Worldwide Arbitration

What the work involves

We act for companies on both sides of commercial arbitrations seated in Chicago, New York, London and Singapore, most of them under ICDR, ICC or LCIA rules, and most of them involving a counterparty with assets somewhere awkward.

Before a demand is served we ask where the respondent keeps its money and whether a court there will recognize an award. If the honest answer is nowhere useful, you should know that before the tribunal fees start.

The hearing itself rewards preparation more than theater. Tribunals read everything, so written submissions carry the case, and we write them to be read by people who are busy, careful and skeptical.

After the award comes the part many firms treat as an afterthought: confirmation under the Federal Arbitration Act, discovery in aid of execution, and recognition proceedings abroad. We run that phase with the same partner who ran the hearing.

Where a counterparty resists, we coordinate with local counsel in the relevant country and keep one partner accountable for the whole sequence, so nothing falls between two firms.

Matters we see often

• Supply, distribution and construction disputes under ICC and ICDR rules
• Joint-venture and shareholder arbitrations with foreign partners
• Petitions to confirm or vacate awards in federal court
• Discovery in aid of foreign proceedings under 28 U.S.C. § 1782

Illustrative matters in this area