Veronica Connolly
Veronica Connolly is a Senior Associate in the Johannesburg Dispute Resolution Practice.
Veronica's practice focuses on the resolution of international commercial and investor-state disputes. Having worked in London, Moscow, Dubai and Johannesburg, Veronica has gained experience representing a range of private multi-national commercial entities, governments and State-Owned entities across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. This includes representing clients in arbitrations under the auspices or rules of the LCIA, ICC, LMAA, DIFC-LCIA, DIAC, SCC, UNCITRAL and AFSA. Veronica is a qualified solicitor of England & Wales.
Veronica has experience in the energy, infrastructure, construction and maritime sectors. This includes matters of fraud and shareholder disputes, conducting investigations and advising on matters of public or administrative law and regulatory issues.
In addition to her private-practice roles, Veronica has also gained in-house experience both in Dubai where she was seconded to the dispute resolution team of a master developer, and in the UK where she advised the UK Government on commercial, international and public law issues. This included advising in relation to investor-state dispute settlement provisions and the risks and merits of judicial review challenges.
The Legal 500 EMEA has previously named Veronica as a “Next Generation Lawyer” and a “Rising Star". Veronica also sits on the Young AFSA Training Committee and is a Young ICCA Regional Representative for South Africa and has previously acted as Tribunal secretary in two LCIA arbitrations.
Experience & capabilities
Selected matters
- representing an international investor in LCIA proceedings brought against a local partner in Nigeria relating to the purchase, financing and operation of a power distribution company*
- acting for a Nigerian entity in the oil and maritime sectors in 32 associated LMAA and ad hoc arbitrations, followed by challenges and appeals before the English court*
- advising clients in high-profile litigation and AFSA arbitration proceedings arising from the multi-billion ZAR award of South Africa's National Lottery Licence*
- defending an international oil major in a USD 480 million litigation and advising in respect of an ancillary overseas arbitration in Southern Africa*
- representing a Qatari state-owned insurance company in a London-seated fraud claim in connection with supplies of LNG into Ghana*
- representing Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds in consolidated multi-party and multi-contract SCC fraud proceedings relating to the construction, operation and sale of a port, airport and retail developments*
- representing a South-Asian Government in proceedings relating to contested issues of bilateral investment treaty interpretation and the jurisdiction of the Tribunal*
- advised on the conduct of a large corporate's investigations into the potential misappropriation of trust funds during real-estate investments*
- representing a Chinese automobile manufacturer in disputes with its North American JV partner including emergency proceedings in a Stockholm seated SCC arbitration*
* Experience gained prior to joining HSF Kramer
Background
Veronica studied at the University of Oxford and began her career at Clifford Chance. After relocating to South Africa, Veronica joined Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer in February 2026 from an international firm in South Africa.
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