Bassam MIRZA

• Beirut Bar (2006)
• Paris Bar (2011)
• Master’s Degree (DESS) in Litigation, Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution, Paris II Panthéon-Assas University, (2005)
• Master’s Degree (DEA) in Private International Law and International Trade, Paris II Panthéon-Assas University, (2004)
• Law Degree, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon (2003)

• Kecsmar Mirza Arbitration, Paris and Beirut, Co-founder (since 2025)
• Pellerin Kecsmar Mirza Avocats, Paris and Beirut, Co-founder (2015-2025)
• Alem & Associates, Beirut, Partner (2012-2014)
• Gide Loyrette Nouel, Paris, Senior Associate (2011-2012)
• Linklaters, Paris, Senior Associate (2005-2011)

Selective experience as arbitrator

• President of the Arbitral Tribunal in an ICC arbitration in a dispute between a European construction company and a Middle Eastern sub-contractor in relation to a major project for the construction of a water treatment plant, booster stations and a pipeline network. Amount in dispute: USD 134 million.
• Co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in relation to the alleged illegal termination of a maintenance contract of four metro lines in a Middle Eastern country. Amount in dispute: USD 200 million.
• Co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in relation to the alleged illegal termination of an exclusive distribution agreement in the food and beverage industry between a French company and its Lebanese distributor. Amount in dispute: USD 30 million.
• Co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in relation to the construction of a thermal power plant between a Korean company and a Middle Eastern State. Amount in dispute: USD 45 million.
• Co-arbitrator in a LAMC arbitration (Lebanese Arbitration & Mediation Center) in relation to a real estate dispute regarding a waterfront plot situated in the reconstructed area of the Beirut Central District. Amount in dispute: USD 60 million.
• Co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in the oil and gas sector between a Czech company and a public entity of a Middle Eastern State. Amount in dispute: USD 30 million.
• Co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in relation to an alleged breach of a joint-venture agreement relating to a large construction project in the Middle East. Amount in dispute: USD 62 million.
• Co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration between the shareholders of a large group of telecom companies operating in Africa and the Middle East. Amount in dispute: USD 18 million.
• Co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in relation to the supply of ready-mix concrete for a large construction project in a Middle Eastern country between the signatories of an unincorporated joint-venture. Amount in dispute: USD 7 million.
• Co-arbitrator in an ad hoc arbitration in a dispute between one of the largest malls in Lebanon and the Kuwaiti tenant of various commercial stores in the mall. Amount in dispute: USD 8 million.
• Sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration between an oil and gas exploration and production company and a North African State. Amount in dispute: USD 12 million.
• Sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration between a UAE company and a governmental entity of a Middle Eastern State in relation to the construction of the governmental entity’s headquarters. Amount in dispute: USD 18 million.
• Sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in relation to the alleged illegal termination of an agency agreement for the distribution of products in the air technology solutions industry concluded between an English company and its Kuwaiti distributor. Amount in dispute: USD 7 million.
• Sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in a dispute between a contractor and a sub-contractor in relation to the conduct of MEP works in 3 large towers in the UAE. Amount in dispute: USD 5 million.

Selective experience as counsel in international arbitration

• Counsel in an ICC arbitration in which our client, a major South African based mining company, claimed damages from a West African State and a State-owned company for wrongful termination of a contract giving our client an 80% interest in a mine involving the construction of a railway and a port. Amount in dispute: USD 750 million.
• Counsel to a French investor in an ICC arbitration against a North African State, based on a bilateral investment treaty, for breach of a construction contract of 70 schools as well as of a settlement agreement concluded between the parties subsequently. Amount in dispute: USD 650 million.
• Counsel to a Seychelles and Spanish based telecommunications equipment company in an ICC arbitration against a West African State and its telecommunications’ Regulatory Agent relating to the wrongful termination of a contract for the supply and installation of computing equipment. Amount in dispute: USD 100 million.
• Acting as independent advisor in two ICC arbitrations launched by a major mining company against a Central African State-owned company in the mining sector for wrongful termination of two separate contracts relating to the same mining project. Amount in dispute: USD 600 million.
• Advising a major French company in the petroleum sector in the pre-arbitration phase regarding potential claims to be brought in ICSID arbitration proceedings associated with the possible withdrawal of our client from a joint venture project in a North African country due to the potential refusal of a state investment advisory board to grant certain dispensations from local legislation.
• Counsel in an ICC arbitration defending two respondents, major German and Greek companies in the industrial gas industry, in a claim for revision of prices provided for in a supply agreement for the sale of industrial gases, as well as damages in tort for acts which allegedly damaged claimant’s reputation. Amount in dispute: USD 200 million.
• Counsel to a major French bank in two ICC arbitrations, one against a Saudi company and the other against the manager and guarantor of that company in a dispute related to the termination of a loan agreement aimed to finance the construction of a hospital in Saudi Arabia.
• Counsel to a UAE company (controlled by a Syrian investor) in an ICC arbitration against a Saudi company in a dispute related to the illegal termination of a joint venture agreement concluded between the parties in order to distribute in Ethiopia and East Africa the products of a major US manufacturer of consumer products. Amount in dispute: USD 20 million.
• Counsel to one of the largest construction companies in Lebanon and the Middle East in an ICC arbitration case relating to the breach by the opponent of its obligations under a subcontract agreement concluded for purposes of executing MEP works in one of the largest mall projects in Beirut. Amount in dispute: USD 23 million.
• Counsel to one of the largest restaurants in Lebanon in an ICC arbitration launched against its franchisee in the UAE on the basis of a franchise development agreement. Amount in dispute: USD 8 million.
• Counsel to one of the leading television series producers in the Middle East in a DIAC arbitration launched against an Egyptian company on the basis of three distribution agreements of television series. Amount in dispute: USD 10 million

