Valence Borgia
EMAIL valence.borgia@medici.law
PHONE +33 1 81 70 82 50
BAR ADMISSION
- Paris Bar
- New York State Bar
LANGUAGES
- English
- French
- Italian
EDUCATION
- Paris Bar School — Paris, France (2006–2007)
- LLM, General Studies — New York University, New York, New York (2005)
- Master Diritto Privato Europeo — La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy (2004)
- D.E.A, Droit des affaires et de l’économie — Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris, France (2003)
Valence Borgia is a member of both the Paris and New York State bars.
Valence acts as Counsel and as arbitrator in both institutional and ad hoc international arbitration proceedings. She has significant litigation expertise before French courts, specializing in matters related to arbitration, including enforcement and annulment proceedings, as well as arbitrator liability disputes.
Valence is particularly active in complex litigations involving African and Italian parties and regularly litigates matters involving the health, energy, transport, aeronautic, media, agri-food, recycling, construction, insurance, distribution and infrastructure industries.
Valence is the co-founder of the round table breakfast "Wake Up (with) Arbitration!", which is dedicated to the practical aspects of arbitration. She is also a co-founder of the Women's Foundation and has developed a pro bono practice for matters involving gender discrimination and gender-based violence. Valence is very involved in the defense of women's rights.
She is a former member of the Paris Bar Council and currently member of the Law and Procedure Association’s board and an Honorary President of the Union of Young Lawyers.
RECOGNITION
- For several years and again in 2025, Valence is listed among the "Thought Leaders" by the Lexology - Who’s Who Legal – Arbitration. She receives "widespread acclaim" for her "clarity, reactivity, pragmatism and business sense" as well as her "ability to build a sharp and strong argument".
- In 2025, Valence is ranked in the categories "Strong Reputation", "Excellent" and "Recognized Practice" in the annual Arbitrators ranking by Décideurs - Leaders League;
- Since 2024, Valence is ranked in the category "The Best Lawyers" in France in the ranking Best Lawyers;
- Legal 500 recognized her in 2018 as "tenacious", "excellent in advocacy", "excellent litigation lawyer" and in 2019 as a "talent to follow";
- She has also been named by Magazine Décideurs as one of the "30 rising stars" of the Business Bar in 2016.
EXPERIENCE
Experience in arbitration
- Counsel: CMAP arbitration concerning the performance of a licensing agreement between two French companies in the healthcare sector - Headquarters: Paris - French law ;
- Arbitrator: Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in ICC proceedings concerning an oil transaction for the exploitation of a concession between a Barbadian company, an epic and an African state - Headquarters: Paris ;
- Arbitrator: President of the arbitral tribunal in ICC proceedings concerning an oil transaction for the exploitation of a concession between a Barbadian company, an EPIC and an African state - Seat: Paris;
- Counsel: ICC arbitration between a Canadian company and a French company relating to a wind farm acquisition contract - Seat: Paris - French law;
- Counsel: ICC arbitration between a Belgian company and an African State relating to a leasing contract - Seat: Paris - Cameroon law;
- Counsel: ICC arbitration concerning the non-conformity of industrial equipment between Tunisian and German parties - Seat: Paris - Vienna Convention on the International Sale of Goods - French language;
- Counsel: CMAP arbitration between two French companies operating in the healthcare industry (performance of a licensing agreement) - Seat: Paris - French law;
- Counsel: ICSID arbitration in defence of Finetis SARL and Finetis Maroc SA against the Kingdom of Morocco relating to the construction and operation of a high-speed telecommunications infrastructure in Morocco;
- Arbitrator: co-arbitrator in ICC arbitration concerning the performance of an oil infrastructure construction contract between two Italian companies - Seat: Paris - Italian law - English language;
- Arbitrator: sole arbitrator in ICC arbitration concerning the performance and termination of a distribution contract between a Romanian company and a Belgian company - Seat: Paris - Belgian law - English and French languages;
- Arbitrator: sole arbitrator (expedited procedure) in an ICC arbitration concerning the execution of an agency contract between an Italian company and a Norwegian company — Seat: Milan — Italian law — English language;
- Arbitrator: sole arbitrator in ICC arbitration concerning the performance of an infrastructure construction contract between an Italian company and a Gabonese company - Seat: Paris - Languages: Italian, French and English;
