Thomas Kendra | Paris | Hogan Lovells

Thomas Kendra

Partner Litigation, Arbitration, and Employment

Languages

English, French, Spanish

Kendra Thomas

Thomas Kendra
Kendra Thomas
  • Overview
  • Experience
  • Credentials
  • Insights and events

Partner in Hogan Lovells' Paris international arbitration practice, Thomas' knowledge and skills are focused on the energy, life sciences, TMT, aerospace, mining, finance and construction sectors, as well as in investment arbitration, in which he has acted for both States and investors. He is dual-qualified in England and France.

Thomas is passionate about encouraging the growth of alternative dispute resolution, notably in Africa and Asia, where he has worked. This has led him to collaborate in establishing the Kigali International Arbitration Centre (KIAC) in Rwanda in 2012, for which he was shortlisted for Solicitor of the Year by the Law Society, and he remains an active member of KIAC's Board. Thomas also co-leads Hogan Lovells' Paris-Afrique Group, a cross-practice desk established within the Paris office, and he has recently been elected co-president of AfricArb, a non-profit organisation of practitioners aiming to promote the development of arbitration in Africa.

Thomas presents and publishes widely on international arbitration topics, as well as teaching at Sciences-Po, Queen Mary and Versailles University. Thomas has been said to “lead the market” in relation to arbitrations in Francophone Africa by Who's Who Legal, 2017, and is ranked by Chambers, with sources noting his "ability to combine a bird's-eye perspective on the case with sufficient attention to detail" [Chambers Europe 2019] and his "very well-prepared and effective cross examinations"[Chambers Global 2018]] .

Representative experience

Representing a central Asian state in an UNCITRAL arbitration brought by a Canadian mining company under the Energy Charter Treaty relating to uranium mining licenses.
Representing a Latin American state in relation to two ICSID arbitrations brought by companies in the coffee and fertilizer industries.
Representing a French company in an ICSID arbitration under a BIT against an Eastern European State.
Representing a global oil company in ICC mediation proceedings against an African state regarding tax issues linked to the application of its concessions.

Credentials

Education
  • European Legal Studies, University of Bristol
  • Université de Bordeaux
  • University of Salamanca
Bar admissions and qualifications
  • Paris
Court admissions
  • Supreme Court of England and Wales
Memberships
  • Founding Board member of the Kigali International Arbitration Centre
  • Member of LCIA (YIAG) and ICC
  • Shortlisted for Solicitor of the Year 2012 (Law Society)

Recognition

International Arbitration (France)

Chambers Global

2021
Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration, Next Generation Partner

Legal 500 EMEA

2019-2020
International Arbitration (France), Up and Coming

Chambers Global

2018-2020
"Up and Coming" in International Arbitration

Chambers Europe

2018-2020
Future Leader: Arbitration

Who's Who Legal

2020-2021
Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration

Legal 500 EMEA

2018-2020
Shortlisted for Solicitor of the Year 2012

Law Society

2012