Martje de Vries Lentsch

Martje is a partner in De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek's International Arbitration & Litigation practice. She is widely  known for her expertise in commercial arbitration and  complex cross-border litigation, notably in the field of  energy, where she advises clients on critical strategic  matters and has represented these companies in a range  of arbitrations and court cases. 

She has 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.  This includes in-house experience gathered during a  secondment to Shell's litigation department in Houston and her role as litigator at the  Houston office of Haynes & Boone. Clients value Martje as an accomplished practitioner  who can advise on both legal and economic issues in highly complex disputes. She also  manages highly political and sensitive disputes and negotiations, managing numerous  stakeholders and interests.  

Martje's expertise also includes disputes related to joint ventures and collaboration  agreements, and issues related to recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and  annulment of arbitral awards as well as related attachment proceedings. 

As a member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration (ICC), Martje actively  participates in the Court’s judicial supervision of ICC arbitrations, including the  appointment of arbitrators, decisions on challenges against arbitrators, and the scrutiny  and approval of ICC arbitral awards. In addition, Martje is an executive board member of  the Dutch Arbitration Association and included in the Netherlands Arbitration Institute  (NAI) and the Shanghai Arbitration Commission’s (SAC) panels of arbitrators. 

Martje has been included in GAR's latest edition of its '45 under 45' – a guide to the  leading younger practitioners in international arbitration.  

Martje’s recent work includes advising and representing: 

• an international energy company in various gas price review arbitrations under long-term gas sales agreements under the ICC and UNCITRAL rules in English and German; 

• an international energy company in three ICC arbitrations under New  York law arising out of long-term LNG purchase contracts; 

• energy companies in a variety of arbitration and litigation matters related  to the accelerated shut-in of and damage claims in relation to the  Groningen gas field; 

• a commercial airport in legal proceedings on a large construction project; 

• Shell before the Dutch courts in a case under Nigerian law brought by  four Nigerian farmers and environmental organisation Milieudefensie  related to oil spills in Nigeria, and the successful mediation between the  parties