To whom it may it concern

On 28 November, on the day of my departure for an extended travel to different places – I will only be back in Paris on December 12 – I received a letter from counsel for Claimant challenging my appointment as an arbitrator in the case of Murphy Exploration & Production Company – International v. The Republic of Ecuador, based, according to them on circumstances that give rise to justifiable doubts about my impartiality or independence. I will answer to this challenge in due time, and I send this message to the parties for several purposes.