Zelda Hunter
Biography
Overview
Zelda Hunter is a partner in the Firm's International Arbitration practice. She advises on commercial arbitrations, with a focus on the construction & engineering, energy, and mining & metals industries.
Zelda is a citizen of Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Having commenced her legal career in South Africa, and subsequently practicing in the United Kingdom and Switzerland, Zelda offers her clients a unique and diverse experience incorporating civil and common law perspectives, as well as first-hand regional context.
Zelda predominantly acts as counsel, representing clients in commercial institutional and ad hoc arbitral proceedings. However, she also accepts nominations as arbitrator. To complement her arbitration practice, Zelda represents clients in arbitration-related court proceedings, such as award enforcement and set-aside measures, and applications for interim relief.
Zelda holds several leadership positions, including various officer roles within the IBA Arbitration Committee and co-chair of the IBA Working Group on Site Visit Model Protocols. From January 2024, Zelda will serve as a Member of the Swiss Court of Arbitration.
Having previously majored, and worked, in the field of human rights, Zelda remains committed to pro bono work.
UK
UK
South Africa
Experience
Examples of recent representations include:
Representing a joint venture EPC contractor in arbitral proceedings arising out of a European power plant project;
Acting as arbitrator in an intellectual property dispute under the Swiss Rules;
Advising a company specialising in biotechnology in respect of a dispute arising out of a joint development agreement;
Advising a state-owned company in the mining & metals industry on conflict of law related issues relevant to an LCIA arbitration;
Representing an EPC contractor in an ICC arbitration against a subcontractor concerning a dispute relating to a construction project in a Nordic state;
Advising a European bank in respect of a dispute arising out of the sale of receivables;
Representing a European general contractor in an ICC arbitration concerning a dispute relating to the construction of an industrial process plant in Australia;
Advising an EPC contractor in mediation proceedings with the owner relating to the delayed completion of a construction project;
Advising a Western European shipping company in an LCIA arbitration arising out of a joint venture in the Middle East;
Advising a state on a dispute in respect of the construction of a hospital in Africa;
Acting for an EPC contractor in an ICC arbitration arising out of a multi-million-euro oil refinery upgrade project in South Eastern Europe;
Acting for an African state in an ICC arbitration in the telecommunications sector;
Advising an Eastern European utility in a proposed multi-billion-euro EPC contract for the design and construction of a nuclear power plant (2000 MWe);
Advising an investor in a series of LCIA arbitrations with its joint venture partner arising out of a multi-million-dollar real estate redevelopment project in South Asia;
Acting for a CIS state-owned company in a multi-million-dollar arbitration with a major European contractor concerning disputes arising out of a road construction project; and
Representing Cruz City 1 Mauritius Holdings in multi-jurisdictional enforcement proceedings in England (High Court and Court of Appeal), Cyprus, Mauritius, the Isle of Man and India in aid of enforcement of US$380 million LCIA arbitration awards dealing with a range of relief including disclosure of assets, worldwide freezing orders, orders appointing receivers by way of equitable execution, third party debt orders and proceedings seeking Chabra-styled relief and related jurisdictional issues. English Case reports: [2013] EWHC 1323 (Comm); [2013] 2 All ER (Comm) 1137; [2013] EWCA Civ 1512; [2014] EWHC 1323 (Comm); [2014] EWHC 3131 (Comm); [2015] 1 All ER (Comm) 336; [2014] Bus LR D25; [2015] EWHC 467 (Comm); [2014] EWHC 3704; [2015] 1 All ER (Comm) 305; [2015] 1 Lloyd's Rep 191; [2015] EWHC 86 (Comm); and [2015] EWHC 597 (Comm).
