Rebecca James

Rebecca specialises in international commercial arbitration, investment arbitration and public international law, with a particular focus on the Asia Pacific region.

With approximately 13 years’ experience practising in Singapore, England and Australia, Rebecca has extensive experience in resolving clients’ most complex and sensitive disputes. She has represented clients in a wide range of industries, including energy, mining, infrastructure, finance, funds/financial sponsors, technology, aviation and crypto.

Rebecca has acted for clients in international commercial arbitrations, both ad hoc and institutional arbitrations, under most major sets of international rules (including the SIAC, HKIAC, LCIA, ICC, CIETAC, SCC and UNCITRAL Rules). She also has expertise in acting on investment arbitrations and public international law matters. Her practice includes advising on enforcing/resisting the enforcement of arbitral awards, and mitigating risk in connection with investments in emerging markets. As part of Linklaters’ global cross-practice ESG team, she advises on mitigating ESG disputes risk.

Rebecca has been recognised as a key lawyer in international arbitration and public international law by legal directories (Legal 500 UK (2020-2023); Legal Business Magazine’s Disputes Yearbook (2022)).

Work highlights

Rebecca has acted for clients in many significant disputes. Recent examples of her experience include advising:

Commercial arbitration

• a technology sector client in a USD 1 billion arbitration arising out of an asset disposal (LCIA)
• credit funds and a security agent in relation to a claim for repayment under a secured facility agreement in excess of USD 350 million, in the context of allegations of frustration due to Covid-19 (SIAC)
• an Asia Pacific construction contractor in disputes arising between shareholders in a Middle Eastern company, and with respect to related local court proceedings
• a digital assets/crypto firm in defending a claim arising from the automated liquidation of collateral (HKIAC)

• a major international energy company on disputes arising in connection with the construction of a power plant (ad hoc), and a decommissioning project (ICC)

Investment arbitration and international law

• a South Asian State in proceedings seeking the annulment of an ICSID award arising out of a mining concession (approx. award value USD 6 billion)
• an international energy company in an investment arbitration against a European State in connection with regulatory measures targeting the client’s investment (approx. value USD 6 billion)
• an infrastructure investment fund on contractual and treaty claims arising from its investment in an international airport
• a State on maritime boundary delimitation, law of the sea and human rights issues

Rebecca has lectured on arbitration and international law matters, and regularly publishes and speaks on topical arbitration and ESG disputes issues.

Rebecca is an active member of the international arbitration community. She is a member of the Global Steering Committee of the Campaign for Greener Arbitrations. She is also an active participant in YSIAC, YIAG, ICC YAAF, Arbitral Women and ICCA.

Rebecca holds a dual degree in Laws and Arts (French and Journalism) with honours from the University of Queensland, Australia.

She is dual-qualified in England & Wales and Victoria, Australia.