Jason is the global head of the Clifford Chance's International Arbitration Group and a leading practitioner in international arbitration with over 30 years of experience.
He is a former Secretary General of the ICC International Court of Arbitration and a former court member of the ICC court. Jason has represented clients in arbitrations held under all major arbitral rules including SIAC, ICC, LCIA, SCIA, UNCITRAL, PCA and ICSID and has assisted clients to resolve disputes through mediation and expert determination. His practice has included construction disputes, aviation, joint venture and shareholder disputes, post M&A disputes and investor state arbitrations. He has significant experience of disputes involving allegations of corruption, illegality and/or the breach of anti-bribery and corruption rules.
Jason is an experienced advocate, having appeared as counsel in over 100 arbitration cases in his career and sits as an arbitrator.
He is a Visiting Fellow at the Dickson Poon School of Law, Centre for Construction Law, King’s College, London and a Vice Chair of the KCAB International Arbitration Court. He is a Solicitor Advocate, England and Wales, a King’s Counsel and is an Avocat à la Cour, Paris bar.
Jason is a regular speaker at arbitration conferences and has published or contributed to text books on international arbitration.
- A Korean construction company with respect to a USD 2.7 Billion ICC arbitration concerning the development and construction of the Songdo smart city development in South Korea. The claim concerned, in part, the lawfulness of the exercise of security rights in share pledges.
- Managing a portfolio of more than 100 international arbitrations and court litigation matters in over 20 jurisdictions, with a total aggregate value of US$2 billion
- An EPC contractor in a USD 1 billion LCIA arbitration concerning the commissioning, operation and maintenance of a nuclear power plant.
- An Italian energy company in an ICC arbitration concerning a put option dispute and share valuation.
- A European entity in an ICC arbitration in connection with a US$1.2 billion shareholders dispute and the determination of the Fair Market value before an expert
- A major manufacturer of solar panels in an ICC arbitration under Philippines law, with the seat in Manila (then Hong Kong) concerning the breach of a long-term supply agreement and a joint venture agreement for the manufacture of solar cells
- A French energy company in an ICC arbitration concerning alleged breaches of a shareholders agreement and duties to procure business licences.
- An aeronautics company in respect of a joint venture ICC arbitration under Hong Kong law seated in Paris. The approximate value of the dispute was US$900 million. The dispute also concerned loans and bonds made to the company, the exercise of put rights and alleged breaches of fiduciary duties and collateral agreements.
- A Korean employer in an LCIA arbitration with respect to a turnkey contract dispute for the construction of a nuclear power station in the UAE
News and client work
Contact details
- Clifford Chance, Paris
- +33144055303
- Email me
- Speaks English and French
Career & qualifications
- LL.B., University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 1984 – 1987
- Barrister and Solicitor, New Zealand, 1988
- B.C.L. (Hons), Oxford University, 1990 – 1991
- Partner Clifford Chance 1999
- Rejoined Clifford Chance 2012
- Post Graduate Diploma in Business Strategy and Innovation (Distinction), Saïd Business School, Oxford University, 2013 – 2014
Professional bodies
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- Editorial board of Dispute Resolution International, IBA Journal
- Admitted as a Solicitor Advocate, England and Wales
- Avocat à la Cour, Paris Bar
Awards and citations
- Jason Fry KC (Band 2) represents leading corporates in commercial arbitration cases. He is active across the aerospace, finance and technology sectors.
"Jason Fry is very responsive and experienced."
"Jason Fry is a careful strategist who understands matters' complexities."
"We have very good experiences working with Jason Fry. He is calm, accurate and to the point."
"Jason Fry is an excellent lawyer. You can trust his advice and judgement."
Chambers France 2025, International Arbitration
Chambers Global 2025, International Arbitration - France - Jason Fry KC (Band 2) represents leading corporates in commercial arbitration cases. He is active across the aerospace, finance and technology sectors.
"Jason is very talented and earns the trust of clients. The results are great because he takes us and our cases seriously."
Chambers Europe 2024, International Arbitration - France
Chambers Global 2024, International Arbitration - France
- Jason Fry KC (Band 2) represents leading corporates in commercial arbitration cases. He is active across the aerospace, finance and technology sectors.
Chambers Global 2023, International Arbitration - France
Chambers Europe 2023, International Arbitration - France - Jason Fry KC represents leading corporates in commercial arbitration cases. He is active across the aerospace, energy and infrastructure sectors. Ranked Band 2.
