Sam Heitlinger

Sam has an extensive and diverse dispute resolution practice.

Sam has experience representing clients in litigations, arbitrations, and investigations across a broad range of sectors as well as experience of advocacy at various trials. Sam has advised on joint venture disputes, banking investigations, public inquiries, House of Commons Select Committee inquiries, professional negligence claims, partnership disputes, class actions, defamation proceedings, crisis management, and in relation to anti-bribery and anti-corruption compliance. He also has notable experience in the professional services, energy, infrastructure, financial services, and telecommunications sectors.

Prior to joining the firm, Sam worked at a major international law firm in London. Sam has also practiced in Paris at a leading international arbitration practice, where he advised clients in relation to arbitrations in the French language.

Sam’s experience includes advising:

• a major investor in a mining company in relation to an ICC investment treaty arbitration against an EU member state alleging breaches of a bilateral investment treaty
• a listed company in a complex shareholder and joint venture litigation
• a UK company in a complex series of defamation claims
• an international energy company with extensive operations in Africa in relation to its anti-bribery and anti-corruption compliance
• an asset management group in an LCIA arbitration and related litigations in the Cayman Islands and in England relating to a US$500 million dispute concerning alleged misconduct and mismanagement of assets in multiple jurisdictions *
• a major accountancy firm in claims in the English High Court brought by ultra-high-net-worth individuals and corporate claimants alleging negligent tax advice*
• an international law firm on an LCIA arbitration against one of its former partners in connection with breaches of restrictive covenants and partnership agreements*
• an investment bank on an independent investigation into allegations of financial misconduct and regulatory infractions in various jurisdictions*
• a retail bank on a high-profile investigation and associated reputation management issues*
• a pan-African energy group in relation to a joint venture dispute, including minority shareholder remedies under English law*
• an NGO in relation to the impact of designations under the UK's anti-corruption sanctions regime on UK law enforcement activities and civil or criminal proceedings*
• a Japanese financial services institution on the enforceability of certain penalty clauses and other contentious issues in an M&A transaction*
• a Brazilian oil and gas company on UK employment protections available to employees on offshore rigs and mitigation of litigation risk in the English courts*

*Matters handled prior to joining BSF

Co-author, SFO director appears to be levelling the playing field in latest strategy, FT Adviser (May 2024)