- Arbitrator: co-arbitrator in a CAM (Milan Chamber of Arbitration) proceeding between a French company and an Italian company. Seat : Milan — Italian law —Italian language;
- Arbitrator: co-arbitrator in a CEFAREA arbitration between insurers and an aerospace and defense corporation. Seat: Paris — French law ;
- Arbitrator: President of an arbitration tribunal in an internal, ad hoc, ex aequo et bono arbitration concerning a dispute between shareholders over the valuation of the shares of a leading French company in the distribution sector - Seat: Paris - French law;
- Arbitrator: President of the court in CMAP arbitration concerning the performance of a construction contract between two French companies - Seat: Paris - French law;
- Arbitrator: sole arbitrator (accelerated procedure) in ICC arbitration concerning the performance of a contract for the purchase of goods between a Pakistani company and a Spanish company - Seat: Paris - English language;
- Arbitrator: co-arbitrator in ICC arbitration relating to the performance of a contract concerning oil activities between two Ivorian companies - Seat: Geneva - Languages: French and English;
- Arbitrator: co-arbitrator in ICC arbitration concerning a port infrastructure contract between a French company and an African company - Seat: Paris - French language;
- Arbitrator : sole arbitrator in CMAP arbitration relating to the performance of an aircraft maintenance contract between a Moroccan company and a Turkish company – Seat : Paris - French language ;
- Arbitrator: co-arbitrator in ICC arbitration concerning a construction contract between two European companies - Seat: Paris - English language;
- Counsel: ICC arbitration between a French company and a Congolese company relating to a contract for the transport of petroleum tools - Seat: Paris - French law - English language;
- Counsel: ICC arbitration concerning the non-conformity of industrial equipment between Tunisian and Austrian parties - Seat: Paris - Vienna Convention on the International Sale of Goods - French language ;
- Counsel: ICC arbitration concerning the breach of an aircraft purchase agreement between British Virgin Islands and French parties - Seat: Paris - French law - English language;
- Counsel: ICC arbitration relating to trademark licensing agreements in the field of telecommunications between a French company and a Turkish company;
- Counsel: ICC arbitration relating to the termination of satellite TV broadcasting contracts between a Lebanese and a Saudi party - Seat: Paris - English language.
- Arbitrator: co-arbitrator in a CMAP arbitration concerning the interpretation of provisions of a contract relating to the purchase price of shares between a French company and French shareholders - Seat: Paris - French law - French language;
- Arbitrator: co-arbitrator in CMAP arbitration concerning requests for resolution of share transfers - Seat: Paris - French law;
- Counsel: CMAP arbitration concerning the exploitation of a pharmaceutical licence - Seat: Paris - French law;
- Counsel: CMAP arbitration concerning the termination by a real estate company of contracts for the provision of real estate services - Seat: Paris - French law;
- Counsel: CMAP arbitration concerning an aeronautical subcontracting contract between a French company and a Singaporean company - Seat: Paris - French law;
- Counsel: CMAP arbitration on the consequences of non-renewal of urban renewal and property development contracts - Seat: Paris - French law;
- Arbitrator: co-arbitrator in international ad hoc arbitrator concerning the non-performance of an agent's contract between an Italian company and a French company - Seat: Paris - Italian law - French and Italian languages;
- Counsel: ad hoc arbitration concerning the non-enforcement of shareholders' agreements relating to a joint venture in the food industry - Seat: Paris - French law;
- Counsel: ad hoc arbitration concerning a post-acquisition dispute (implementation of a guarantee of assets and liabilities) - Registered office: Paris - French law;
Counsel: ad hoc arbitration concerning the implementation of an asset and liability guarantee following the acquisition of shares in companies holding quarries - Registered office: Paris - French law;
Experience in litigation
Counsel to a leader in the wind energy sector in a dispute concerning the performance of a wind energy project development contract against a German company;
Counsel to a leading pharmaceutical and healthcare company with commercial disputes relating to licensing, R&D and partnership agreements;
Counsel in a dispute between French and Brazilian German companies concerning damage to industrial equipment (steel oven);
Counsel to a leader in the photovoltaic sector in a dispute concerning the performance of a purchase contract for photovoltaic panels against a Tawainese company.
