Nicole Dolenz

Partner

Paris

Nicole Dolenz is a dual trained, multilingual, international commercial and investment arbitration authority representing multinational clients around the world. Nicole has outstanding knowledge in foreign investment disputes involving states and the energy, infrastructure and construction sectors.

Nicole has more than 20 years’ experience representing clients in international arbitration and all forms of dispute resolution. Dual trained in both civil and common law jurisdictions, Nicole has conducted arbitrations under all the main international arbitration rules including the ICC, AAA, SCC, UNCITRAL, ICDR and ICSID as well as local European arbitration institutions such as the Vienna Chamber (VIAC), CEPANI, Swiss Chamber and DIS. Her cases have spanned a variety of industries including oil and gas, nuclear energy, aviation, construction, technology, food and beverages, transportation, and insurance.

 Nicole has worked on multi-billion dollar gas price review arbitrations for major European producers and several bet the company construction arbitrations, including an US$8 billion ICC arbitration for the world’s largest shipbuilder. She is frequently nominated to act as arbitrator and speaks and publishes regularly on questions of international commercial and investment arbitration, including The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Investor-State Arbitration 2019 – Country Questions and Answers: France. Nicole is a former member of the Executive Board and Global Boards of ICDR Y&I and practices in English, German, French and has a working knowledge of Spanish and Portuguese.  

 Prior to joining Orrick, Nicole practiced in one of the biggest law firms in the world in New York for six years, an Austrian firm in Vienna for five years and a major U.S. firm in Paris for seven years.

  • Representing a European gear manufacturer, acting as respondent in a Paris-based ICC arbitration against a major US defense contractor in relation to allegations of breach of contract and indemnity claims under US law.

    Representing a major European construction company acting as Claimant in a New York-based ICC arbitration against a Caribbean energy owner and its North American guarantor, relating to the construction of a power generating facility and outstanding payments in relation to the project including extension of scope, milestone achievement, and bonus completion.

    Representing a group of Dutch investors in ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Croatia in a dispute involving the breach of the fair and equitable treatment standard and unlawful expropriation without compensation of a conglomerate operating in a variety of sectors such as agriculture, food and beverages, retail, asset trading and hospitality.

    Representing a French winemaker in an ICC arbitration relating to the termination of a distribution contract with its US distributor and minority shareholder as well as claims arising out of a shareholders’ agreement.

    Representing the world’s largest shipbuilding company in a US$8.4 billion ICC Qatari-based arbitration under Qatari law, concerning repairs to an offshore gas project and subsea pipelines.

    Representing a major European natural gas producer in several complex multi-billion-dollar gas price review arbitrations against natural gas buyers under long-term gas supply agreements under ICC, SCC and UNCITRAL Rules.

    Representing a major European oil company in a US$1.5 billion Paris-based, ICC arbitration under the law of the North African country with an EPC contractor concerning delays, claims for extensions of time and additional work in the turnkey construction of an LNG oil and gas extraction and processing plant in North Africa.

    Representing a consortium of construction companies in CRCICA arbitration in Egypt, governed by Egyptian law, in relation to claims for variation and extension of time on a landmark commercial, hotel, leisure and residential project in Egypt.

    Representing a South American state oil company in US$200 million UNCITRAL arbitration under New York law, in a dispute arising from an EPC contract and the corrosion failure of subsea fasteners in flexible flowlines relating to the construction of floating production, storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs).

    Representing a multinational mechanical engineering corporation and leading supplier of hydropower equipment and services, in a Paris-based, ICC arbitration under the law of an Eastern European country concerning corrosion related warranty claims resulting from the refurbishment of five hydroelectric power plants in Eastern Europe.

    Representing a European private investor in a Paris-based ICC arbitration under Iranian law concerning a breach of contract resulting in the loss of investment relating to the construction of a US$ 1 billion luxury residential and commercial real estate development in the Middle East.

    Representing a private investor in an English and Spanish language ICSID investment arbitration concerning expropriation claims against Venezuela, fair and equitable treatment, minimum standards of treatment and denial of justice.

    Representing two European airlines in Paris-based ICC arbitrations under German and Swiss law respectively concerning contractual and European competition law claims.

    Representing a European client in litigation proceedings before NY state and Federal courts relating to the financing of one of the largest water and sewer projects in South America.

    Representing a national savings deposit insurance fund against a claim brought by two alleged shareholders of several banks which had been taken over by the fund in a New-York based UNCITRAL arbitration under a Poland and Turkey BIT with allegations of fraud and embezzlement and violations of a bilateral investment treaty.

    Representing a mutual insurance company in an New York-based UNCITRAL arbitration against an insurance claim by nuclear power plant.

    Representing a major Swiss construction company in an ICC Vienna-based arbitration under Iranian law against an Iranian claimant in a consortium dispute related to delay claims for the construction of two hydroelectric dams.

    Representing the Austrian subsidiary of European market leader in rolling stock assembly in a DIS, Vienna-based arbitration under Austrian law against a Spanish manufacturer concerning a contractual dispute related to the delivery of defective passenger train seats.

    Representing an electronics multinational in a VIAC, Vienna-based arbitration under Austrian law against an Austrian steel producer in proceedings involving the drawing of a bank guarantee in connection with damages in a combined gas turbine boiler plant.