Leonid Shmatenko
Counsel
Leonid is admitted to practice in Switzerland, Germany, and (expected in 2025) England & Wales. He has more than 10 years of extensive experience advising corporations, sovereign states, private equity and venture capital funds, and high-net-worth individuals on resolving complex disputes. His expertise spans commercial and investment arbitration, data protection, and regulatory matters, with a particular focus on sectors including energy, construction, post-M&A, gaming, sports, and esports. Leonid represents clients in both state-court litigation and international arbitration, including ICSID, ICC, SAC, SIAC, DIS and ad hoc proceedings. He has acted as counsel, arbitrator, and secretary of the Tribunal in high-stakes cases across Europe, Asia, and beyond.
Leonid has a notable track record in international disputes, including the representation of European energy companies in high-value gas pricing disputes, and advising states and investors in investor-State arbitrations. He also has significant experience in sports arbitrations, currently serving as a judge of the Swiss Sports Tribunal.
Leonid is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Public International Law at Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf and is completing his LL.M. studies at the Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economía (ISDE) in Madrid.
Leonid is regularly lecturing at prominent institutions such as the University of Hagen and Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University. He is also one of the founders of the NGO “United for Ukraine,” which was shortlisted for the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers’ Award in 2023 in the category of “Legal Department: Innovation in Operational Efficiency,” recognizing its exceptional work in this area. Leonid is also a founding member to various esports initiatives and legal advisor to esports clubs and federations.
Leonid has been consistently recognized as a rising star in the legal field, being listed among the Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) Future Leaders in Arbitration and recommended by Legal500 for his expertise in international arbitration, dispute resolution, and sports arbitrations.
Contact
Telephone
+41 44 442 03 67
Mobile
+41 79 608 52 97
What clients say
«Leonid is very knowledgeable and responsive.»
(Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration Future Leaders – Non-Partners 2023)
«He ensures an excellent grasp of issues in the case at hand.»
(Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration Future Leaders – Non-Partners 2023)
«He is particuarly experienced in CIS matters.»
(Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration Future Leaders – Non-Partners 2023)
«Leonid is an outstanding arbitration practitioner with diverse experience and a broad network»
(Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration Future Leaders – Non-Partners 2022)
«Leonid is multi-lingual, one of the recipes for success in international arbitration»
(Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration Future Leaders – Non-Partners 2022)
«His broad expertise is only topped by his bright mind»
(Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration Future Leaders – Non-Partners 2022)
«He is an innovative thinker and an expert in CIS and eSports disputes»
(Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration Future Leaders – Non-Partners 2022)
Recent experience
- Acting for a Turkish State-owned gas company in a USD 2 billion Stockholm-seated ad hoc arbitration against a State-owned gas company in a gas-pricing dispute.
- Acting for a Singaporan investor in an USD 15 million ICSID arbitration against China.
- Acting for a CIS businessman against a CIS State in a USD 200 million investor-State arbitration (UNCITRAL) arising out of the alleged takeover and seizure of a chocolate factory.
- Represented an Eastern European State against an Eastern European investor in a USD 100 million ICSID investor-State arbitration in a dispute arising out of the Government’s alleged misconduct concerning the tender process for a steel plant, and subsequent actions that allegedly rendered the plant unprofitable and caused its insolvency.
- Acting for a German publishing house against a German newspaper publisher in a USD 5 million post M&A arbitration under the DIS Rules.
- Represented a Ukrainian gas trader against a Hungarian gas trader in a commercial arbitration concerning gas trading under the ICC-Rules, Zurich seat, and Swiss law applicable.
- Acted as secretary to the Tribunal in an ICC-Case, Frankfurt seat, in a dispute between two German automotive suppliers arising out of a Supply Framework Agreement.
- Acted as secretary to the Tribunal in an ICC-Case, Munich seat, in a dispute between two water meter manufacturers arising out of a Framework Agreement.
- Represented a Western African state in an ICSID investor-State arbitration in a dispute arising out of a termination of a Concession Agreement for a container terminal of a port, its expansion and the development of a railway station.
Bar Admissions/Certifications
- Switzerland
- Germany
Languages
- German
- English
- French
- Spanish
- Russian
- Ukrainian
Education
- PhD, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany
- LL.M. in Global Master in International Sports Law, Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economía (ISDE)
- MLaw, Distant University of Switzerland
- Ass. iur., Second State Examination, Appellate Court of Düsseldorf, Germany
- Dipl. iur., First State Examination, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany
CV