Counsel to an Italian company in a dispute with a Japanese company relating to share purchase agreements in the automotive sector;
Counsel to a leader in the wind energy sector in litigation following the acquisition of several wind farms, resulting in a €50.7 million judgment in its favour;
Counsel to a listed French company in a dispute involving the enforcement of a first demand bank guarantee in the recycling sector;
Representation of a company holding works of art in litigation following the acquisition of a forgery;
Representation of a British Virgin Islands company in a dispute relating to the insurance of works of art;
Counsel to a company specialising in network infrastructure management in a dispute with a Belgian telephone operator over the purchase of satellite capacity;
Counsel to a French company in the agri-food sector in litigation relating to investigative measures likely to breach business secrecy;
Counsel to a company operating in the renewable energy sector with various enforcement procedures;
Counsel to an artistic agent in connection with various disputes with lyric artists;
Counsel to an Italian company operating in the labels and paper sector in various commercial disputes with its customers;
Counsel to a French company in various commercial disputes in the agri-food sector;
Representation of an American oil company in an air transport accident;
Representation of a leading security and remote surveillance systems company in its contractual liability and unfair competition litigation;
Counsel from a company whose purpose is to provide staff as a temporary agency for the performance of a recruitment service contract;
Counsel to an American company in litigation relating to the closure of a French plant;
Enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards ;
Actions to set aside arbitral awards, resistance to enforcement of awards ;
Representation and assistance of arbitrators and arbitration institutions in post-arbitration liability disputes;
Representation of French and international companies in insurance disputes following claims;
Counsel to victims of discrimination and violence based on gender and/or sex.
Experience in mediation
- Mediator in a dispute between a French company and an Italian company relating to an infrastructure construction contract;
- Mediator in a dispute between two French companies relating to a sale in the recycling sector;
- Mediator / conciliator in numerous disputes between lawyers / law firms during a term on the Bar Council ("Conseil de l'Ordre");
- Counsel to a French company in a CMAP mediation involving a French company on a dispute relating to the development of wind farms;
- Counsel to a French company in a CMAP mediation with a French company concerning the execution of a licensing, development and marketing agreement for pharmaceutical products involving an American company;
- Counsel to a French company in the pharmaceutical sector in a CMAP mediation involving a French company regarding the termination of a collaboration and licensing agreement.
EXPERIENCES
- Since 2020 — Founding Partner, Medici (Paris)
- 2009-2020 — Counsel, K&L Gates (Paris)
- 2007-2009 — Associate, Eversheds LLP (Paris)
EDUCTION
- 2006 - 2007 — Paris Bar School, Paris, France
- 2004 - 2005 — L.L.M in General Studies — New York University
- 2003 - 2004 — Master in Diritto Privato Europeo - Prof. Guido Alpa — Università La Sapienza Rome
- 2002 - 2003 — DEA Droit des affaires et de l'économie — Université Paris I
PROFESSIONAL COMMITMENTS
- Member of the French Arbitration Law Review Committee (2024);
- Co-Director of Paris Place of Law Association ("Paris Place de Droit");
- Member of the Paris Bar Council (2018-2020);
- Member of the Board of Law and Procedure Association ("Droit et procédure");
- Founding Member of the round-tables dedicated to arbitration “Wake up (with) Arbitration!”;
- President ad honorem of the Young Lawyer Association (2014-2015);
- Founding Member of the Women Foundation ("Fondation des Femmes");
- Member of the Board of the Woman Foundation ("Fondation des Femmes");
- Member of the Board of Equality Laboratory think tank ("Laboratoire de l'Égalité") from 2013 to 2022.
PUBLICATION
- "Wind farms litigation : Innovent ordered to pay EUR 50.7 million to Boralex", in Le Monde du Droit, 20 May 2021 (https://www.lemondedudroit.fr/deals/75692-contentieux-eolien-innovent-condamnee-a-payer-50-7-millions-euros-boralex.html?jjj=1621508375428);
- “Third-Party Conciliation: France reacts to Covid-19 with a New Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism” in the Arbitration Journal No.9 of the Russian Arbitration Association, January 2021;
- Interview with Valencia Borgia, "A woman lawyer dedicated to professional equality", in Journal Spécial des Sociétés, May 2020;
- "3 questions to Valence Borgia", in La Semaine du Praticien, La Semaine Juridique, 2020;
- "Future management practices in law firms: towards mutation?" in Revue pratique de la prospective et de l'innovation, LexisNexis Jurisclasseur, October 2016.
31, RUE TRONCHET ― 75008 PARIS
EMAIL: CONTACT@MEDICI.LAW ― TEL: +33 1 81 70 82 50 ― FAX: +33 1 81 70 82 61