International arbitration

The go-to dispute resolution mechanism for international disputes

For many businesses and individuals who understand arbitration, it is the preferred dispute resolution mechanism. This applies across sectors and is particularly so in certain industries, such as life sciences and healthcare and energy and utilities, and for large cross-border transactions whether corporate or commercial. For those who do not understand arbitration, we can explain what it is and how it works.

The lawyers in our International Arbitration Group have decades of experience of the most complex commercial and investment arbitration cases based in jurisdictions worldwide. We can help you with your arbitration whatever stage you are at.

Some members of our group also regularly act as arbitrators providing our group and clients with additional insight into the latest techniques and approaches used by leading arbitration practitioners.

What are the advantages of arbitration?

• Arbitration is consensual: parties can decide how, where, by whom and in what language the dispute is heard.
• Arbitration is confidential: hearings are private and the entire case, including the existence of the dispute, is usually confidential.
• Arbitration is neutral: tribunals frequently comprise of arbitrators from across the world who are specialists with established reputations chosen by the parties.
• Arbitration is final: subject to very limited exceptions, awards may generally not be appealed.
• Arbitration is globally enforceable: an arbitral award issued in any one of the 170+ member states of the New York Convention may be enforced in any other member state under a generally straightforward process.

When looking for a confidential and flexible international dispute resolution process that can save you time and money, arbitration is the natural answer.

Very experienced, very committed and very good. It is always a real pleasure to collaborate with OC’s arbitration team!

Client, Legal 500

How we can help you

We can support you with all aspects of the arbitration process. We can:

• represent you in arbitral proceedings, from pre-action to the final hearing and enforcement of an arbitral award
• provide oral advocacy before the tribunal
• run parallel proceedings, including court proceedings and/or in different jurisdictions;
• draft arbitration agreements
• help recover sums due, including costs
• assist with ancillary applications and interim relief
• advise on investment structuring for treaty protection

Where we represent clients

We are familiar with all the major rules, including those of the:

• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
• London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA),
• Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC)
• German Arbitration Institute (DIS)
• Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)
• United Nation Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
• International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)

Arbitration to resolve investment disputes with states

Investment arbitration can be used to protect businesses and individuals facing harm to their overseas investments and assets. For the protection mechanisms to be available, decisions will have to be taken on how best to structure the investments. For example, investment arbitration mechanisms may be available under one of the 2,800+ bilateral investment treaties or a multilateral treaty such as the Energy Charter Treaty. Our group can assist with these questions.

We can also guide you through all aspects of investment arbitration proceedings, whether they are organised under institutional rules or on an ad-hoc basis.

Our International Arbitration Group

Our lawyers act in disputes based across the globe. We are international and can quickly create the appropriate team to meet your needs.

We have been recognised as experts in arbitration by Who's Who Legal, Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. Lawyers from our group play important roles within various arbitral institutions. We have representatives in the LCIA Court, the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators and Conciliators, the International Centre for Dispute Resolution and various other arbitral institution governing and supervisory bodies.

We are specialists in the energy sector (in particular, renewables), life sciences and healthcare, retail, construction and the rapidly growing area of digital business.