Joseph Bentley
Special Counsel
Norton Rose Fulbright LLP
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Biography
Joseph Bentley is a dispute resolution lawyer and solicitor advocate based in London, with extensive experience managing ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, DIAC, SIAC, UNCITRAL and ad hoc arbitrations with variety of international seats and governing laws, as well as litigation in the English, DIFC and MENA courts.
Having practiced in the Middle East for several years, Joseph is familiar with common and civil law systems and has a particular focus on commercial, energy and power section arbitrations, as well as the international enforcement of arbitral awards.
Joseph has previously undertaken a senior lawyer secondment to the Commercial Litigation team of a well-known UK financial institution.
Professional experience
Collapse all- UK defence contractor – on highly complex defence of a London-seated ad hoc arbitration brought by prime contractor relating to technical issues of delay, disruption and defects arising out of military aviation project
- Thai oil & gas business – on defence of a London-seated UNCITRAL arbitration relating to the calculation of deferred compensation arising out of an investment in the Norwegian continental shelf, involving allegations of breach of express duty of good faith, breach of implied terms and unlawful means conspiracy
- Owner of nuclear power plant in Asia – on defence of highly complex EOT, prolongation and disruption London-seated LCIA claim in relation to delays to Substantial Completion of Units, as well as c.130 direct cost claims relating to alleged variations and defective plant, equipment and design
- European financial institution – on a London-seated ICC arbitration in connection with liability arising from Ghana’s sovereign default of its public and commercial debt obligations
- Canadian mining company – on a London-seated LCIA arbitration claim relating to liabilities arising out of a tax indemnity in connection with investment in the Dominican Republic
- Owner of 150MW CSP tower plant in Morocco – in two Paris-seated ICC arbitrations in connection with claims by O&M contractor for non-payment and cross-claims relating to technical issues and defective works
- Owner of a gas turbine power plant in Ghana – on defence of London-seated ICC arbitration claim involving numerous contractor time and cost claims relating to Owner-risk delays and Force Majeure (amounting to over US$400m), as well as defence of ICC expertise proceedings and litigation in Ghana and South Africa*
- International contractor consortium – on bringing a number of direct cost and disruption claims, ultimately totally around US$2bn, arising in respect of one of the largest infrastructure megaprojects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia*
- International oil trader – application for a DIFC Court freezing order against a Lebanese financial institution in support of underlying Lebanese proceedings, where appellate decision made new law as to the DIFC's Court's power to grant a standalone freezing injunctions*
- Operator of an oil field in Iraq – in a London-seated ICC arbitration against the EPC contractor responsible for building the Central Processing Facility, involving complex issues relating to bribery, defects/variations, staged completion, and the application of limitation periods*
- Joseph is recognised by “Best Lawyers” as "One to Watch" in "Energy and Natural Resources Law" in 2025.
- Joseph was named as “Standout Lawyer 2024” in a Thompson Reuters’ survey of senior in-house counsel (inclusion in which depends on being one of the three most outstanding lawyers a client has worked with over the past three years).
- Joseph is also identified as a Key Lawyer in our team for “International Arbitration” in Legal500 2022 and 2023 and described as having "a phenomenal ability to understand complexity and detail, whilst also being able to evaluate these in the context of the bigger picture, including advising on both the legal and commercial tactics to use to encourage resolution of the dispute".
- “Energy arbitration in Africa: potential sources of energy and natural resources disputes", GAR, April 2024
- Society of Construction Lawyer
- Energy Arbitration Club
- LCIA YIAG
- Young ICCA
- ICC YAAF
- Young ICSID
Insights
Court: States may not rely on sovereign immunity to oppose registration of ICSID awards
Blog | December 13, 2024
English Court of Appeal confirms that states may not rely on sovereign immunity to oppose registration of ICSID awards
Publication | December 02, 2024
English Court strikes out claim and offers guidance on the consequence of failing to make a timely jurisdiction challenge under the Arbitration Act
Publication | October 31, 2024