Chambers Global 2022, International Arbitration - France
Chambers Europe 2022, International Arbitration - France - Jason Fry KC represents leading corporates in commercial arbitration cases. Clients comment: "He has nerves of steel and has incredible patience. He also has the ability to find precisely the right moment to make his move," before going on to say that he is "capable of seeing the big picture as well as never losing sight of the key details."
Chambers Global 2021, International Arbitration - France
Chambers Europe 2021, International Arbitration - France - Jason Fry climbs the rankings on the back of excellent client feedback. He has extensive experience in commercial arbitrations, acting for clients from the aerospace, energy and banking sectors. Interviewees praise his leadership skills, noting that he allows "his team to shine, from the very top to the very bottom, with spectacular results in terms of creativity and added value."
Chambers Global 2020, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration - France
Chambers Europe 2020, International Arbitration - France - "Clifford Chance's ‘hugely experienced’ 16-lawyer Paris-based team has first-hand knowledge of the ICC Court. The practice acts for French and international corporations facing shareholder, partnership, mining and construction disputes. It is handling a series of cases for a key client in the aviation sector, and is also acting in investment cases, including representing a state in its first treaty claim. Practice head Jason Fry is highly recommended, along with the ‘determined, brilliant and reasonable’ Simon Greenberg. Counsel Sandrine Colletier is also noted."
Legal 500 EMEA 2019, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration - France - "Clifford Chance has a broad aviation practice, with a team whose 'members complement each other'. The practice has a strong corporate and commercial focus, with Dessislava Savova and Fabrice Cohen forming the heart of the group, as well as a strong litigation and arbitration component alongside regulatory expertise. In a recent corporate highlight, Cohen advised Airbus on its $750m disposal of Vector Aerospace to StandardAero Aviation Holdings, while Savova acted for Airbus on the implementation of a new industrial and commercial strategy for the insourcing of key aircraft components. Thibaud d’Alès represented the Cessna Citation European Service Center in litigation against owners and managers of airplanes arising from the non-payment of repairing works. Other key contacts include Jason Fry, Simon Greenberg and Thomas Baudesson. Charles-Henri Boeringer was promoted to partner in May 2018."
Legal 500 EMEA 2019, Aviation - France - Jason Fry is described as a "tenacious" and "tough opponent" by sources. He is well known for his experience gained working within the ICC and for his skill in handling diverse commercial arbitration matters for clients in the aerospace and energy sectors. He advises on shareholder, construction contract and other contractual disputes.
Chambers Europe 2019, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration - France
Chambers Global 2019, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration - France - "Clifford Chance has long-established ICC experience and also handles LCIA disputes. The 15-lawyer team advises prominent French and international companies, especially in the aviation and energy sectors and often acts in shareholder and commercial partnership related cases. Recent highlights include a multibillion-dollar mining case and a significant dispute dealing with the construction of a nuclear plant. Jason Fry co-heads the firm’s global practice. Simon Greenberg is the other key element in the practice, while counsel Sandrine Colletier is also noteworthy."
Legal 500 EMEA 2018, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration - France - "Jason Fry is distinguished by interviewees as a "skilful practitioner in the field." He is experienced in advising clients from the energy, infrastructure and aerospace sectors in proceedings concerning commercial disputes."
Chambers Global 2018, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration - France
Chambers Europe 2018, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitratio - France - Global international arbitration co-head Jason Fry undertakes a range of disputes, with significant knowledge of ICC proceedings. Interviewees say: "Jason Fry is very experienced in big litigation and arbitration. He has very good knowledge of the ICC rules from a strategic point of view. He is very skilled in this area."
Chambers Global 2017, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration - France
Chambers Europe 2017, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration - France - “‘He is one of those to whom clients entrust a large portfolio of matters,’ comment sources.”
Arbitration: 35 Thought Leaders: Who’s Who Global 2017 - “He is well regarded for his knowledge of arbitral proceedings under ICC rules in particular, and has broad sector experience.”
Chambers Global 2017, International Arbitration
- “Clients appreciate that he has ‘very good knowledge of the ICC rules from a strategic point of view. He is very skilled in this area.’”
Chambers Europe 2017, International Arbitration - “Jason Fry is very experienced in big litigation and arbitration…"
Chambers Europe 2017, Dispute Resolution - “Jason Fry provides ‘perfect management of difficult arbitration proceedings.’”
Legal 500 2016, International Arbitration - France