Areas of expertise: investments, commercial contracts, cross-border disputes, joint ventures, mergers & acquisitions, energy, construction disputes, defense industry, enforcement, telecommunications

Arbitration experience: She has broad experience as counsel and arbitrator in numerous international arbitrations under all major sets of arbitration rules (ICC, LCIA, SCC, ICDR, ICSID, PCA, UNCITRAL, DIAC, NAI, CEPANI and Swiss Rules) and governed by various procedural and substantive laws. Melanie has been appointed to the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators and Conciliators by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. She has handled arbitrations arising out of international commercial contracts, cross-border investment, joint ventures, M&A and investment protection under international law.

Languages: Dutch, English, French, German

Professional Career: Melanie van Leeuwen joined Derains & Gharavi as a partner in 2011. Who’s Who Legal France 2018 highly recommends Melanie for her ‘clear and strategic legal thinking when it comes to complex arbitration proceedings’ and considers her to be ‘one of the true leaders in the field.’ Legal 500 2017 lists Melanie as ‘an excellent strategist who has a profound knowledge of investment law and impresses by the outstanding quality of her written and oral pleadings.’  Melanie has been particularly active in the sectors of energy, media, information and communication technology, construction and engineering, and infrastructural and defense projects. She also regularly represents clients in interim measures, annulment, enforcement and consolidation proceedings before the Netherlands state courts.