Kristen YOUNG

Kristen’s practice focuses on international investment treaty and commercial arbitration.
Kristen has successfully handled billions of dollars in claims arising under numerous bilateral investment treaties, free trade agreements, and the Energy Charter Treaty for both respondent states and claimant investors. She advises clients on the full spectrum of international arbitration matters, including annulment and international enforcement proceedings.

Kristen has an established track record of taking on and winning complex, ground-breaking international arbitration matters, including some of the most significant investor-state victories over the past decade. She has deep experience working with clients across the mining, energy, and construction sectors. One of the significant victories she has obtained for her clients include for Ukraine in Global Trading Resource Corp. and Globex International, Inc. v. Ukraine, the first-ever summary dismissal of an ICSID case under ICSID Rule 41(5). The case was nominated for Arbitration Win of the Year by Global Arbitration Review.

Kristen has been recognized as a Leading Litigator in America and Leading Global Litigator by Lawdragon, as a Future Leader in Lexology Index: Arbitration, and as a Key Lawyer in International Arbitration by Legal 500. Clients have praised Kristen for her “full command of the facts in the case and legal theories – she has them all at her fingertips.” WWL commentary has noted, “Kristen Young is acclaimed for her ‘ability to simplify complex facts into a compelling narrative,’ as well as her ‘excellent knowledge of the law’ and ‘strong analytical skills.’”

Prior to joining BSF, Kristen was a partner at a leading international law firm. She also spent time practicing in Paris and speaks fluent French. Kristen has taught arbitration courses all over the world, including at the Georgetown University Law Center, the University of Chicago Law School, the University of Richmond School of Law, and the Tashkent State University of Law.