Maanas Jain is a market leading barrister practising in international commercial arbitration, investment treaty disputes and complex commercial litigation. He has extensive experience of both court and arbitration advocacy and accepts appointments as arbitrator. He is equally comfortable acting as part of a counsel team or as lead advocate.
The legal directories praise Maanas as being “a rising star, whose advocacy skills, sharp analytical thinking and calm under pressure are remarkable for his level of seniority” and for bringing “a modern, client focused mindset to every matter, often anticipating procedural and strategic developments with a commercial sensitivity that inspires confidence”.
For more than a decade, Maanas has advised, represented, and conducted advocacy for corporations and States in complex, high-value commercial and investment treaty arbitrations under all major arbitral rules and across a broad range of sectors (including energy, finance, life sciences, technology, and infrastructure). Maanas has substantial experience handling disputes involving States or State entities, and a particular focus on cases with an Asia-Pacific or Middle-East connection.
Maanas is also widely sought after to represent parties in arbitration-related court matters and in complex commercial litigation. Most notably, he appeared as counsel in the U.K. Supreme Court on behalf of the ICC in Halliburton v Chubb (the leading English authority on apparent bias in circumstances of multiple arbitral appointments in related cases).
Maanas is a former co-chair of Young ICCA (one of the world’s leading international arbitration networks for practitioners under 40) and Chair of Advocacy for the Racial Equality for Arbitration Lawyers (REAL) organisation. He regularly speaks on arbitration all over the world, and his prior publications have appeared in the European International Arbitration Review and Practical Law.
He has consistently been recognised as a “Rising Star” and “one to watch” for International Commercial Arbitration in The Legal 500 UK guide (2023-2026). He has also been identified as one of London’s “brightest” arbitration stars of the next generation in Legal Business’ Disputes Yearbook and is ranked as an “Arbitration Future Leader” in Lexology Index’s 2025 Arbitration Report (formerly Who’s Who Legal).
Maanas has acted as counsel in numerous commercial arbitrations conducted under the rules of the major arbitration institutions, including the ICC, Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), the London Centre for International Arbitration (LCIA), and the United National Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
Post M&A dispute relating to investment in Turkish pharmaceutical company (ICC Rules, Geneva Seat)
Maanas acted for a European private equity firm against a Turkish counterparty regarding the exercise of a put option in a shareholders agreement arising from a US$200 million investment in a pharmaceutical company. Turkish law applied.
Multi-billion dollar acquisition dispute in the Central Asian mining sector (LAC Rules, Luxembourg Seat)
Maanas acted for a private equity firm relating to a disputed acquisition and onward sale of a multi-billion dollar gold mining asset in a Central Asian country. Luxembourgish law applied.
Offshore oil and gas dispute in Oceania (SIAC Rules, Brisbane Seat)
Maanas acted in a dispute between two oil majors relating to an agreement for the sale of certain upstream assets (which resulted in an extremely favourable settlement for the client following a 2 week contested merits hearing). Western Australian law applied.
Energy related dispute in Western Africa (UNCITRAL Rules, London Seat)
Maanas was part of the counsel team that secured an award in excess of US$150 million for a multinational commodity trading company against the Government of Ghana arising from the termination of a power purchase agreement. Ghanaian law applied.
Middle-East joint venture dispute in the financial services sector (LCIA Rules, London Seat)
Maanas represented a global financial institution in a long-running dispute relating to a credit card joint venture in the Middle East. English and New York law applied.
Distribution dispute in the Korean construction industry (ICC Rules, Seoul Seat)
Maanas successfully represented a leading Korean engineering company against its upstream supplier in a multi-million-dollar arbitration. Korean law applied.
Financial services dispute in Spain (ICC Rules, Madrid Seat)
Maanas acted for a European bank in post-acquisition claims relating to a Spanish credit card business. Spanish law applied.
Construction dispute in Eastern Europe (ICC Rues, Paris seat)
Maanas represented a global construction group in a high value dispute concerning the delayed construction of a multi-purpose complex in Eastern Europe. Belarus law applied.
Maanas has acted as counsel (both to claimants and to respondent states) in numerous investment treaty arbitrations. He is regularly instructed to assist with written and oral submissions in complex investment claims and to advise clients on the optimal structuring of investments to maximise treaty protection.
High-profile claim for renewable investors against Spain (ICSID)
Maanas successfully represented several infrastructure funds in an ICSID arbitration against Spain arising from measures adversely affecting renewable investments (Hydro Energy 1 S.à r.l. and Hydroxana Sweden AB v. Kingdom of Spain, ICSID Case No. ARB/15/42).
Tax-related dispute against Southeast Asian state (UNCITRAL)
Maanas secured a favourable settlement for an oil major in an UNCITRAL treaty arbitration against a Southeast Asian State concerning adverse tax measures.
Energy related dispute against Pacific State (ICSID)
Maanas represented an international oil company in an arbitration against Papua New Guinea arising from adverse tax measures (Puma Energy PNG Supply Ltd and Puma Energy PNG Refining Limited v. Independent State of Papua New Guinea, ICSID Case No. ARB/17/26).
Maanas is regularly instructed on a range of complex commercial disputes both in the English courts and acting as international counsel advising on litigation strategy in foreign jurisdictions.
Advising one of the largest private equity firms in the world in relation to multiple legal proceedings arising from an investment agreement and insolvency in Spain with over US$1 billion claimed.
Representing an English property company in defending a £150 million claim in the English Commercial Court against a large US hedge fund arising from the acquisition of a valuable portfolio of commercial properties.
News 21 Oct, 2025
Maanas Jain is regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. If you are not satisfied with the service provided, please click here.
To find out more, contact Lexie Johnson on + 44 (0) 207 427 0801 for a confidential discussion.
• Young ICCA Advisory Board
• Young ICCA Co-Chair (2021-2024)
• Chair (Advocacy), Racial Equality for Lawyers
• Peer Review Board Member, ICSID Review
Publications
Recent Speaking Engagements
