foreign Direct Investment', International Comparative Legal Guides Arbitration 2013

'All for a BIT of FDI', 4(3) CDR Commercial Dispute Resolution (2013)

'Challenge and Disqualification of Arbitrators in International Arbitration' (2012), Kluwer Law International

'Investment treaty arbitration: similar challenges, different outcome‘, Global Arbitration Review, 21 March 2012
 

Groupes & Associations

Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, Solicitor of the Courts of Belgium, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Member, LCIA (London Court of International Arbitration, African Users' Council), ICCA (International Council for Commercial Arbitration), ICC (Commission on Arbitration and ADR), IBA (Internal Bar Association, Arbitration Subcommittee & Africa Regional Forum).
 

Langues étrangères

English French Dutch German (basic)

Prix et distinctions

Legal 500 UK 2025

Featured

Leading partner

Chambers and Partners UK 2024

International Arbitration (commercial arbitration) - Band 6: “Karel Daele masters all the aspects of the case. He knows all the documentary evidence by heart, he presents very effective written and oral arguments and he always has the big picture in mind in order to achieve the best results for his clients.” “He did a phenomenal job in vigorously representing the interests of the parties. He really is very efficient and intelligent.”

Legal 500 UK 2024

International arbitration: "Top-class practice that is able to go toe to toe with anyone on the full range of disputes." "Ready to go the extra mile, expanding existing knowledge with completely new issues and sector specifics."

Chambers and Partners UK 2023

International Arbitration (commercial arbitration) - Band 6: Karel Daele of Taylor Wessing has a broad practice, straddling both investor-state and commercial international arbitrations. He acts on behalf of claimants and respondents in disputes, often arising out of Africa. "Karel is a brilliant legal strategist with strong commercial sensibilities. He's also adept at handling complex international arbitration matters." "He has the ability to absorb all the specific information on the case and translate it into strong legal submissions."

Africa wide, dispute - Band 2: "Karel Daele is well versed in investor-state disputes and regularly acts for clients from the energy and mining sectors. He has expertise in ICSID, ICC, LCIA and PCA proceedings. He is based in London." "Karel Daele has a lot of Africa-related work."

International Arbitration - Recommended

"He's a heavyweight for sure. You've got some people who dedicate their life to Africa - Karel is one of them, he is devoted to it and is a busy guy." "He has a lot of experience and knows the market and its major players well."

International arbitration: "The practice, which is headed up by Karel Daele, works across the banking and finance, telecoms, power, commodities, real estate and natural resources sectors, among others"

International arbitration: Commercial arbitration and investor-state arbitration: "He demonstrated an excellent understanding of the issues arising from litigation with African countries and was first class to work with"

"Karel Daele has the ability to take complex matters and to present them in a simple and direct way. Great understanding for the business. Ability to lead case-strategy and case-management. Very efficient in the deliverables thus reducing on costs. Highly experienced in International Arbitration with both private and government entities’"

Listed in the Private Practice Powerlist: Africa specialists

"London-based Karel Daele is widely renowned for his work in investor-state disputes, with notable experience in contentious matters concerning the infrastructure and energy sectors. His litigious prowess attracts praise from interviewees"

"Highly regarded for his experience in international arbitration matters, with particular aptitude in investor-state disputes in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Commentators acknowledge that he is a real "talent" and is doing "some big and important litigation" in this space"

"Karel Daele is superb'; 'fantastic to work with"

Experience

Freezing and seizing of sovereign wealth funds

Acting for the Kingdom of Belgium in an investor-state arbitration (ICSID) concerning the freezing and seizing of multi-billion funds of the Libyan Investment Authority, held at Euroclear.

Karel Daele

Chernobyl nuclear plant

Representing a leading nuclear engineering company in an ICC arbitration regarding the construction of nuclear fuel and waste management facilities at Chernobyl.

Karel Daele

Emergency arbitrator football sponsorship rights

Acting as sole arbitrator in an ICC emergency arbitration between a sports brand and a professional football club.

Karel Daele

Dispute over carried interests in Ugandan infrastructure project

Acting for the claimant in an UNCITRAL arbitration over carried interests and success fees.

Karel Daele

Container terminal concession Belgium

Acting for Kingdom of Belgium in an investor-state arbitration (ICSID) concerning a container terminal concession.

Karel Daele

Mining assets North Macedonia

Acting for the claimant in treaty arbitration against Rep. North Macedonia.

Karel Daele

Actualités et publications récentes

View Karel's insights
Cliquer ici pour en savoir plus
Résolution des litiges

UK announces withdrawal from Energy Charter Treaty

7 mars 2024

par Karel Daele et Jess Thomas

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Résolution des litiges

Recent investment treaty developments for the UK and Jersey

11 mai 2023
Briefing

par Elizabeth Montpetit et Karel Daele

Cliquer ici pour en savoir plus
Glass.Mapper.Sc.Fields.Image?.Alt
Résolution des litiges

European parliament calls for EU to exit the Energy Charter Treaty

6 décembre 2022

par plusieurs auteurs

Cliquer ici pour en savoir plus
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