Andrew Tetley

Andrew is a French avocat and English solicitor with broad experience in commercial litigation, international arbitration, and project work. Andrew previously practised for over 10 years in New Zealand as a barrister and solicitor, after having started in the law with a leading firm of solicitors in the UK. Andrew now has over 15 years of professional experience in Paris, and a similar extent of common law experience. Alongside his principal work in arbitration, Andrew appears in French civil and administrative courts, including at appellate level. He is also a Solicitor-Advocate (Civil Advocacy) and therefore has rights of audience in all higher courts in England and takes on matters in that capacity.

Since 2012, Andrew has been a New Zealand Member on the ICC Commission on Arbitration at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris, and was a member of the ICC Task Force on Arbitration and Financial Institutions. In 2025 he was appointed to the Task Force on AI in International Dispute Resolution.

Between 2015 and 2021, Andrew was also the New Zealand Member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, where he was regularly solicited to sit. He has reviewed hundreds of ICC awards in this capacity. The Court has global supervisory jurisdiction over all ICC arbitral awards and the ICC arbitral process generally. This appointment recognised Andrew’s 25 years’ involvement in arbitration, including ICC, LCIA, LMAA, GAFTA, RSA, CAMP, UNCITRAL, ad hoc, and ancillary court proceedings.

As well as conducting contentious matters, Andrew also advises and assists clients in general commercial matters, both transactional and pre-contentious. Andrew has particularly wide experience in French-speaking Africa, where he has assisted clients with contentious and transactional matters, as well as with significant local regulatory investigations in various areas of legal enquiry. Andrew has handled matters in well over a dozen African states for international clients.

Andrew has advised and represented individuals, corporations, and nation states. Clients have entrusted Andrew with major litigation and regulatory matters, with amounts in issue up to US$3 billion, or where points of important principle or matters of strategic significance are at stake. Andrew has been lead counsel in all such matters.

In the Paris market, amongst other local practitioners of Anglo-Saxon heritage, Andrew’s balanced dual, front line, civil and common law experience stands out.

Recognised by the major independent legal directories, Andrew’s recent accolades include:

A client praises the “very special” French team at Reed Smith, particularly partner Andrew Tetley, counsel Aurélie Lopez, and associate Diana Jacquot – GAR 100 – 16th Edition – March 2023
Another client called the firm “driven, adaptive, creative and goal-focused” and said Tetley was “tenacious and creative in pursuing solutions” – GAR 100 – 16th Edition – March 2023

Experience

Representative matters

Advised and represented investors in a long-running series of London seated arbitrations in relation to significant disputes under a number of long-term services contracts within a complex Chapter 11 insolvency context (English/Hong Kong/Cypriot/Russian law)

Advised and represented an Asian investment company in relation to a series of arbitrations in London and China in relation to an asset sale and related guarantee (English/Chinese law)

Advised and represented an Asian investment group in the framework of two LCIA London-seated arbitrations against former shareholders of a mining company related to an important phosphate deposit in Africa (BVI/English law)

Advised and represented an Asian investment company in relation to a series of arbitrations in London and China in relation to an asset sale and related guarantee (English/Chinese law)

Advised and represented an Asia-based paper production company in proceedings brought against it before the English High Court by a Cypriot carrier (English/Thai law)

Advised and represented a Ghanaian company on a multi-billion-dollar ICC arbitral claim in relation to a dispute over ownership of a company with oil and gas concession in an African State, and related damages (English/Ghanaian law)

Advised and represented an African-based company in a London-seated ICC arbitral claim and related English High Court and Mauritanian proceedings in relation to disputes under a number of loan agreements and an exclusive supply agreement in connection with gas storage and processing facilities in Guinea (English/Mauritanian/Guinean law)

Advised and represented a French creditor on recovery in a cross-border insolvency situation involving a chain of sale transactions across France, Germany, and Holland (various laws)

Advised on a number of GAFTA trade arbitrations (English law)

Advised major aircraft manufacturer on option aircraft obligations under master purchase agreement (French law)

Advised Spanish bank on the form of a refund guarantee governed by French law in the context of an asset sale and purchase agreement (French law)

