Offices – United Kingdom
Explore all Offices
Global Reach
Global Reach

Apart from offering expert legal consultancy for local jurisdictions, CMS partners up with you to effectively navigate the complexities of global business and legal environments.

Explore our reach
Insights – United Kingdom
Explore all insights
Expertise
Insights
Insights

CMS lawyers can provide future-facing advice for your business across a variety of specialisms and industries, worldwide.

Explore topics
Offices
Global Reach
Global Reach

Apart from offering expert legal consultancy for local jurisdictions, CMS partners up with you to effectively navigate the complexities of global business and legal environments.

Explore our reach
Insights
About CMS
Responsible business highlights
Responsible business highlights

Learn more

Select your region

Guy Pendell
Partner

Guy Pendell

Languages
  • English
Social media

Guy Pendell is a versatile commercial disputes partner based in London. He has been a partner since 2005 and has over 20 years’ experience handling corporate/commercial disputes arising all over the world.  His experience spans commercial litigation and arbitration where, as a solicitor advocate, he often undertakes all the advocacy.  His main areas of work include corporate/M&A disputes, technology, media and telecoms, international projects, aviation and finance disputes. He also has years of experience handling disputes in the hotels and consumer products sectors.

Guy is one of a few London practitioners with leading rankings in both litigation and arbitration in the major legal directories.  He has been credited as “giving clients the best chance of winning”.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    "Guy Pendell is a supreme strategist; he keeps you ahead of the curve and has a mastery of the detail."
    Legal 500, 2025
  • Quote
    "Class Act."
    Legal 500, 2022

Relevant experience

  • Soteria Insurance Limited (formerly CIS General Insurance Limited) v IBM United Kingdom Limited [2021] EWCA Civ 440
  • CIS General Insurance Limited v IBM United Kingdom Limited [2021] EWHC 347 (TCC).
  • CEF Holdings Ltd v Mundey & Ors [2012] EWHC 1524 (QB).
  • Bouverie No. 1 v De Vere Hotels & Leisure Ltd [2006] EWHC 2242 (Ch).
  • Trident European Fund v Coats Holdings Ltd [2003] EWHC.
  • A technology transition and transformation dispute for one of the largest long-term savings and retirement business.
  • Multiple proceedings for a very well-known international IT/Outsourcing company, principally relating to disputes arising under application support and maintenance agreements.
  • Various disputes in the UK and beyond for a very well-known telecommunications company, principally relating to commercial disputes in relation to the provision of major projects but including disputes arising under long term outsourcing projects.
  • A series of connected disputes for the owners of a global electrical wholesale business with other family members in relation to the separation of their business interests, direct competition between businesses and related disputes in Switzerland, Canada, the UK and elsewhere.
  • Proceedings in Mauritius, Dubai and England for an international bank arising out of the wrongful settlement of a number of financial instruments. The dispute relates to a wider international fraud in excess of some USD 500m. 
  • A series of warranty and indemnity disputes for the former owners of a substantial international hotel group arising following the acquisition of the group from Compass plc.  The disputes included the resolution of three long tail liabilities arising from historic UK leasehold interests; a claim under a liability on an evergreen letter of credit; multiple claims in relation to several hundred employment disputes in South America.

Publications

  • Facing the Future of International Arbitration, Podcast Series (2021)
  • Breathing Space, Concept Note 3, (2020) which was ultimately adopted as The BIICL Guidelines
  • World Arbitration Reporter (England & Wales Chapter)
  • Interim Measures in International Arbitration, June 2014, Juris Publishing – England & Wales Chapter
  • Arbitration in England, 2013, Kluwer Law International – Rights and Duties of the Parties and Counsel
  • West Law, UK Insight – The Arbitration Act 1996

Memberships & Roles

  • Head of the CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang disputes practice (2017 to date)
  • Former head and co-founder of the CMS International Arbitration Group
  • ICC UK’s Arbitration and ADR Subcommittee (Vice-Chair)
  • ICC Arbitration Commission
  • Bingham Development Board
  • Trustee, RCJ Advice
  • International Arbitration Charity Ball Committee (Founder and Honorary Vice-Chair)

Lectures list

  • 2022 - Africa Arbitration Academy – ‘How (not) to Annoy the Tribunal’
  • 2021 - The Role of Law in Climate Action
  • 2019 - Witness Evidence and Human Memory, London International Disputes Week
    2015 - Legal Week Litigation and Arbitration Forum 2015, Co-chair with Tim Parkes, Herbert Smith
  • 2015 - International Arbitration Summit, Legal Business
  • 2015 - Foundation for International Arbitration Advocacy, Faculty Member, Washington 
  • 2015 - Practising Law Institute, New York – International Arbitration 2015 – Preparing Your Case: Experts
  • 2014 - Legal Week Litigation and Arbitration Forum 2014 – Co-chair with Tim Parkes, Herbert Smith
  • 2012 - International Dispute Resolution involving Russian and CIS companies, C5, February 2012
  • 2011 - Taking of Evidence in International Arbitration, LSE

Education

  • 2007 - Solicitor Advocate
  • 2005 - Diploma in Advocacy, College of Law,
  • 1996 - Legal Practice Course, Commendation, Nottingham Law School, Nottingham
  • 1994 - LLB (Hons), Coventry

Guy Pendell is a versatile commercial disputes partner based in London. He has been a partner since 2005 and has over 20 years’ experience handling corporate/commercial disputes.  His experience spans commercial arbitration where, as a solicitor advocate, he often undertakes all the advocacy, and litigation.  His main areas of work include corporate/M&A disputes, technology, media and telecoms, international projects, aviation and finance disputes. He also has years of experience handling disputes in the hotels and consumer products sectors.

