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International arbitration

With a dedicated team based across London, New York, Milan, Singapore, Hong Kong and the British Virgin Islands, we are leaders in global arbitration – helping multinational corporations, governments and individuals to resolve disputes across borders.

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Whether you are a multinational corporation, international investor, private equity business or Government, our arbitration practice can help you to resolve your international disputes.

Our dedicated arbitration team works with clients around the world to resolve major commercial and investor-state disputes across a wide range of key industry sectors including oil and gas, natural resources, infrastructure, manufacturing, technology, construction and finance.

We are also one of the leading firms handling arbitration in the sports, luxury brands and arts sectors and act for some of the most high-profile and dynamic clients in these markets.

Strategic, commercial advice

With arbitration lawyers around the world, including London, Milan, Hong Kong, Singapore, New York and the British Virgin Islands, we act as strategic advisors, counsel and advocates on complex, high-value international disputes.

Our work covers the entirety of arbitration cases, from initial case analysis through to the successful enforcement of arbitral awards worldwide. We work on arbitrations under all the major arbitration rules (including ICC, LCIA, ICSID, LMAA, UNCITRAL, SIAC, HKIAC, CIETAC, CAM, ICDR and SCC) and pure ad hoc arbitrations. The geographic range of our cases crosses Europe, Anglophone and Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and the Middle East, the CIS, Asia Pacific and the Americas.

Our multilingual team is well-versed in numerous languages and our lawyers are admitted to practice in many jurisdictions around the globe, qualified in both common and civil law jurisdictions. We serve as arbitrators and are prominent thought leaders in the field, with extensive experience working in international organisations and emerging markets.

Leading lawyers

Acknowledged as 'extremely tactically aware' by the legal market, we are recognised for our 'know-how on how to navigate international arbitrations'. Clients praise our team for 'exceptionally valuable' skills with 'excellent customer focus'. They also acknowledge our 'deep technical knowledge' and 'sound judgment', describing our communication skills as 'simply amazing'.

How we can help

Business and human rights Investment treaty arbitration

Sanctions Public international law

When we found ourselves drawn into an international dispute, we wanted a law firm which would pay close attention throughout the case and be able to effectively manage the proceedings taking place in a number of jurisdictions. Withers' arbitration team were constantly in touch to keep us in the picture, and expertly managed a complex situation to deliver a welcome result for us.

Vebeca Holdings Limited

A reliable and erudite expert' and 'always considers the real benefit for our company.

A11Y LTD.

Withers has delivered positive results for us in three significant disputes resolved through arbitration. In each instance, the Withers team has delivered a great service along with a well-defined strategy for pursuing each matter.

Makstil

Hussein Haeri's ability to connect to our people here and to simply explain different scenarios is amazing.

Marsha Lazareva, Vice Chairman and Managing Director - KGL Investment Company

Hussein Haeri's strategic advice and know-how on how to navigate international arbitrations has proved to be exceptionally valuable over the two years we have been working together.

Senior Oil and Gas Executive

I would definitely recommend Withers Law Firm for international arbitration. Mr Hussein Haeri and his team acted as legal counsel for Gemmo in a high value international arbitration which we won, and I can say they were all highly experienced, extremely helpful and always available to discuss strategies, with an eye to meeting the client's needs and requests.

Mr Alessandro Chiappin, General Counsel - Gemmo SpA

Hussein Haeri combines deep technical knowledge of investment treaty arbitration with clarity of strategic direction and impressive project management skills. He demonstrates excellent customer focus and sound judgement

Thomas Le Feuvre, Head of International Agreements - Government of Jersey

Track record

High profile dispute involving "Asia's Fort Knox"

Represented the owner of the Singapore Freeport, Worldwide VGS B.V. ("Worldwide") controlled by Mr Yves Bouvier who is an internationally recognised Swiss businessman and art dealer, in relation to damages arising from contractual breach of the purchase of the Singapore Freeport.

International Table Tennis Federation

Represented International Table Tennis Federation ("ITTF") in relation to investigations of the conduct of the previous President of ITTF and current Honorary President during his terms of office.

Multi-million dollar energy ICC international arbitration

Acted on the instructions of Boustead Singapore Limited to represent its wholly owned subsidiary PT Boustead Maxitherm Industries in a multi-million dollar energy ICC international arbitration against the Indonesian state owned energy company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara.

Artificial intelligence based web marketing and technology services

Represented an artificial intelligence based web marketing and technology services company in a dispute with an Australian headquarterd artifical intelligence conglomerate over the company's investments in a Cayman Islands' based fund. The dispute was resolved before commencing any litigation or arbitration proceedings.

Belgian funder

Represented a Belgian funder in a dispute with Chinese counterparties over a financial investment in a Cayman Islands' incorporated company that was meant to go public. All disputes to be resolved by arbitration in Hong Kong is to be administered by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre.

Mainland Chinese industrial conglomerate

Represented a mainland Chinese industrial conglomerate, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd., on a billion-dollar treaty claim against the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the China-Nigeria bilateral investment treaty.

Acting for a major Chinese conglomerate

Acting for a major Chinese conglomerate in an investment treaty arbitration claim against an African State relating to the development of a special economic zone.

Acting for a UK company in an LCIA arbitration

Acting for a UK company in an LCIA arbitration relating to a steel foundry in Eastern Europe.

Acting for an Italian waste management company

Acting for an Italian waste management company in an ICSID claim against an African State relating to the expropriation of the company's investment.

Acting on the challenge to an investment treaty arbitration award in the High Court

Acting on the challenge to an investment treaty arbitration award in the High Court relating to a dispute over an energy sector investment.