Represented and advised a shipowner in London arbitration on a charter party dispute (English law)

Advised on claim against director of Liberian company brought before French courts (French/Liberian law)

Represented and advised a Danish company on the sale of its water valves division including the sale of shares of various manufacturing and distribution companies and assets across three continents, to a U.S. listed acquirer (French law)

Advised leading class society on indemnity provisions in its contract of services (French law)

Advised and represented a leading class society in relation to claims for three defective vessels (French law)

Advised on the arrest in France of an aircraft for unpaid fuel supplies (French law)

Advised and assisted trading client in relation to very significant customs claims (Cameroon law)

Advised trading client on the French import and customs regulations in relation to petroleum products (French law)

Advised and represented clients on various jurisdictional challenges before the French courts (English/French law)

Advised consultant engineering company on aspects of French liability issues and insurance law in connection with prospective construction projects and related contracts (French law)

Advised airline on matters of French competition law applicable in French overseas territories (French and EU law)

Advised and coordinated litigation in Russia, the Caribbean, China, and France in respect of foreclosure proceedings brought by a well-known Russian state-owned bank (English/Russian/French/St Vincent and Grenadines law)

Represented and advised in shareholders’ dispute involving a classic yacht located in France (English law)

Represented and advised major U.S. bank on ship repossession claim (New Zealand law)

Represented and advised shipowner in London arbitration in connection with a ship sale and purchase dispute (English law)

Advised and represented various clients in relation to collision actions (New Zealand/French/English law)

Advised and represented a company specializing in airport baggage handling systems in a construction dispute in relation to the commissioning of a baggage handling system in a well-known international airport (New Zealand law)

Advised a major aircraft manufacturer on liability issues arising from significant product and operational integrity matters, and on general commercial litigation issues (English/French law).

Advised and represented Algerian owner on the negotiation and conclusion of a sale and purchase agreement for a luxury yacht (English law)

Advised well-known insurer on personal injury claim and related conflicts of laws issues (French law)

Advised on Swiss arbitration proceedings involving significant claims under a number of sale contracts (Swiss law)

Advised major French transport company on potential claims arising out of the insolvency of the chartering entity to its subsidiary, and possible defensive action (French law)

Represented and advised major oil company confronted with the international insolvency of a significant client liner operator (various laws)

Represented and advised shipowner in insolvency situation with regards to its fleet of ships and various claims made against them (various laws)

Advised major exporter on insurance aspects of significant fruit damage claims, including professional indemnity and D&O risks (New Zealand law)

Advised major French transport company on bareboat arrangements of its subsidiary (French law)

Advised and represented a Japanese owner in a claim brought in France against its vessel for unpaid fuel supplies (French Law)

Advised and represented a well-known US financial institution to secure recovery of its US$80 million claim under an ISDA master agreement in the restructuring of a major container ship operator based in France (English/French law)

Advised and represented Asian investors on infrastructure and fisheries projects in Mauritania and Morocco (various laws)

Advised and represented the Russian Federation in proceedings brought against Australia before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (International law/UNCLOS)

Advised major French transport company on aspects of restructuring arrangements involving a liner service out of French mainland ports (French law)

Advised and represented a number of clients on vessel arrest proceedings in France, including procuring release of a number of arrested vessels (French law)

Advised on drafting of master supply agreement for a wind turbine supplier (French law)

Recognitions

Ranked as a Next Generation Partner in The Legal 500 EMEA for France – Dispute Resolution, International Arbitration, 2023-2025, and as a Leading Partner for France: Shipping, 2024-2025
Selected through peer review for inclusion in The Best Lawyers™ in France for International Arbitration for Maritime Law, 2021-2024; International Arbitration, 2024; and for Transportation Law, 2024
Awarded the Plume d’Or in the International Issues and Business Affairs – General Press category, Business & Legal Forum, 2020

Credentials

Education

University of Limoges, 2005, Masters Degree, French Company and Commercial Law
University of Birmingham, 1989, LL.B., Law with French, JF Gregg Memorial Prize and Brougham Prize