Partner

Emma Schaafsma

Languages

English
Dutch

Emma Schaafsma (Kratochvilova) is a partner in the Disputes Resolution team in London.

Emma has over 20 years’ experience representing clients in high-value and complex disputes arising on international construction projects in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Projects include power and process plants, LNG tank and terminal, wind (onshore and offshore), road and rail; in South East Asia, China, the Middle East, the United States, Mexico, South America and New Zealand.

Emma’s experience includes supporting clients on claims arising during project execution, Dispute Board referrals, expert determination, mediation and arbitration (ad hoc and under various institutional rules). During her career she spent 13 years in Japan, including two years in-house at an international heavy industries contractor. She has been recognised as a leading lawyer in the directories since 2013.

Relevant experience

A contractor in relation to a $bns JCAA arbitration concerning two EPC power plant projects in Africa.
An international boiler supplier in US litigation defending and (following mediation) successfully settling claims following catastrophic overheating of the super-critical boiler during the start-up phase of the construction of a power plant project in Texas, USA.
A contractor in ICC arbitration in London concerning delay, defects and loss and expense claims on a power and desalination EPC project in North Africa.
A heavy industries contractor in ICC arbitration in Tokyo defending claims brought by a subcontractor on an Asian high speed rail project.
A civil engineering contractor in relation to ICC arbitration and parallel litigation concerning delays, variation claims and a tunnel collapse on a major highway infrastructure project.
An international energy corporation against an Asian EPC contractor in LCIA arbitration concerning claims arising during the warranty period on a coal fired power plant project in South America.
A Saudi Arabian subsidiary of a large Asian oil and gas company in an ICC construction arbitration in Singapore on its claims for EOT and delay related costs arising on a petrochemicals project in Saudi Arabia.
A Japanese trading company as respondents in ICC arbitration, Geneva, regarding an international highway construction project.
A Japanese trading company in JCAA arbitration in Tokyo for the recovery of sums due under multiple contracts for the supply of construction equipment in Saudi Arabia.
An English biotech company in ad hoc arbitration in London against a contractor in relation to claims arising under a design-build contract for the construction of facilities in England.

Memberships & Roles

TeCSA
SCL UK
IPBA

Education

CPE & LPC College of Law, Guildford
BA Hons., Durham

Practice Areas

Dispute Resolution Alternative Dispute Resolution Construction & Engineering Disputes Energy Disputes International Arbitration

sectors

Construction & Engineering

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Emma Schaafsma

Languages

Relevant experience

Memberships & Roles

Education

Practice Areas

sectors

Insights by Emma

Good faith obligations in joint venture agreements

Transition then transformation: AI in construction disputes

Termination payments and costs “reasonably incurred”

Delay claims under the FIDIC form: Obrascon challenged