Strategic representation in investment treaty disputes, cross-border investment protection and public international law matters.

Foreign investments may be affected by governmental measures such as expropriation, discriminatory regulation, withdrawal of licences, taxation measures, sanctions, changes to concession regimes, or other measures that impair the value of an investment. State-investor arbitration enables foreign investors to bring claims directly against a host state where an investment treaty, investment agreement, or applicable arbitration framework provides consent to arbitration.

NZP NAGY LEGAL advises investors, companies, state entities, and stakeholders in complex international disputes. Having represented both sides of investment-related disputes, including state entities and investors, we understand the legal, procedural, and strategic considerations that shape these cases from each perspective. As a boutique international law firm with offices across Europe and the UAE, we combine arbitration experience, multilingual capabilities, and practical cross-border insight to help clients assess, structure, pursue, or defend investment treaty claims.

How We Help

• Assessment of treaty protection under bilateral investment treaties, multilateral treaties, free trade agreements, and investment contracts.
• Evaluation of jurisdiction, admissibility, investor nationality, protected investment status, and procedural preconditions.
• Strategic advice before a dispute arises, including investment structuring and treaty planning.
• Preparation and filing of notices of dispute, notices of arbitration, and written submissions.
• Representation in proceedings under ICSID, UNCITRAL, and other institutional or ad hoc arbitration rules.
• Coordination with quantum, valuation, industry, and public international law experts.
• Advice on settlement strategy, enforcement of awards, and parallel proceedings before domestic courts or authorities.

Typical Disputes

Investor-state disputes often arise where a public measure interferes with an investment or undermines legitimate business expectations. Typical cases include direct or indirect expropriation, unfair or inequitable treatment, discriminatory treatment, denial of justice, breach of stabilisation commitments, restrictions on the repatriation of profits, termination of concessions, energy and infrastructure disputes, public procurement measures, and disputes involving state-owned entities.

Our Approach

We begin with a focused viability analysis covering the applicable treaty or contract, the identity and nationality of the investor, the protected investment, limitation periods, cooling-off periods, fork-in-the-road clauses, waiver requirements, and available remedies. This early assessment helps clients make informed decisions before committing resources to a high-stakes arbitration.

Where a claim proceeds, we develop a case strategy that aligns legal arguments, evidence, damages analysis, and enforcement planning from the outset. Our team works closely with businesses, shareholders, technical advisers, and local counsel to ensure that the factual record and commercial context are presented clearly and persuasively.

Why NZP NAGY LEGAL

State-investor arbitration requires more than knowledge of arbitration procedure. It requires an understanding of public international law, domestic regulatory environments, political risk, sovereign conduct, and commercial realities. At NZP NAGY LEGAL, clients benefit from the combined experience of Dr. Peter Taller, who holds a PhD in public international law and teaches as a visiting lecturer, and Laszlo Nagy, who has served for several years as an arbitrator with the German Arbitration Institute (DIS) and has also acted as an arbitrator in Switzerland. This combination of academic depth, arbitral experience, multilingual support, and cross-border perspective enables us to advise clients with clarity and strategic focus.

Speak to Our Arbitration Team

If your investment has been affected by state action, or if you wish to structure a cross-border investment with treaty protection in mind, our arbitration team can help you assess your options confidentially and strategically.