Thomson Reuters names eight Keystone Law partners in its Stand-out Lawyers Guide 2026
Andrea James, Andrew Darwin & Anna McKibbin
Ian is a disputes partner and advocate, specialising in international arbitration. He has represented clients in arbitrations throughout the world, in a wide variety of industries and market sectors.
He has extensive experience representing and opposing states and state-owned entities, national oil companies, and state authorities, particularly in disputes arising from production sharing agreements, infrastructure projects, and regulatory frameworks.
Ian often represents trading entities in arbitration proceedings concerning the international sale and purchase of oil products, minerals, biofuels, steel, and other commodities, and has experience in disputes concerning infrastructure projects, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and information technology.
In addition to his arbitration work, Ian acts for clients in litigation arising from London-seated arbitration, as well as on the negotiation and formation of international trade contracts and upstream oil and gas agreements.
He has conducted arbitrations worldwide under the major institutional and ad hoc arbitration rules, and is experienced in proceedings governed by the arbitration rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, London Court of International Arbitration, International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, and UNCITRAL Rules.
Ian is qualified as a Solicitor-Advocate (Higher Courts Civil Proceedings), enabling him to represent clients in civil court hearings throughout England and Wales, as well as in international arbitration. He regularly appears as an advocate at international arbitration hearings in London and abroad.
Expertise
Ian advises on international commercial arbitration and related court proceedings, including LCIA arbitrations, jurisdictional challenges, and award challenges, acting as lead advocate in complex, high-value disputes.
Experience
- Advised a Central Asian airline in section 68 challenge proceedings against an LCIA award under an aircraft lease.
- Advised a Swiss trading company in LCIA arbitration against a Nigerian mining conglomerate.
- Advised a South Korean company in two-phase LCIA proceedings concerning liability for defective steel supplied into Europe.
- Advised a distributor in a dispute with an international pharmaceutical manufacturer concerning a distribution agreement.
Ian advises states and state-owned entities on commercial and investment treaty arbitration, including disputes under PSAs, infrastructure and utilities agreements, and proceedings under ICC, ICSID, and UNCITRAL Rules.
Experience
- Representing the Government of Yemen in arbitrations under oil and gas PSAs, electricity supply agreements and infrastructure projects.
- Advised a Middle Eastern state in multiple ICC arbitrations concerning liabilities under oil production sharing agreements.
- Defended a state in ICSID proceedings relating to the redevelopment of an airport.
- Advised a state in PCA-administered UNCITRAL proceedings concerning a telecommunications licence.
Ian undertakes advocacy services on his own matters, and upon instruction by others.
Experience
- Sole advocate for an international oilfield services company in a $30m ICC arbitration against an IT services provider. The client succeeded on every available point and was awarded its full costs.
- Advocate in an ICC arbitration concerning upstream oil assets. Successful in obtaining an award for approximately $10m based only on cross-examination of the opposing expert.
- Sole advocate in LCIA arbitration proceedings concerning the purported hedging of an oil cargo.
- Sole advocate in LCIA arbitration proceedings concerning rental of a private jet. The client was successful on every available point.
- Sole advocate in Swiss-seated ICC arbitration proceedings concerning a mixed-use development in Australia. The matter was bifurcated and the client successfully defeated the claim at the jurisdictional stage.
Ian advises on disputes, potential disputes, and contractual terms concerning the sale and supply of oil and oil products, metals and raw materials.
Experience
- Representing a South American gold concentrates producer in LCIA arbitration against a trading company.
- Representing an Eastern European seller in LCIA arbitration proceedings concerning a US$1bn+ long term contract for the sale of oil products.
- Representing a trading company in a dispute concerning the purported hedging of an oil cargo.
- Acting for a large South Korean client in two-phase LCIA proceedings concerning liability arising from sales of defective steel into Europe.
- Regularly advising various international trading entities on contractual issues and the impact of sanctions.
Ian advises on disputes and agreements in the energy sector.
Experience
- Advising a state electricity authority in connected disputes concerning the construction of power lines.
- Advising a national oil company in relation to the availability of rebalancing payments in relation to several upstream oil assets.
- Representing a state in numerous separate ICC arbitration proceedings concerning liabilities arising from oil production sharing agreements.
- Representing a major national oil company in LCIA arbitrations, mediation, and English High Court and Court of Appeal proceedings arising from EU anti-dumping legislation.
- Representing a state in relation to various LNG project issues.
- Advising and represented investors in negotiations concerning upstream oil and gas agreements, including production sharing agreements, joint operating agreements, and farmout / farming agreements in Africa and the Middle East.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recommended by The Legal 500 for International Arbitration 2025
Ian accepts appointment as arbitrator.
“Described as an excellent and skilled cross-examiner”
Global Arbitration Review 2025
Ian qualified as a solicitor in 2010. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2026, he worked at Clyde & Co.