International arbitration
“Market commentators characterise this firm's arbitration group as ‘a very cohesive’ and ‘commercially focused’ team. It is recognised as a practice that is firmly on the path to success, with the London team leading the charge for the firm at a global level. The group's far-reaching expertise is rooted in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, mining and construction, and covers both investor-state and commercial disputes.”
Chambers UK, 2013
International arbitration is most effectively handled by a team with global reach and specialised experience. We are one of the world’s leading international arbitration practices. Our team comprises over 100 specialists across Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Central Asia. Five members of our practice are listed in The International Who’s Who of Commercial Arbitrators. The complexity of international arbitration and the frequent involvement of multiple laws and locations mean that we are one of the only legal practices with the expertise and resources to assist clients from the outset of the dispute through to enforcement of an award.
We make a clear connection between law and industry knowledge, so we know the market sectors in which our clients operate. We act for global financial institutions, major corporations and governments and state-owned entities from our key industry sectors: financial institutions; energy; infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and innovation; and pharmaceuticals and life sciences.
We handle some of the most sensitive, high-value and strategically important international arbitrations, working closely with our clients to determine and achieve their commercial objectives in a quick and cost-effective manner. We advise on all aspects of arbitration, from drafting suitable clauses to advising on the type and seat of arbitration, the formation of the tribunal, arbitral procedure and enforcement of the award. We are skilled advocates in many languages. We also give specialist advice on all forms of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and expert determination.
We deliver:
- global, specialist arbitration and ADR experts
- broad industry knowledge
- experience of all relevant arbitral institutions and arbitration rules across the globe
- depth in both civil-law and common-law practice and procedure
- the benefit of working with a full-service international law firm; we can draw upon the expertise of our specialist lawyers throughout: corporate, litigation and dispute resolution, alternative dispute resolution; banking and finance; insurance and reinsurance and many others
Our areas of work include:
- all types of institutional and ad hoc commercial arbitrations
- bilateral and multilateral investment treaty disputes, including Energy Charter Treaty and NAFTA arbitrations, and both ICSID and ad hoc (UNCITRAL) arbitrations
- post-award enforcement
- risk management
Our recent work:
- Acting for a large Indian energy company against a Norwegian manufacturer in an ICC arbitration with an amount in dispute of US$450 million, in connection with an agreement for the supply of multicrystalline silicon wafers for the manufacture of photovoltaic cells in solar panels
- Acting for a US energy company in SIAC arbitration proceedings with an amount in dispute of US$250 million, arising from the frustration of a long term coal supply agreement by reason of interference of the Indonesian Government
- Acting for an oil major in an LCIA arbitration against a drilling contractor in a contractual dispute of US$230 million following the unfitness for purpose of a MODU
- Acting for a multinational energy major on an ad hoc arbitration with an amount in dispute of US$100 million concerning the importation of bitumen into part of West Africa
- Acting for the Republic of Kazakhstan in respect of a US$4 billion Energy Charter Treaty claim brought against the State by Eastern European investors in relation to the alleged illegal treatment and expropriation of significant investments
- Acting for an international mining company in relation to potential contractual and ICSID bilateral investment treaty claims of approximately US$500 million, regarding alleged breaches of project documentation and expropriation of the company's investments
- Acting for a Canadian company in an UNCITRAL arbitration with an amount in dispute of US$300 million in relation to the breach of a joint venture contract involving diamond mining in Russia
- Acting for a major African mining company in an ICC arbitration subject to Belgian Law in a US$300 million dollar dispute following the purchase of a gold mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo
- Acting for a large Japanese contractor in a US$400 million dispute with a joint venture partner concerning the construction of an infrastructure project in the Middle East
- Acting for a leading aircraft manufacturer in an ICC arbitration against the Government of Greece, regarding a US$300 million contract for the procurement of military aircraft and the provision of offset benefits
- Acting for one of the largest energy companies in the world in the anti-enforcement aspects of a dispute worth US$18 billion arising out of its operations in Ecuador