Leon Ioannou
ParisInvestment Manager, Senior Legal Counsel
Based in Paris, Leon Ioannou is responsible for the sourcing, funding and managing of investments internationally with a focus on France.
Leon is a cross-border disputes lawyer of nearly 20 years’ experience. He brings insight gained from a unique mix of internal and external legal and commercial/financial expertise to analysing and managing investments for Omni Bridgeway’s clients.
Before joining Omni Bridgeway, Leon was the general in-house legal counsel for the European operations of an international medical device company, which included advising on and steering the resolution of the company’s disputes and litigation. Earlier in his career, Leon worked as a financial analyst at some of Australia’s largest companies.
Leon also practiced international commercial and investment treaty arbitration at White & Case LLP, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. He worked on disputes internationally; governed by common law and by civil law; and focused in the energy (nuclear, oil and gas), construction, utilities, telecommunications, pharmaceutical, banking and finance, and professional service industries. Leon conducted proceedings under most of the major arbitral institutional rules as well as ad hoc proceedings under the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Rules.
From 2017 to 2021, Leon was recognised annually in the Future Leaders category of Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration. He was a frequent speaker on theoretical and practical aspects of international arbitration.
Leon qualified as a lawyer in Paris, England and Wales, Ireland, and New South Wales (Australia). He holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (finance and accounting) from the University of New South Wales (Australia), and studied finance as a visiting student at New York University’s Stern School of Business.
He is fluent in English and French.
- Throwing Good Money After Bad - Guerilla Tactics in Indian Arbitration. Paris Arbitration Week. March 2023. Paris
- Bubbles & Stars: A Champagne Breakfast Exploring Space Resources Disputes. Paris Arbitration Week. March 2023. Paris
