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James Hope

Head of Litigation & Arbitration in Stockholm, Advokat (Sweden), Solicitor Advocate (England and Wales)

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James Hope is head of international arbitration at the Stockholm office of Vinge in Sweden.  He is a dual-qualified Swedish Advokat and English Solicitor-Advocate, with over 25 years’ experience of working as a dispute resolution lawyer.  He started his career as a solicitor in Scotland and then spent ten years in London – at Simmons & Simmons and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom – before moving to Stockholm in 2006.

James has acted as counsel or arbitrator in more than 90 international arbitration cases, including inter alia under LCIA, ICC, SCC, UNCITRAL, ICDR, Danish Institute of Arbitration, and Finnish Chamber of Commerce arbitration rules.  He is also a CEDR Accredited Mediator.

In addition to arbitration, James also has long experience of litigation from three different jurisdictions: Scotland, England and now Sweden.  Current cases include a number of set-aside cases before the Svea Court of Appeal in Stockholm, competition law litigation before the Swedish Patent and Market Court, and a large construction law litigation before the Solna District Court.

As well as having a busy practice, James is a guest lecturer in arbitration at Stockholm, Uppsala and Edinburgh universities.  He is also a member of the LCIA Court.  From 2013 to 2018, James was a member of the Board of the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, and he was also previously a member of the Executive Committee of the Swedish Arbitration Association.

 

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CV (pdf)

Education

  • Edinburgh University (LLB with distinction 1993, DipLP 1994)

  • Christ’s College, Cambridge University (BA 1991, MA 1994)

Experience

Nearly 25 years’ experience of litigation and arbitration:

  • Vinge, Stockholm (Consultant 2006-2011, Partner 2012 - )
  • Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP, London (Associate 2002-2005, Counsel 2005-2006)
  • 6 month secondment at Vinge, Stockholm (2000 - 2001)
  • Simmons & Simmons, London (1996 - 2001)
  • Simpson & Marwick WS, Edinburgh (1994 - 1996)

Other qualifications

  • Member of the LCIA Court
  • Member, Stockholm Centre for Commercial Law (SCCL) Dispute Resolution Committee
  • Former Member of the Board of the SCC Arbitration Institute, 2013-2018
  • CEDR Accredited Mediator
  • Part-time lecturer, ICAL Program, University of Stockholm, Sweden
  • Part-time lecturer, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K.
  • Member of the ICDR panel of arbitrators
  • Member of the CIETAC panel of arbitrators
  • Member of the AIAC panel of arbitrators
  • Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Articles

Should the Place of Arbitration Be a Factor in Determining the Costs of International Arbitration Proceedings? Finances in International Arbitration – Liber Amicorum Patricia Shaughnessy
All Eyes on Sweden: Swedish Challenge Cases post Achmea The Future of Investment Treaty Arbitration in the EU
Can a Robot be an Arbitrator? Swedish Arbitration Yearbook 2019 July 10, 2019
View all articles

Mentions

James Hope continues to act on international arbitration cases, with a notable focus on the energy sector. He is dual-qualified in both Sweden and England & Wales. - Chambers & Partners 2020

James Hope is a pleasure to work with. - Legal 500 2020

James Hope leads from the front and is an absolute pleasure to work with- a skilled and thoughtful advocate. He seems to run a happy team with high quality associates including Niklas Berntorp, who I hold in high regard. - Legal 500 2020

James Hope represents clients in international arbitration cases, with a strong focus on the energy sector. One client highlights his efficient approach, alongside his "exceptional legal competency and awareness of the issues at hand." Chambers & Partners 2019

Dually-qualified in the UK and Sweden, James Hope is highly active within the energy sector, particularly on international arbitration cases. He is lauded by sources as a "very skilled and experienced" international litigator and arbitrator, who is "excellent in front of a tribunal and has a very good feel for the sentiment in the courtroom." - Chambers & Partners 2018

James Hope is considered by sources to be "very good in international arbitration" and is described by one as a "calm and clear and precise advocate. You can tell that when he speaks the tribunal really listens."- Chambers & Partners 2017

Head of department James Hope receives praise from clients, who describe him as a "very, very talented litigator." He represents clients in cases concerning compliance, corporate liability and anti-corruption, notably in the energy, IT and telecoms sectors. - Chambers & Partners 2016

Listed in Who’s Who Legal Arbitration.

Listed in Legal Media Group's Expert Guides - Commercial Arbitration as "one of the world’s leading practitioners in this field."

James Hope "deals with complex disputes in a creative, well-organised and efficient manner, and is excellent in both written and oral advocacy," sources report. He is also highlighted for his background as an English solicitor and his expertise on international cases. - Chambers & Partners 2015

"James Hope combines extremely good legal assessments with outstanding negotiation skills. He is constructive in trying to find a solution," impressed clients say. He heads the Stockholm team. He is UK-qualified and frequently acts for British clients." - Chambers & Partners 2014

 

A selection of some current and recent cases - As arbitrator

SCC arbitration in London under English law: acting as sole arbitrator in an expedited arbitration between parties from Canada and Luxembourg (2020 - )

SCC arbitration in London under English law: acting as sole arbitrator in an expedited arbitration between Chinese and Russian parties (2020 - )

DIA (Danish Institute of Arbitration) arbitration in Copenhagen under Danish law: acted as president of the arbitral tribunal in an arbitration concerning the supply of technical services between German and Danish parties (2020)

ICC arbitration in Dubai under English law: acting as president of the arbitral tribunal in a large construction arbitration between Italian, Turkish and Spanish parties (2019 - )

DIA (Danish Institute of Arbitration) arbitration in Aalborg under Danish law: acted as sole arbitrator in payment dispute between Danish and Canadian parties (2019 - 2020)

Emergency arbitration under the SCC Rules: acted as emergency arbitrator in a dispute between two Jersey entities (2019).

