International Arbitration

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Arbitration

International arbitration gives cross-border disputes a neutral forum and an enforceable award. We represent companies, investors, and states in commercial, investment, and construction arbitrations under the major institutional and ad hoc rules.

When a deal spans borders, neither side wants to litigate in the other's home courts, and that is what arbitration solves: a neutral forum, arbitrators you help choose, and an award enforceable in most of the world under the New York Convention. We represent parties from the drafting of the arbitration clause through the hearing and, when needed, enforcement of the award.

International Commercial Arbitration

We handle commercial disputes arising from contracts, joint ventures, distribution and supply arrangements, and technology deals across industries and regions. We represent clients in arbitrations under the ICC, LCIA, SIAC, HKIAC, and AAA-ICDR rules, as well as ad hoc proceedings, and we build the strategy around the seat, the governing law, and the realities of enforcing wherever the other side keeps its assets.

Investment Treaty Arbitration

Investment arbitration lets foreign investors hold states accountable when government conduct destroys the value of their investment. We represent investors, and on the other side states defending their measures, in claims under ICSID and UNCITRAL rules arising from bilateral investment treaties, multilateral agreements, and investment contracts, including jurisdiction, liability, and the often decisive fight over damages and valuation.

Construction and Infrastructure Disputes

Large construction and infrastructure projects generate disputes over delay, defects, variations, and termination, and those disputes routinely land in arbitration under FIDIC-based and bespoke contracts. We represent owners, contractors, and subcontractors, marshaling the schedules, technical records, and expert testimony these cases turn on and presenting them in a way the tribunal can work through.

Frequently asked questions

International arbitration is a private process where you and the other side agree to let one or more arbitrators decide your dispute instead of a national court. Compared to cross-border litigation, it gives you a neutral forum, easier enforcement of the result under the New York Convention, more flexibility in how the case runs, and usually more confidentiality.

It depends on the size and complexity of the dispute, your industry, and where the parties and assets are located. The major institutions, including the ICC, LCIA, SIAC, HKIAC, and AAA-ICDR, each have their own rules, fee structures, and administrative style, and some fit certain types of disputes better than others. We help you match the institution to your specific deal.

It varies with complexity, but most institutional arbitrations run about 12 to 24 months from filing to the final award. Many institutions offer expedited procedures for smaller or simpler disputes, which can be much faster. Large, multi-party cases can take longer.

Yes. Under the New York Convention, awards are enforceable in over 170 countries, which generally makes them easier to enforce across borders than a court judgment. Courts can refuse enforcement on a few limited grounds, such as a serious procedural problem or a public policy violation, but those grounds are read narrowly.

The main costs are institutional fees, the arbitrators' fees, legal fees, and experts. It can be expensive, but the total is often comparable to or lower than fighting the same dispute in several countries' courts at once. Many institutions offer cost-management tools and expedited tracks for smaller claims to help keep spending in check.

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