William Hooker

• Represented a telecommunications company and its shareholders in multiple ICC, Lebanese Arbitration and Mediation Center, and ad hoc arbitration claims alleging fraud alongside contractual and statutory claims in relation to a collapsed telecoms joint venture with a value of over $3 billion.
• Represented a private financial services firm in a €27 million summary judgment claim in the Commercial Court that arose out of the failure to pay deferred consideration under a share sale and purchase agreement.
• Represented an environmental law charity in a groundbreaking legal action against an oil company’s board of directors for their climate risk mismanagement, bringing the first-ever case seeking to hold company directors personally liable for failing to properly prepare for the energy transition.
• Represented a U.S. hedge fund as the claimant in a $55 million LCIA arbitration claim arising out of the sale and purchase of a Nigerian industrial and energy company.
• Represented a private equity fund as the claimant in a DIAC-administered arbitration arising out of the sale and purchase of an education business.
• Represented a Saudi family holding and investment company as the respondent in an ad hoc arbitration claim under UNCITRAL rules relating to the management and insolvency of an operating company in several African jurisdictions.
• Represented an Abu Dhabi–based FX brokerage and trading house in complex multijurisdictional actions against trade counterparties relating to the failure to settle a currency repo transaction.
• Defended a Bangladeshi company in a jurisdictional challenge in the English Commercial Court relating to the progress of an arbitration claim for failed delivery of grains from Russia.
• Represented the minority shareholders in a Caymanian-incorporated holding company in actions to prevent a change of control of the majority shareholder and related actions in Pakistan to challenge the transfer of ownership of energy production assets.
• Represented a senior executive as the defendant in World Bank sanctioning proceedings arising out of alleged fraud in the operation of a World Bank–funded Turkish agriculture company.
• Represented an Israeli oil refining company in a professional negligence claim against its legal advisers. The claim arose out of the negligent preparation of standstill agreements, resulting in a $500 million arbitration claim becoming time-barred.

William Hooker focuses his practice on complex commercial and investment arbitrations. He regularly represents clients in arbitration matters under the rules of the ICC, LCIA, SIAC, LMAA, ICSID, LAMC, and UNCITRAL, as well as in ad hoc arbitrations. Will’s practice is truly global in scale, having represented clients on every continent. With his broad range of experience spanning over a decade, clients trust Will to help them navigate high-stakes and high-value disputes. Will’s experience includes handling cases with over $1 billion in matter value.

Will has represented companies across a variety of industries, including oil and gas, financial services, telecommunications, mining, and energy. In particular, he has extensive knowledge and expertise in disputes between joint venture partners and in arbitration claims stemming from M&A deals. Additionally, Will has significant experience acting as an advocate before the English and DIFC courts in arbitration-related matters.

Will is recognized by his clients for his written and oral advocacy skills and noted as a “brilliant lawyer, tactician, and advocate,” earning him rankings in both Chambers UK and Chambers Global for international arbitration. He is also recognized in The Legal 500 for international arbitration.

Languages

• German

Bar Admissions

• Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
• Advocate of the DIFC Courts

Education

• London School of Economics & Political Science (Ph.D., 2008)
• BPP University (L.P.C., 2008)
• London School of Economics & Political Science (M.Sc., 2003)
• University of Cambridge (B.A., 2002)