Catherine Gilfedder

Catherine Gilfedder is a Partner in the London office, practicing in the firm's Arbitration and Mediation practice. She specializes in international arbitration and public international law, acting as counsel for state and corporate clients in commercial and investment treaty disputes under all major institutional rules, as well as in complex cross-jurisdictional litigation.

Ms. Gilfedder has particular expertise in business and human rights issues and regularly advises clients on ESG risk management and investment structuring. She has represented a South Asian state in defending a US$273 million BIT claim under UNCITRAL Rules concerning a bauxite mining project, a Sudanese oil company in a US$1 billion ICSID arbitration against the Republic of South Sudan, and a multinational energy company in a Geneva-seated ICC arbitration related to offshore interests in eastern Africa. She also advises on international NGO claims before a range of courts and serves as a duty scheme advocate at the Asylum Support Appeals Tribunal.

Catherine holds an LL.M. in International Law (Distinction) from University College London (2014), an MA (Hons) in Law (First Class) from the University of Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College (2003), and a Diploma in French Legal Studies from the University of Poitiers (2002). She completed her LPC with Distinction at BPP Law School (2009). She previously practiced at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and worked with the human rights organization Reprieve, as well as interning at the International Criminal Court.

She has been recognized as a Next Generation Partner in International Arbitration by The Legal 500 UK (2025) and previously as a Rising Star (2022-2024). She is a recipient of the Cheng Cheng-Nan Prize for International Law and the Frere-Smith Prize for Law.