Team

Elizabeth Mavropoulou, Programme Manager, Human Rights at Sea

Elizabeth holds an undergraduate Law degree (LLB) from the University of Athens and a postgraduate degree in International Law (LLM) from the University of Westminster. She is a qualified Greek lawyer (non-practising).   In October 2020 she submitted her PhD  thesis on international cooperation for refugees.  She is a part-time Visiting Lecturer at the University of Westminster, where she teaches International Law and Global Justice and a tutor at the Masters Programmes of Refugee Law Initiative, School of Advanced Studies, University of London.  Outside academia, Elizabeth has been with Human Right at Sea since 2014, promoting, coordinating and advocating for the concept of human rights at sea in international law. She is now the charity’s Programme Manager.

David Hammond Esq., Chief Executive Officer, Human Rights at Sea

Human Rights at Sea as an international concept and on-line platform was officially founded on 3 April 2014 by David Hammond, a non-practising English Barrister, former military seafarer and retired Royal Marines’ Officer. He has practical maritime operator and legal-related experience and he has variously served at sea in the North and South Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean Arabian Gulf and South China Seas since he first joined the Royal Navy at 18 years old. He is an advocate for the on-going international development, advocacy and drive for the explicit codification of the concept of ‘Human Rights at Sea’ throughout the maritime environment. David’s international legal and civil-society advisory work has been recognised and used by the UK Government, the UN and European institutions. His work has been quoted by and he has presented in the European Parliament. He has published and co-authored numerous human rights publications and has been previously instructed in leading legal and advisory roles for European Union Missions around the world.

Yas Banifatemi, Partner, Global International Arbitration Practice Group Leader, Shearman & Sterling

Yas is Shearman & Sterling’s Global International Arbitration Practice Group Leader and Public International Law Team Leader. Widely recognized as one of the most prominent international arbitration and public international law specialists worldwide, Yas advises and represents States, State-owned entities and companies on both public international law and international arbitration issues. Yas teaches international arbitration at Harvard Law School, Yale Law School and Panthéon-Sorbonne University.  Renowned for her “stellar work”, she has been repeatedly distinguished by clients and peers as “incredibly impressive” and “an outstanding lawyer in every possible respect”. Yas has been involved in many of Shearman & Sterling’s human rights initiatives, including coordinating work on behalf of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and work related to diversity and inclusion issues.

Emmanuel Gaillard, Partner, Global Head of Disputes, Global International Arbitration Practice Group Leader, Shearman & Sterling

Emmanuel is Shearman & Sterling’s Global Head of Disputes and Global International Arbitration Practice Group Leader. A Professor of Law in France, he serves as a Visiting Professor of Law at Yale Law School and Harvard Law School. Professor Gaillard established Shearman & Sterling’s International Arbitration practice. Universally regarded as a leading authority and a number one thought leader in the field of  international arbitration worldwide, he has advised and represented companies, States and State-owned entities in hundreds of international arbitrations. He also acts as arbitrator and expert witness. Professor Gaillard has written extensively on all aspects of arbitration law, including a leading treatise in the field and the first essay on the Legal Theory of International Arbitration.

Alex Marcopoulos, Counsel, International Arbitration, Shearman & Sterling

Alex is Counsel in Shearman & Sterling’s International Arbitration Practice Group. He has practiced in the field of International Arbitration for the past 10 years. Alex has been commended as an “excellent lawyer” and for his “great strategic mind”. He has also been praised for “his expert handling of disputes in the maritime industry”. Alex served as Managing Editor of the Tulane Maritime Law Journal. Alex’s pro bono commitment also includes work for the Office of the Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, assisting in the prosecution of those accused of participating in the 1994 Rwanda Genocide.

Elise Edson, Senior Associate, International Arbitration, Shearman & Sterling

Elise is a dual Australian/French national and a senior associate in Shearman & Sterling’s International Arbitration Practice Group. In addition to international arbitration, she focuses on climate change and sustainability issues as well as business and human rights, and is active on pro bono matters, including representing refugees in respect of their applications for resettlement. Elise previously interned for the UNHCR in Kathmandu, Nepal, worked at the International Law Commission in Geneva, Switzerland, taught public international law in Australia, and was an associate to a justice of the Federal Court of Australia.

Sandrina Antohi, Associate, International Arbitration, Shearman & Sterling

Sandrina is an associate in Shearman & Sterling’s International Arbitration Practice Group. A dual Canadian/Romanian national, Sandrina has acted as counsel and arbitral tribunal secretary in proceedings conducted under a variety of arbitration rules.  She holds an LL.B./B.C.L from McGill University and an LL.M in International Legal Studies from New York University School of Law. Prior to joining Shearman & Sterling, she was an NYU Law Fellow with the United Nations International Law Commission in Geneva.

Mariia Tsarova, Associate, International Arbitration, Shearman & Sterling

Mariia is an associate in Shearman & Sterling’s International Arbitration Practice Group. A Ukrainian national, she holds an LL.B and a Master in Law from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv as well as an LL.M in European and International Business Law (Advanced studies) from the University of Leiden. Her practice has focused on investment arbitration matters related to Eastern Europe and CIS States as well as the enforcement of arbitral awards.