May Jansem

Associate

Paris

I defend our clients’ interests in high-stakes international disputes.

May Jansem is part of Foley Hoag's International Litigation & Arbitration Department. She represents foreign states, international organizations and private clients on public international law matters, including land boundary disputes, investor-state arbitration, commercial arbitration, and litigation. May also advises clients on the application of EU sanctions regulations and related compliance matters.

Related Industries

Sovereign States

Related Practices

Education

UPEC (Paris XII), L.L.M, valedictorian, 2021
Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II), Master in Public International Law, 2018
Johns Hopkins University, M.A in International Affairs, cum laude, 2017
Sciences Po Lille, Master in European and International Affairs, with distinctions, 2017
Sciences Po Lille, Bachelor, summa cum laude, 2015

Bar and Court Admissions

BAR ADMISSIONS

Paris

Languages

English
Spanish
Armenian

Experience Overview

Advise clients in navigating the EU sanctions regime against Russia following the war in Ukraine.*
Djamel Ben Ferha c. Royaume de Belgique (ARB/24/15). Counsel to Belgium.
Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Armenia v. Azerbaijan). Counsel to Armenia.
Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Azerbaijan v. Armenia). Counsel to Armenia.
Represented a French Company in a dispute related to nuclear construction before the Dispute Adjudication Board (DAB).
Represented a Central-Asian State against a consortium of oil investors in an investor-state arbitration pursuant to UNICTRAL Rules and administrated by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.*
Represented an African State in two commercial arbitrations (ICC).*
Advised a Pacific Island State on issues of human rights and international responsibility for wrongful acts.*
Advised an international organization (pro bono) against deep-seabed mining on matters of public international law.*
Drafted a new model of bilateral investment treaty (BIT) for an African State.*
Represented a French company against Russian compagnies in a high-stakes international dispute on space law.*
Represent an NGO in navigating the remaining U.S. and EU sanctions against Syria.

* - handled by May prior to joining Foley Hoag.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Previously worked in the Public International Law & International Arbitration department of leading international law firms in Paris and London
Lecturer in Investment Arbitration, Assas International Law School (Dubai Campus) since 2023
The Center for Constitutional Studies and Democratic Development: Research Assistant to Pr. Justin Frosini on transitional justice in the Balkans

Related Publications

Tightening the Vise: E.U. Continues Sanctions Pressure Against Russian Origin Oil

The E.U.’s 21st sanctions package builds on previous sanctions against Russian crude oil implemented in the E.U.’s 20th sanctions package and signals an increasingly more restrictive regime than the U.S.’s sanctions program against Russian crude oil.

Publications Overview

FDI Moot 2022: First Highest Ranked Respondent Memorial, Vol. 19, issue 07, Dec. 2022
La Revue de l’arbitrage Paris, Guinée c. Global Voice, n°19/17531, Comm. co-author Vincent Carriou, Vol. 1, 2022
Revue Générale de Droit International Public, “Arménie - Azerbaïdjan Haut-Karabagh, vers la fin du statu quo?”, RGDIP, Vol. 2, May 2021
Revue Générale de Droit International Public “Remise en cause de l’exploitation par Israël des territoires sous souveraineté jordanienne”, RGDIP, Vol.1, March 2019