Advising an American company on a potential NAFTA claim

Advising an American company on a potential NAFTA claim relating to an investment in the energy sector

Representing a German recycling company

Representing a German recycling company in its claim against an African State relating to expropriation and discrimination.

Representing the Claimant in an LCIA arbitration

Representing the Claimant in an LCIA arbitration relating to gold mining licences and permits in South America.

Representing the Respondent in an LCIA arbitration concerning the forestry sector in a CIS country.

Croatian gaming concession arbitration

Acting as Counsel for the respondent in Adria Beteiligungs v The Republic of Croatia, we worked on an UNCITRAL arbitration under the aegis of the Permanent Court of Arbitration related to a gaming concession agreement in Croatia.

Greek TV merger leads to arbitration

A proposed merger in the Pay TV market in Greece led to a dispute in which we represented Greek clients in a substantial LCIA arbitration.

Cypriot company in a USD$72 million arbitration

Acting for a Cypriot company with Russian connections in an arbitration claim challenging a USD$72 million London Court of International Arbitration Award

A regional education provider in Singapore in a cross border arbitration

We advised our client (the Claimant) in a cross border arbitration under the SIAC Rules involving claims of USD $70 million. Our client entered into a funding arrangement with a private equity firm, allowing the funder to acquire shares and/or control in a company which acquires, runs and manages schools, and the arbitration concerned the corporate structure and approach to governance and controls.

ICC motorway arbitrations

Representing one of the largest companies in Macedonia in two ICC arbitrations relating to the collapse of a public procurement project to build a motorway in Poland, including claims for unpaid joint venture costs and breach of contract.

LCIA arbitration in art sector

Advised a company specialising in buying and selling art in an LCIA arbitration dispute over the ownership of a Monet painting under Swiss law.

Italian energy company ICSID arbitration

A dispute over an investment in the energy sector and ICSID investment treaty arbitration claim against a European state. Our client is seeking damages for breach of fair and equitable treatment, expropriation and other treaty standards.

Construction dispute and ad hoc arbitration in North Africa

A major construction project in Libya has resulted in an ad hoc commercial arbitration for our client, an Italian company.

ICSID dispute over energy investment

A dispute over an investment in the energy sector has resulted in an ICSID investment treaty claim against a European state. Our client is seeking damages for breach of fair and equitable treatment, expropriation and other breaches of treaty standards.

Energy company UNCITRAL arbitration against Pakistan

Represented a Mauritian energy company as counsel and advocates in an investment treaty arbitration against Pakistan under the UNCITRAL arbitration rules.

Italy-CIS dispute over contract and arbitration venue

A complex international case has seen us acting in a dispute between parties in Italy and a former CIS region state. The case involves a possible arbitration in Paris over a contract under English law, as well as questions of the English court's ability to grant relief in the case.

Russian real estate project in LCIA arbitration

In an LCIA arbitration concerning a high profile real estate project in Moscow, worth $160m, and involving complex issues of fraud, illegality and a combination of Russian, Kazakh and BVI law, we have taken an innovative approach to calculating the damages at stake.

A luxury yacht builder

An Italian luxury yacht builder consulted Withers when it found itself in dispute with a Maltese client over a shipbuilding agreement. This was essentially a contractual dispute involving delay, construction in accordance with strict shipbuilding specifications and a claim for liquidated damages.

Recent recognition

Highly regarded for international arbitration

Leading firm for international arbitration

Leading firm for public international law

Leading firm for international arbitration, investor-state

Leading firm for dispute resolution (Singapore)

Leading firm for dispute resolution (Italy)

Highly recommended for arbitration, mediation & dispute resolution

Notable firm for commercial and transactions (Hong Kong)

Top firm for international arbitration

Leading firm for international arbitration

Leading lawyers for arbitration globally

Notable firm for international arbitration (Hong Kong)

Recommended firm for international arbitration (Singapore)

Leading firm for public international law

Leading firm for international arbitration

Leading firm for dispute resolution

Leading firm for dispute resolution, Italy

Top firm for international arbitration

Leading lawyers

Leading firm in international arbitration

GAR 100 2020 - Top UK firm for international arbitration

Leading firm for international arbitration

Leading firm for commercial dispute resolution

Our team

Hussein Haeri

Partner | London

Hussein Haeri

Partner | London

Litigation and arbitration

Email Hussein

+44 20 7597 6675

Eleni Polycarpou

Partner | London

Eleni Polycarpou

Partner | London

Litigation and arbitration

Email Eleni

+44 20 7597 6157

Cristina Pagni

Partner | Milan

Cristina Pagni

Partner | Milan

Litigation and Arbitration

Email Cristina

+39 02 8821 4242

Emma Lindsay

Partner | New York

Emma Lindsay

Partner | New York

Litigation and Arbitration

Email Emma

+1 212 848 9883

Shaun Leong

Partner, Withers KhattarWong* | Singapore

Shaun Leong

Partner, Withers KhattarWong* | Singapore

Litigation and Arbitration

Email Shaun

+65 6238 3035

Sherlin Tung

Partner | Hong Kong

Sherlin Tung

Partner | Hong Kong

Litigation and Arbitration

Email Sherlin

+852 3711 1671

Joseph Chu

Partner | Hong Kong

Joseph Chu

Partner | Hong Kong

Litigation and Arbitration

Email Joseph

+852 3711 1733

Sir Geoffrey Cox KC

Consultant Global Counsel | London

Sir Geoffrey Cox KC

Consultant Global Counsel | London

Litigation and Arbitration

Email Sir Geoffrey

+44 (0)20 7597 6000

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