Jean‑François Le Gal
Partner
Jean‑François Le Gal
Partner
Jean‑François Le Gal is head of international arbitration at Penningtons Manches Cooper. He is a leading international disputes partner advising corporates, financial institutions, investors, state-owned entities and high-net-worth individuals on international arbitration, cross-border litigation, and multi-jurisdictional enforcement matters.
His practice is particularly focused on Africa, the Middle East and Europe, where he frequently manages disputes involving multiple jurisdictions, legal systems and asset recovery strategies. Dual-qualified in England & Wales and France as a barrister and an avocat, Jean‑François combines civil law and common law expertise to provide strategic and commercially focused advice in complex international disputes.
He regularly acts as counsel and advocate in English and French in international arbitrations and advises clients across a broad range of sectors, including energy and natural resources, infrastructure, construction, life sciences and financial services. He is frequently instructed on complex enforcement and recovery actions and has extensive experience securing strategic remedies, including anti-suit injunctions and freezing injunctions, in support of arbitration proceedings.
I help clients navigate complex international disputes where commercial objectives, legal risk and cross-border enforcement considerations must be carefully balanced. My focus is always on delivering clear strategic advice and achieving practical, commercially effective outcomes.
In addition to his counsel work, he is regularly appointed as arbitrator. He has acted as chairman of an arbitral tribunal, sole arbitrator and co-arbitrator, and is listed with a number of leading arbitral institutions, including the ICC, LCIA, DIAC, CRCICA, CCJA-OHADA and AFA. He has served on the committee of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators London Branch. He has also taught English contract and tort law, French contract law, arbitration and comparative dispute resolution at institutions including Sciences Po, Panthéon-Assas University and Paris Dauphine University.
Jean‑François is recognised by the leading legal directories for his international arbitration practice. He is ranked as a ‘leading partner’ by Legal 500 and is also featured in Lexology/Who’s Who Legal, reflecting his reputation as both counsel and arbitrator in complex international disputes.
Recent work highlights
International arbitration across multiple sectors
Foreign judgment and jurisdiction dispute
Enforcement and asset recovery
Strategic support for arbitration proceedings
Multi-jurisdictional arbitrator appointments
ICC arbitration relating to project delivery
External recognition
What people are saying
An outstanding lawyer. Extremely bright and client focused – highly impressive.
Able to work effortlessly in French or in English. He is well-organised, highly intelligent and extremely personable.
A standout practitioner; he has carved out a stellar reputation and is extremely bright.
[Has] built a fantastic Africa and Middle East practice.
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