ICC arbitration in Oslo under Norwegian law: acting as President of the Tribunal in a large construction arbitration between Spanish and Norwegian parties (2018 - )

DIA (Danish Institute of Arbitration) arbitration in Copenhagen under Danish law: acted as sole arbitrator in a dispute between Danish and U.S. companies concerning a distribution and franchise agreement (2017 - 2018)

UNCITRAL arbitrations in London under English and Danish law: acted as chairman of the arbitral tribunal in two related arbitrations administered by the LCIA between Swiss and Danish companies arising out of a complex M&A dispute (2016 - 2018)

SCC arbitration in Stockholm under English law: acted as chairman of the arbitral tribunal in a complex construction dispute between Kazakhstan and German companies (2015 - 2016)

Finnish Chamber of Commerce arbitration in Helsinki under Finnish law: acted as sole arbitrator in a dispute between Finnish and Canadian companies (2013 - 2014)

SCC arbitration in Stockholm under Swedish law: acted as co-arbitrator in a dispute concerning a supply contract between German and Chinese companies (2011 - 2012)

SCC arbitration in Stockholm under Russian law: acted as sole arbitrator in a sale of goods case between Russian and Scandinavian companies (2010 - 2011)

ICC arbitration in London under English law: acted as sole arbitrator in a sale of goods case between German and Swedish companies (2010)

SCC arbitration in Stockholm under Ukrainian law:  appointed chairman of the arbitral tribunal in a dispute between two Cypriot companies regarding a cooperation agreement (2010)

ICC arbitration in Paris under Swedish law/CISG: acted as sole arbitrator in a sale of goods dispute between Ukrainian and Swedish parties (2008 - 2009)

A selection of some current and recent cases - As counsel

SCC arbitration in Stockholm under Swedish law: acting as counsel in an M&A dispute between Swedish and Finnish companies (2020 - )

Litigation in the Swedish Patent and Market Court: cross-border litigation concerning a negative declaration in respect of competition law damages (2020 - )

Construction litigation in Solna District Court: acting as counsel for the contractor in a large and complex construction litigation (2019 - )

Challenge proceedings in the Svea Court of Appeal concerning intra-EU investment treaty awards: acting for two different EU States in challenging intra-EU arbitral awards in light of the Achmea decision (2019 - )

Litigation in the Swedish Patent and Market Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court: cross-border litigation concerning a negative declaration in respect of competition law damages (2018 - )

ICC arbitration in Stockholm under Swedish law: acting as counsel for a mobile phone manufacturer in a patent licensing dispute against a large Swedish telecoms company (2018 - )

SCC arbitration in Stockholm under Swedish law: acting as counsel for a large Swedish company in a patent and know-how licensing dispute (2018 - )

ICC arbitration in Stockholm under Swedish law: acted as counsel for a listed IT company in a contractual dispute with a large Swedish telecoms company (2017 - 2018)

SCC arbitration in Stockholm under Swedish law: acted as counsel for a Russian party in a complex construction law case concerning delay claims and related issues (2016 - 2017)

SCC arbitration in Stockholm under English/Swedish law: acted as expert witness for the claimant on issues of English and Swedish law (2017)

ICC arbitration in Stockholm under Swedish law: acted as counsel for a British manufacturing company in a construction dispute with a Swedish company (2017)

SCC arbitration in Stockholm under Estonian law: acted as counsel in a shareholder dispute, together with related Emergency Arbitration proceedings (2016)

SCC arbitration in Stockholm under Cypriot, German and Swedish laws: acted as co-counsel in a dispute concerning fraud and breach of fiduciary duties (2015 - 2016)

SCC arbitration in Stockholm under Swedish law and CISG: acted as counsel for a large Russian party in two multi-billion US dollar gas pricing and competition law arbitrations (2014 - 2018)

SCC arbitration in Stockholm under Swedish law and related court proceedings: acted as counsel in a trademark-law dispute between two well-known consumer brand corporations (2013 - 2015)

SCC arbitration in Stockholm under Swedish law: acted as counsel in a complex IT-law dispute. (2013 - 2014)

Ad hoc arbitration in Stockholm under English law: acted for Russian shareholders in a multi-billion dollar arbitration against a U.K. energy company (2011 - 2012)

SCC arbitration in Stockholm under English law: acted as counsel in a US$38 million dispute regarding a share option agreement.  (2010 - 2012) 

SCC arbitration in Stockholm under Swedish law and related court proceedings: acted for a Chinese energy company in a US$80 million dispute with a US energy corporation.  (2009 - 2014)

ICC arbitration in Stockholm under Swedish law: acted as counsel in a contract dispute between Swedish and Canadian IT companies.  (2008 - 2009)

Ad hoc investment treaty arbitration in Prague: part of the team which acted for the investor in an investment treaty arbitration against an Eastern European State. (2006 - 2009)