Rebecca James

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

With nearly 14 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 represented clients in international commercial arbitrations, both ad hoc and institutional arbitrations, under most major sets of international rules (including the SIAC, ICC, HKIAC, LCIA, CIETAC, SCC and UNCITRAL Rules). She also has expertise in acting for investors and States 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. She also accepts appointment as arbitrator.

Rebecca has been recognised as a key lawyer in international arbitration and public international law by legal directories (Who’s Who Legal Arbitration: Future Leaders – Partners (2024); Legal 500 (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

• credit funds and a security agent in an arbitration involving a claim for repayment under a secured facility agreement in excess of US$350 million, in the context of allegations of frustration in connection with Covid 19 restrictions in South East Asia (SIAC), and related court proceedings in several countries
• an Asia Pacific construction contractor in disputes arising between shareholders in a Middle Eastern company, and with respect to related local court proceedings in the UAE and Qatar (total value in excess of US$150 million)
• a technology sector client in a US$1 billion arbitration arising out of an asset disposal (LCIA)
• a major international energy company on disputes arising in connection with the construction of a power plant (ad hoc), and a decommissioning project (ICC)
• a leading digital assets/crypto firm in defending a claim of high strategic importance arising from the automated liquidation of collateral in the context of a crypto lending arrangement (HKIAC)
• an Asian construction and engineering contractor on emergency arbitration proceedings (ICC) arising in connection with a major infrastructure project in India
• two Asian renewable energy producers on international disputes arising in connection with the development of significant wind and hydroelectric projects in South Asia and South East Asia
• a client based in India on disputes arising in connection with significant mining projects in two African countries

Investment arbitration and international law

• an Asian State in proceedings seeking the annulment of an ICSID award arising out of a mining concession (approx. award value US$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 US$6 billion)
• an Asian infrastructure investment fund on contractual and treaty claims arising in connection with a concession in a major international airport
• a major international mining company on investment arbitration claims against an African state in connection with taxation measures and related judicial proceedings
• a State on interstate claims raising maritime boundary delimitation, law of the sea and human rights issues
• a major international green hydrogen producer on the international law framework relevant to the development of projects with potential transboundary impacts
• a State on international trade law and investment protection regimes and negotiations

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.