Samantha Lord Hill

About Samantha Lord Hill

Samantha is Counsel in our international arbitration team, focusing on global projects disputes.

Samantha acts on commercial and construction arbitration mandates arising out of projects worldwide, particularly those in the energy, natural resources and infrastructure sectors. She has advised and appeared on behalf of clients in complex, high-value, international arbitrations under many of the major arbitration rules including ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, ICSID, DIAC, ADCCAC, SIAC and UNCITRAL Rules, with a variety of seats.  She also sits as arbitrator.

Samantha is ranked by Who's Who Legal as an Arbitration Future Leader 2024, and is the recipient of the Lexology Client Choice Award 2024 for Arbitration in the UK in recognition of excellent client care, quality of service, and her ability to add value to clients' business above and beyond the other players in the market. 

She sits on the Editorial Board of the Center for International Investment and Commercial Arbitration Young Arbitrator's Group and and is a Convenor of the DELOS Remote Oral Advocacy Programme - EMEA Construction Edition.  She is also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb), the International Bar Association, the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN) and Arbitral Women.

She is the co-author of the UAE chapter of the ICCA International Handbook on Commercial Arbitration, the UAE chapter of 'The International Application of FIDIC Contractors: A Practical Guide' and the Employer Claims chapter of 'Dealing with Delay and Disruption on Construction Projects'.

Samantha is admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Western Australia and the High Court of Australia, and is an Attorney of the State of New York.  She is also a Registered Foreign Legal Consultant in the State of California and a Registered Foreign Lawyer in Singapore.  She has practiced in Western Australia, Dubai and London.

Recent work

• A multi-national energy company in proceedings against a national electricity grid operator in relation to a dispute concerning issues arising following the connection of a new offshore wind farm to the grid in the UK.
• The UK subsidiary of a French energy provider concerning issues arising out of the financing of a nuclear power station in the UK, including advice on public law matters and negotiations with HMG.
• A major US-headquartered global energy companyin relation to a mediation and UNCITRAL Rules arbitration seated in Perth, Western Australia concerning claims of misleading and deceptive conduct and audit-related payment recovery against the EPCM contractor in relation to a US$ multi-billion offshore LNG project.
• A leading Japanese energy company on alternative dispute resolution strategy and in proceedings before the Federal Court of Australia and Supreme Court of Western Australia arising out of defects on a US$ multi-billion onshore LNG plant.
• A leading US-headquartered multinational consumer electronics company in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration seated in London in relation to contract, tort and competition law claims arising out of operations in the Middle East.
• A major US-headquartered global energy company in an UNCITRAL Rules arbitration seated in Perth, Western Australia, in relation to delay and disruption claims against an implmentation contractor arising out of the construction of a US$ multi-billion offshore LNG project.
• Nine Pakistani independent power producers in LCIA arbitrations seated in London, and subsequent English High Court and Court of Appeal proceedings, against the Pakistani electricity authority in connection with the IPPs' entitlement to receive capacity payments under the terms of power purchase agreements.
• A GCC governmental authority in a merits review for a potential DIAC arbitration seated in Dubai concerning the construction of a transit system in the GCC.
• A major Korean general trading company in relation to an ICC arbitration seated in Singapore concerning alleged breaches of a joint venture agreement entered into for the purposes of the construction of a transit system in the GCC.
• A GCC governmental entity in an ICC arbitration seated in London in relation to a dispute regarding the construction and ongoing operations of an US$2.1bn independent water and power plant project.
• An international oil and gas company in a potential UNCITRAL arbitration seated in Qatar against a GCC governmental entity in relation to the end of the term of a exploration and production sharing agreement.
• A major Japanese integrated trading and investment business conglomerate in relation to its rights and obligations arising under a joint operating agreement and development and production sharing agreement for an upstream LNG operation.
• An Abu Dhabi real estate developer in an ADCCAC arbitration seated in Abu Dhabi regarding a multi-million dollar infrastructure development project.
• A global contracting and development company that designs, builds and maintains property and infrastructure assets in relation to a dispute with a Qatari government entity concerning the construction of the iconic Qatar National Library Project and the re-development of downtown Doha, Qatar.
• An international player in the aviation sector in relation to a review of its rights and remedies, and in particular its termination options, arising under a contract entered into with a Middle Eastern government for the supply of a command and control system.
• A major Japanese steelmaker in relation to an indemnity agreement arising out of UAE court proceedings.
• A leading MENA contractor in two disputes concerning the construction of a 5 star hotel development project and a mixed used development project in Abu Dhabi.
• A gas transmission company as the owner of a major onshore gas pipeline in litigation proceedings against a contractor in relation to the construction of the main onshore gas pipeline in Western Australia.
• A Kuwait-owned joint venture participant in litigation proceedings in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in relation to contract and tort claims arising out of the explosion of a major gas pipeline on Varanus Island.