Selective experience in action to set aside arbitral awards proceedings

• Counsel to a major German company in the industrial gas industry in an annulment proceeding brought by a Greek company in the steel industry against an ICC award for alleged breach of EU competition law principles (Paris Court of Appeal, 22 Oct. 2009, Linde AG v Halyvourgiki). Amount in dispute: USD 200 million.
• Counsel to a Dutch company in the energy sector in an annulment proceeding before the Paris Court of Appeal against an ICC award relating to the alleged breach of the principle of “concentration of legal grounds” and the res judicata effect of a previous arbitral award (Paris Court of Appeal, 6 Dec. 2011, Amorim Energia v Redes Energeticas). Amount in dispute: 80 million.
• Counsel to an Egyptian company in the energy sector in an annulment proceeding brought by an Egyptian public body against an arbitral award for alleged breach of due process due to the inadmissibility raised by the arbitral tribunal of its own motion of a jurisdictional objection relied upon by a party in its post-hearing brief (Paris Court of Appeal, 21 May 2019, Natgas v EGPC).
• Counsel to a French company in two annulment proceedings brought by Libya against an ICC partial and final award rendered in relation to the construction of 70 schools in Libya for alleged corruption claims resulting from the settlement agreement entered by the parties during the arbitration. Amount in dispute: USD 450 million (Paris Court of Appeal, 17 Nov. 2020, Sorelec v Libya).
• Counsel to a Lebanese company before the Paris Court of Appeal, where Kout Food (our client’s former business partner in a 10- year franchise development agreement) submitted that an arbitral award rendered in favor of our client should be set aside on the basis that the arbitration agreement was governed by English law, which would not permit Kout Food to be bound by the arbitration clause as a non-signatory to the underlined contract. The Paris Court of Appeal rejected Kout Food Group’s action to set aside the arbitral award – months after an appeal court in London refused enforcement on the basis that English law applied – finding that French law determined whether Kout Food was bound by the arbitration agreement (Paris Court of Appeal, 23 June 2020, Kout Food Group v Kabab-Ji).
• Counsel to a Seychelles and Spanish based telecommunications equipment group in an annulment proceeding brought by Guinea before the Paris Court of Appeal against an ICC award rendered in favor of our client. The Paris Court of appeal ruled in favor of our client and rejected arguments that the Paris-seated arbitral tribunal incorrectly upheld jurisdiction over Guinea. Although the State was not signatory to the contract, the Court held that it became a party to it through its conduct. The Court also rejected Guinea’s numerous allegations of corruption. Amount in dispute: USD 25 million (Paris Court of Appeal, 7 Sept. 2021, Guinea v Global Voice Group).
• Counsel to a Saudi energy company, Alfanar, in an action to set aside an arbitral award rendered in its favor, launched by Spanish wind farm developer Capital Energy. In its challenge to the award, Capital Energy argued, inter alia, that the arbitral tribunal has violated procedural rules when it conducted the evidentiary hearing by videoconference. The Court observed that the tribunal has rightly considered the requirement under the 2017 ICC Arbitration Rules to conduct proceedings expeditiously as well as uncertainties resulting from the Covid pandemic. The Court of Appeal also rejected Capital Energy’s arguments that the tribunal has selected points of Spanish law arbitrarily, rather than applying it in the entirety (Paris Court of Appeal, 29 May 2023, Capital Energy v Alfanar).
• Acting as independent advisor to a major third-party funder on the likelihood of outcome of an annulment proceeding against a BIT based arbitral award for lack of jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal in relation to the nationality requirement of the BIT.
• Acting as independent advisor to a major German company in the energy sector to assess grounds for annulment to be raised in an annulment proceedings launched against an ICC award ordering it to pay over USD 500 million resulting from the revision of the contract price.

• Speaker at the Paris Arbitration Week event hosted by White & Case on 28 March 2023, The recent Libyan arbitration cases: legal aspects of a political and institutional crisis.
• Speaker at the 9th ICC MENA Conference held remotely on 24 February 2021, Arbitrability of Commercial Agency Contracts in the MENA region.
• Speaker at the conference organized by the ICC held in Beirut on 21 September 2018, Conducting International Arbitral Proceedings in the Arab region.
• Moderator at the ICC YAF Regional Conference held in Beirut on 30 September 2016, The Role of the Arbitrator is to Seek and Provide Justice?
• Conducting a training at the ICC event held at USEK University in Lebanon on 1-3 March 2016 on a mock study under the ICC Rules of Arbitration.
• Speaker at the conference organized by the CIArb (Lebanon branch) held in Beirut on 8-9 May 2014, Arbitrating against the Host State in Oil and Gas disputes.
• Conducting a workshop in Arabic at the event organized by the United Nations in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Economy and hosted by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the 19-20 February 2013 in Abu Dhabi, Raising Awareness of UAE Investors on Arbitration within the Framework of Bilateral Investment Treaties.
• Speaker at the conference organized by PWC held in Dubai on 15 May 2013, The Challenges Pertaining to the Enforcement of Arbitral Awards in the Middle East.