Over the years, Guy has been involved in hundreds of arbitrations under the rules of most of the leading institutions across many jurisdictions and governing laws.  His experience is predominantly in international commercial arbitration, including emergency arbitration proceedings, as well as investment arbitration.  When his workload permits, he also sits as an arbitrator.

Guy is one of a few London practitioners with leading rankings in both arbitration and litigation in the major legal directories. He has been credited as “giving clients the best chance of winning”.  He is also ranked as a Thought Leader and recommended Global Leader in Who’s Who Legal.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    "Guy Pendell is a supreme strategist; he keeps you ahead of the curve and has a mastery of the detail."
    Legal 500, 2025
  • Quote
    “brilliant for strategic and tactical considerations”. Guy is also a Leading Individual for international arbitration.
    International Arbitration, Legal 500, 2014
  • Quote
    "He is outstanding and has a superb legal mind.” “He is good at assessing risk and has good judgement. He’s impressive."
    Chambers, 2022

Relevant experience

  • An emergency arbitration relating to the delays and allocation of COVID vaccines.
  • Regularly instructed by financial advisory firm for international arbitration.
  • A series of related arbitrations for a major telecommunications company in relation to the construction of a 30-year outsourcing transaction and the proper financial modelling in relation thereto.
  • A global satellite telecommunications company in relation to the termination of a SPA concerning the sale and purchase of strategy satellite telecommunications assets.
  • A dispute for a global engineering company over the alleged failures of gas turbines in a major middle east power plant.
  • A dispute for a large Russian energy company over the consequences of the termination of a SPA.
  • An arbitration for a European mining and silica manufacturing company in relation to the valuation and accounting treatment of various CEE assets under a SPA.
  • An arbitration for a European bank arising from the exercise of a put and call option in relation to the acquisition of a Serbian listed bank.
  • ABB AG v Hoctief Airport GmbH & Anor [2006] EWHC 388 (Comm).
  • X Limited v Y Limited [2005] EWHC 769 (QB).
  • Multiple arbitrator appointments, typically in the banking, finance, technology, construction, engineering or hospitality sectors.

Publications

  • Facing the Future of International Arbitration, Podcast Series (2021)
  • Breathing Space, Concept Note 3, (2020) which was ultimately adopted as The BIICL Guidelines
  • World Arbitration Reporter (England & Wales Chapter)
  • Interim Measures in International Arbitration, June 2014, Juris Publishing – England & Wales Chapter
  • Arbitration in England, 2013, Kluwer Law International – Rights and Duties of the Parties and Counsel
  • West Law, UK Insight – The Arbitration Act 1996

Memberships & Roles

  • Head of the CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang disputes practice (2017 to date)
  • Former head and co-founder of the CMS International Arbitration Group
  • ICC UK’s Arbitration and ADR Subcommittee (Vice-Chair)
  • ICC Arbitration Commission
  • UK Rapporteur of Task Force on New York Convention, member of editorial committee for Guide to New York Convention - ICC, Court of Arbitration
  • Bingham Development Board
  • Trustee, RCJ Advice
  • International Arbitration Charity Ball Committee (Founder and Honorary Vice-Chair)

Lectures list

  • 2022 - Africa Arbitration Academy – ‘How (not) to Annoy the Tribunal’
  • 2021 - The Role of Law in Climate Action
  • 2019 - Witness Evidence and Human Memory, London International Disputes Week
    2015 - Legal Week Litigation and Arbitration Forum 2015, Co-chair with Tim Parkes, Herbert Smith
  • 2015 - International Arbitration Summit, Legal Business
  • 2015 - Foundation for International Arbitration Advocacy, Faculty Member, Washington 
  • 2015 - Practising Law Institute, New York – International Arbitration 2015 – Preparing Your Case: Experts
  • 2014 - Legal Week Litigation and Arbitration Forum 2014 – Co-chair with Tim Parkes, Herbert Smith
  • 2012 - International Dispute Resolution involving Russian and CIS companies, C5, February 2012
  • 2011 - Taking of Evidence in International Arbitration, LSE

Education

  • 2007 - Solicitor Advocate
  • 2005 - Diploma in Advocacy, College of Law,
  • 1996 - Legal Practice Course, Commendation, Nottingham Law School, Nottingham
  • 1994 - Law, LLB (Hons) 2(1), Coventry