Biography
Manuel has significant experience in commercial and contractual disputes and has developed expertise in cases relating to banking, mining, rail and air law, as well as in the field of energy, digital services, petrochemicals and telecom.
He has been practicing for more than 10 years international arbitration, in the context of ad hoc or institutional arbitrations (ICC, SCC, CMAP, OHADA, ICSID, PCA or UNCITRAL). He also pleads before the local courts in the OHADA area and more generally handles cases with an African focus.
Manuel also has specific expertise in litigation related to arbitration proceedings (exequatur, annulment proceedings, seizure of assets, etc.) the service of judicial or extra-judicial acts abroad as well as than the enforcement in France of foreign judgments.
RECENT SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
• In January 2024, Manuel delivered a presentation concerning Third Party Funding in the context of International Arbitration, on the occasion of the 22nd Arbitration Day organized by the GICAM Mediation and Arbitration Centre (Cameroon).
• In September 2023, Manuel made a presentation before the International Centre for Arbitration and Mediation of Lomé concerning certain specificities of arbitral procedures in financial matters.
• On the occasion of the Symposium of International Law Association’s 150th Anniversary taking place in Paris June 2023, Manuel spoke at a round table on the suitability of arbitration for disputes of a mixed or asymmetrical nature.
• At the 6th ICC Africa Conference on International Arbitration taking place in Lagos June 1-3, 2022, Manuel delivered a training on Award of interest: considerations for awarding compound post-award interest on costs, material and moral damages
• Manuel participated in May 2022 in the International Colloquium for the Launch of the Activities of the International Centre for Arbitration and Mediation of Lomé. He was part of a panel on OHADA law and arbitration in finance and maritime disputes.
• Manuel conducts a yearly training on Investment and Investment related disputes to African representatives of energy regulators entitled “Régulation & Marché de l’Energie” (Energy Market and Regulation), which is led under the auspices of the Ecole Nationale des Mines (Mines ParisTech).
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
• “Renewable Energies and Investment Arbitration,” International Comparative Legal Guides Investor-State Arbitration 2023 (Fifth Edition)
• “Book reviews: Overriding Mandatory Rules and Compliance in International Arbitration, Can International Arbitration Stand the Test of Mandatory Rules and Compliance?” ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin (2022, Issue 2)
• “Cultural Considerations in Advocacy: French-Speaking Africa,” Global Arbitration Review (October 22, 2019) (co-author)
INVOLVEMENTS
Manuel is a member of the French branch of the International Law Association (ILA), of the Comité Français de l’Arbitrage (CFA), of the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA) and of the Int’l Chamber of Commerce (ICC)