NICOLAS LOCKHART is recognized as a leading practitioner in the international trade field, in particular in WTO dispute settlement. At Sidley, Nic has advised a wide range of governments and commercial stakeholders in dozens of World Trade Organization (WTO) disputes. He has also assisted clients with the negotiation of trade agreements. Before joining Sidley, Nic spent five years at the WTO Appellate Body, advising on 16 appeals.
Nic offers clients an in-depth knowledge of WTO practice, procedures and substantive law, covering all stages of WTO dispute settlement. He has extensive experience in oral advocacy at hearings. Nic has worked with WTO members as complainants, respondents and third parties in many disputes, across a wide range of WTO agreements.
Nic features prominently in published rankings of practitioners in the field of the international trade law:
- He is ranked in Band 1 for International Trade/WTO by Chambers Global 2021 and Chambers Europe 2021, in which interviewees say that “he is able to get his points across to all of the different stakeholders because he deconstructs difficult legal issues into simple words.” In the 2019 edition, clients describe him as “very gifted legally and a very talented advocate.” Another source states: “He’s very creative in building arguments and positions and does not feel confined to how things have always been done. He is willing to think of new ideas.”
- In the Chambers 2017 edition, clients called Nic “a tremendous trial lawyer who is an eloquent, convincing and effective communicator.” In Chambers Europe 2015, clients described him as a “fantastic strategist, excellent litigator and very good at thinking on his feet at hearings.”
Most recently, Nic has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in Switzerland guide 2022 for Trade law. Nic has also been recognized in the 2019 edition of Who’s Who Legal for Trade & Customs for his “excellent” work advising clients on international trade regulation and disputes. He was recognized as one of the most highly regarded practitioners in the 2018 edition and sources from the 2016 edition “have great respect” for Nic Lockhart, highlighting his “strong legal arguments” and “excellent legal analysis and writing’ as notable strengths.”
Nic recently contributed to two recent papers, linked here and here, published by the World Economic Forum that explore trade policy and the circular economy.
Nic has appeared on Bloomberg television as a commentator on the international trade implications of Brexit: