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 a number of years with a leading firm of solicitors in the UK. Andrew now has over 10 years professional experience in Paris, in near balance with his 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 of the higher courts in England.
Since 2012, Andrew has been New Zealand Alternate 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.
Since 2015, Andrew has also been the New Zealand Member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, where he is regularly solicited to sit. He has reviewed hundreds of ICC awards in this capacity. Andrew’s mandate was renewed in 2018. The Court has global supervisory jurisdiction over all ICC arbitral awards and ICC arbitral process generally. This appointment recognises Andrew’s 25 years involvement in arbitration including ICC, LCIA, LMAA, GAFTA, RSA, CAMP, UNCITRAL, ad hoc and ancillary court proceedings, with emphasis on transport and trading (ranked Legal 500, 2018).
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 USD 3,000,000,000, or where points of important principle or matters of strategic significance are at stake.
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.
Recognized 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 and associates Aurélie Lopez and Diana Stekhnovych - The 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” - The GAR 100 – 16th Edition – March 2023
