Louise Woods
Biography
Louise Woods is a partner in the Energy Litigation Practice Group in Haynes Boone's London office. Louise represents companies, investors, government entities, and other organizations in high-value international commercial disputes and investor-state arbitration, with a particular focus on complex upstream oil and gas disputes in Africa and Latin America. Her clients operate across a wide range of industries, including energy, banking and financial services, construction, infrastructure, technology, mining and metals, and real estate development.
Louise guides clients through disputes arising from domestic and cross-border transactions, developing practical strategies aligned with their commercial priorities. She has acted in proceedings conducted under ICC, LCIA, SIAC, HKIAC, SCC, UNCITRAL, and ICSID rules, including matters involving fraud and corruption allegations, investment treaty protections, sanctions, shareholder and joint venture relationships, project development, and complex contractual claims.
Louise's energy experience includes disputes concerning LNG supply and natural gas infrastructure, exploration and production interests, offshore drilling, environmental and tax warranties, and UK and EU sanctions. She has also handled disputes involving major infrastructure projects, expropriation and unfair treatment claims under multilateral investment treaties, and the enforcement of guarantees in the English Commercial Court.
Louise also sits as arbitrator.
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- Representing an energy company in a Singapore-seated SIAC arbitration and related injunction proceedings concerning the termination of an English-law charter agreement for LNG supply and natural gas infrastructure.
- Acting for an exploration and production company in an ICC arbitration concerning a non-operated interest in West Africa.
- Acting for a government entity in English Commercial Court proceedings concerning enforcement of guarantees connected with a major maritime project in Central America.
- Representing an international exploration and production company in a dispute involving environmental and tax warranties related to a Latin American asset.
- Representing investors in expropriation and unfair treatment claims against states under multilateral investment treaties.
- Advising the subsidiary of a state-owned oil company on UK and EU sanctions issues.
*Some representations handled by Louise prior to joining Haynes Boone.
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- ArbitralWomen, Advisory Council Member
- Law Society of England and Wales, Member
- Women in the City, Member
- Women in Law London (WILL), Member
- LCIA Member
- ICC Commission Member and ICC UK Committee for Arbitration and ADR Member
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- Recognized by Chambers Global, Chambers & Partners, for Energy & Natural Resources: Disputes (UK) and International Arbitration (UK), 2025
- Recognized by Chambers UK, Chambers & Partners, as “Up and Coming” in International Arbitration (UK-wide), 2022-2023; International Arbitration (UK-wide), 2024-2025; Energy & Natural Resources: Disputes, 2025
- Recognized in Best Lawyers UK, International Arbitration, BL Rankings, LLC, 2023-2024
- Included in The Lawdragon Global Litigation 500, International Arbitration & Litigation, Lawdragon Inc., 2021
- Included in the Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators guide, Lawdragon Inc., 2024-2025
- Recognized by The Legal 500 UK, Legalease Ltd., for Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration, 2018-2021, 2025, and as a “Next Generation Lawyer” in Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration, 2022-2024
- Recognized in the GAR 30, Global Arbitration Review, 2024
- Recognized in the GAR 100, Global Arbitration Review, 2025
- Selected for inclusion in Who's Who Legal: Arbitration, Law Business Research Ltd., 2020-2021, 2023-2024
- Recognized by The Legal 500 Latin America, International Arbitration, Legalease Ltd., 2019, 2024-2025
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- “Deep Trouble (Part 3): Mining the Middle Ground? The Seabed Disputes Chamber’s Order on Provisional Measures,” co-author, Vinson & Elkins Client Alert, July 23, 2026.
- “Deep Trouble (Part 2): The ISA Responds to NORI and TOML’s Case and the Seabed Disputes Chambers Hears the Parties’ Submissions on Interim Relief,” co-author, Vinson & Elkins Client Alert, July 10, 2026.
- “Deep Trouble: How NORI and TOML Are Testing the Limits of Seabed Governance,” co-author, Vinson & Elkins Article, June 29, 2026.
- “Governing the Deep Seabed: Progress and Pressure at the First Part of the 31st Annual Session of the ISA Council,” co-author, Vinson & Elkins Client Alert, March 25, 2026.
- “Conflict in the Gulf: Impact on Global Oil and LNG Markets,” co-author, Vinson & Elkins Client Alert, March 1, 2026.
- “UK Critical Minerals Strategy – Vision 2035,” co-author, Vinson & Elkins Article, February 18, 2026.
- “NOAA Hearing Provides First Look at Public Sentiment on Deep-Sea Mining Applications,” co-author, Vinson & Elkins Client Alert, February 9, 2026.
- “A New Era for Deep Sea Mining: Recent Developments and Implications,” co-author, Vinson & Elkins Client Alert, January 30, 2026.
- “NOAA Finalizes Consolidated Process for Exploration Licenses and Commercial Recovery Permits for Deep Seabed Mining,” co-author, Vinson & Elkins Client Alert, January 23, 2026.
- “2026 Energy Disputes Outlook: Key Energy Arbitration and Litigation Trends from Vinson & Elkins,” co-author, Vinson & Elkins Client Alert, January 14, 2026.
- “Deep-Sea Mining and the Future of Critical Minerals,” co-author, Global Mining Review, September 25, 2025.
- “The Stabroek JOA Arbitration: Is It Time to Revisit JOA Change in Control Provisions?” co-author, V&E International Dispute Resolution Update, August 1, 2025.
- “Regulating the Depths: One International Step Back, and a National Step Forward for the Industry?” co-author, V&E International Dispute Update, July 30, 2025.
- “Regulating the Depths: International and Domestic Developments in Deep-sea Mining,” co-author, V&E Energy Transition Update, April 29, 2025.
- “Emerging Regimes: International and Domestic Regulations for Deep-sea Mining,” co-author, Marine Technology, April 22, 2025.
- “Guide to Arbitral Institutions and the Seat of Arbitration in France,” co-author, The Arbitration Index, March 18, 2025.
- “Energy Disputes: Navigating Key Trends and Challenges,” co-author, Vinson & Elkins, February 18, 2025.
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Education
- LPC, BPP Law School, 2006
- Postgraduate Degree, City St. George’s, University London, 2005
- B.A. (Hons), English, University College London, 2003
Languages
- French
- Spanish
Admissions
- England and Wales
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What types of disputes do you handle?
I handle high-value international commercial disputes and investor-state arbitration for companies, investors, government entities, and other organizations. My work spans international arbitration, English court litigation, and negotiated resolution of domestic and cross-border disputes.
What is your experience with energy disputes?
My energy disputes practice focuses particularly on upstream oil and gas projects in Africa and Latin America. I have handled matters involving LNG supply and natural gas infrastructure, exploration and production interests, offshore drilling, environmental and tax warranties, and sanctions.
Which arbitral rules and frameworks have you worked under?
I have acted in proceedings under ICC, LCIA, SIAC, HKIAC, and ICSID rules and frameworks. I regularly appear before international arbitral tribunals as a Solicitor-Advocate with Higher Rights of Audience.
How do you approach dispute strategy?
I develop practical, commercially focused strategies tailored to each client's business and objectives. Depending on the circumstances, that may involve negotiated resolution or pursuing arbitration or litigation through hearing, award, or judgment.
What legal and business issues arise in your matters?
My matters involve fraud and corruption allegations, treaty claims, sanctions issues, and contractual claims. My experience also includes disputes in banking and financial services, construction, infrastructure, technology, mining and metals, and real estate.