Konstantin Christie

Geneva Partner

Konstantin Christie is a US-qualified partner, who specializes in complex international commercial disputes and arbitration under international treaties. He has acted in more than 45 arbitrations, stemming from a variety of industries, including oil, gas and electricity, (with a particular emphasis on long-term supply agreements), as well as cases arising from the commodities trading, extraction of natural resources and joint ventures.

Based in Europe for many years, Konstantin often deals with cases under Swiss and other civil laws. In addition, Konstantin regularly works with damages experts and clients in order to evaluate the financial compensation and potential viability of claims, arising out of a treaty or contract. He often represents clients from the CIS region and the Middle East and has significant experience with arbitrations in the Asia-Pacific region, seated in Singapore, Seoul and Tokyo.

Konstantin Christie also served as tribunal secretary in a number of “bet the company” arbitrations under the rules of most leading arbitral institutions (including ICC, SCAI, LCIA, SIAC, ICSID and UNCITRAL) and brings this experience to his appointments and counsel cases.

Career details
  • Partner, Peter & Kim, Geneva (2020 – currently)
  • Senior Associate (2016-2017) and Partner, Peter & Partners (2018-2019)
  • Associate and Senior Associate, Python & Peter, Geneva (2008-2015)
  • Trainee, Shearman & Sterling, Paris, France (2007-2008)
  • Trainee, Bose Corporation, Boston, USA (2006-2007)
Education details
  • Juris Doctor Degree, Suffolk University, Boston, USA (2004-2007)
  • Bachelor of Science Degree, magna cum laude, Northeastern University, Boston, USA (2000-2004)
Experience
  • Counsel in an ad hoc arbitration between a state-owned enterprise and a sovereign state, involving aspects of public international law, with an amount in dispute of USD several billion.
  • Counsel in an ICSID arbitration against an Asian State on behalf of an investor from South East Asia.
  • Lead counsel in an ICC arbitration for a major mining and metallurgy consortium with more than USD 500 million in dispute, under Swiss law.
  • Counsel in an ad hoc arbitration between a state-owned enterprise and a sovereign state, with an amount in dispute of over USD 150 million.
  • Counsel in an ad hoc investment arbitration between a state-owned enterprise and a sovereign state, with an amount in dispute of USD 200 million.
  • Representing two respondents from the CIS region in arbitrations in the automotive and agricultural sector, under the ICC and Swiss Rules, subject to Swiss and French law respectively and 4 million EUR and 60 million EUR in amounts in dispute.
  • Lead associate in an investment treaty arbitration, US Steel Global Holdings I v.
  • Republic of Slovakia, which ended in favourable settlement for the client, with more than USD 350 million in dispute.
  • Counsel to a major energy conglomerate in its price adjustment disputes under long-term supply agreements subject to ICC Rules, under Italian and Swiss law.
  • Representing a German client in an ad hoc investment arbitration against a CEE government concerning an expropriation of an enterprise.
  • Secretary to the Arbitral Tribunal in an ICC arbitration, seated in Singapore, governed by Thai law, arising out of a dispute in the renewable energy sector (more than USD
    1 billon in dispute).
  • Secretary to the Arbitral Tribunal in an ICC arbitration, seated in Geneva, under Bulgarian substantive law, arising out of nuclear power plant construction (more than USD 1.5 billion in dispute).
Professional Affiliations
  • Swiss Arbitration Association below 40 (ASA)
  • International Bar Association
  • Inter-Pacific Bar Association
  • Russia-CIS Arbitration Network
  • Young ICCA
Publications
  • Compensation for Expropriation, in The Investment Treaty Arbitration Review, Editions 3,4 and 5, 2018-2020 (with Esra Ogut and Rodica Turtoi)
  • When Circumstances Change – A comparative view of the law and ICC model clauses, IBA Asia Pacific Forum, May 2020 (with Mino Han and Charis Tan)
  • LNG Contract Adjustments in Difficult Times: The Interplay between Force Majeure, Change of Circumstances, Hardship, and Price Review Clauses, in Oil, Gas and Energy Law Special issue on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), March 2020 (with Mino Han and Leonid Shmatenko)
  • The interplay of force majeure and change of circumstances with dispute resolution clauses in modern long-term LNG Contracts – what role for a price review clause?, in Oil, Gas and Energy Law Special issue on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), October 2017 (with Esra Ogut)
  • Global Arbitration Review – Overview: Joint Venture Disputes – The European, Middle Eastern and African Arbitration
Review 2016-2018 (with Daniel Greineder)
Accolades/rankings
  • Lexology Index: Arbitration 2025
  • 2017-2021 Arbitration: Future Leaders Who’s Who
  • 2020 – Legal500 Arbitration EMEA Switzerland, Next Generation Partners