PRACTICE AREA

International Commercial Arbitration

Strategic counsel in complex cross-border commercial disputes before the world's leading arbitral institutions — ICC, ICDR/AAA, UNCITRAL, and ad hoc tribunals.

From emergency relief through enforcement, across the Americas and Europe.

OVERVIEW

Cross-Border Disputes Demand Specialized Counsel

International commercial arbitration is the primary mechanism for resolving cross-border business disputes. When contracts involve parties in different jurisdictions, governed by different legal traditions, and subject to differing procedural expectations, arbitration provides a neutral, enforceable, and confidential forum for resolution.

Effective arbitration counsel must combine substantive mastery of the governing law with deep procedural fluency across institutional frameworks. The firm brings this dual competence to every engagement — drawing on extensive experience as both counsel and arbitrator to deliver advocacy informed by a comprehensive understanding of how tribunals evaluate evidence, assess credibility, and render decisions.

The firm serves both as counsel and, where appropriate, as arbitrator, with substantial experience in each role, subject to applicable conflicts and independence standards.

METHODOLOGY

Our Approach

A disciplined, phase-based methodology from initial assessment through award enforcement.

Case Assessment

  • Conflicts check and engagement

  • Comprehensive case assessment memorandum

  • Identification of interim relief requirements

  • Evidence preservation and document hold protocols

  • Forum, seat, and governing law analysis

Case Assessment

  • Drafting of request for arbitration or response

  • Tribunal constitution — co-arbitrator nomination and chair selection

  • Procedural timetable negotiation

  • Document management and production strategy

  • Preliminary damages and quantum framework

Case Assessment

  • Written memorial advocacy

  • Witness and expert preparation and coordination

  • Oral hearing advocacy

  • Post-hearing submissions and cost applications

  • Enforcement planning from the outset of proceedings

SECTORS

Types of Disputes

We handle complex commercial disputes across a range of industries and transaction structures.

Supply & Distribution

Cross-border supply agreements, distribution terminations, and exclusive dealing disputes across multiple jurisdictions.

Energy & Natural Resources

Concession agreements, off-take disputes, regulatory renegotiation, and resource extraction conflicts.

Joint Ventures & Shareholder Disputes

Deadlock resolution, valuation disputes, fiduciary duty claims, and forced buyouts in international joint ventures.

Financial Services

Derivatives disputes, fund management conflicts, banking relationship terminations, and cross-border financial restructuring.

Construction & Infrastructure

Delay claims, defective performance, variation disputes, and multi-party construction arbitrations.

Technology & Licensing

SaaS licensing breaches, IP disputes, technology transfer agreements, and data-related commercial conflicts.

FORUMS

Institutional Experience

Extensive experience across the world's principal arbitral institutions.

ICC

International Chamber of Commerce

The world's leading arbitral institution. We have extensive experience conducting proceedings under the 2021 ICC Rules, including expedited procedures and the ICC Emergency Arbitrator mechanism.

UNCITRAL

UN Commission on International Trade Law

ICDR/AAA

International Centre for Dispute Resolution

The international division of the American Arbitration Association and the premier Americas-based forum. We regularly handle ICDR proceedings in Miami, New York, and across Latin America.

Ad Hoc

Bespoke Proceedings

Certain disputes require tailored arbitral frameworks outside institutional rules. We design and conduct ad hoc proceedings suited to the commercial and legal context of each matter.

Ad hoc arbitration under the UNCITRAL Rules provides maximum procedural flexibility. We advise on institutional versus ad hoc structures and administer proceedings under these rules.

CAPABILITIES

Procedural Expertise

Depth across the procedural dimensions that define the outcome of complex arbitrations.

Interim & Emergency Relief

Applications to emergency arbitrators and national courts for provisional measures, asset preservation orders, and anti-suit injunctions.

Multi-Party & Multi-Contract

Joinder, consolidation, and coordination of proceedings involving multiple parties, related contracts, or parallel arbitrations.

Document Production

Strategic requests under the IBA Rules on the Taking of Evidence, including targeted Redfern Schedule applications and privilege objections.

Parallel Proceedings

Management of concurrent arbitrations, court proceedings, and regulatory investigations across jurisdictions.

Jurisdictional Objections

Challenges to arbitral jurisdiction, including objections based on arbitration agreement validity, scope, privity, and group-of-companies doctrine.

Enforcement & Set-Aside

Post-award proceedings under the New York Convention, including enforcement actions and annulment applications at the seat.

ADVANTAGE

Cross Border Capability

Americas to Europe

Offices in Miami, Madrid, and Paris — positioned at the intersection of the Americas and Europe for seamless cross-border arbitration practice.

Case Common + Civil Law

Deep fluency in both common law and civil law procedural traditions, enabling effective advocacy regardless of the governing law or procedural framework.

Trilingual Practice

We conduct arbitrations in English, Spanish, and French — and coordinate multilingual proceedings, translation, and witness preparation across all three languages.

EXPERIENCE

Representative Matters

Select anonymized engagements. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

ENERGY

ICC - Paris

The world's leading arbitral institution. We have extensive experience conducting proceedings under the 2021 ICC Rules, including expedited procedures and the ICC Emergency Arbitrator mechanism.

Role: Claimant

FINANCIAL SERVICES

UNCITRAL — London

ICDR/AAA — Miami

The international division of the American Arbitration Association and the premier Americas-based forum. We regularly handle ICDR proceedings in Miami, New York, and across Latin America.

Role: Claimant

DISTRIBUTION

ICC — Madrid

Certain disputes require tailored arbitral frameworks outside institutional rules. We design and conduct ad hoc proceedings suited to the commercial and legal context of each matter.

Role: Respondent

REAL ESTATE

Ad Hoc — Miami

Hospitality joint venture dissolution — award obtained and successfully enforced in multiple jurisdictions.

Role: Claimant

PHARMACEUTICALS

UNCITRAL — The Hague

IP licensing dispute — favorable interim measures and subsequent award on breach of exclusivity provisions.

Role: Claimant

Ad hoc arbitration under the UNCITRAL Rules provides maximum procedural flexibility. We advise on institutional versus ad hoc structures and administer proceedings under these rules.

Role: Respondent

TECHNOLOGY

ICDR/AAA — New York

SaaS licensing breach — favorable award on contractual interpretation and damages.

Role: Claimant

MANUFACTURING

ICC — Geneva

Product liability and warranty claims in international supply chain — all claims dismissed.

Role: Respondent

CONSTRUCTION

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Timelines vary depending on the complexity of the dispute, the institution, and whether expedited procedures apply. An expedited ICC case may resolve in 6–9 months. Standard ICC proceedings typically take 12–18 months. Complex, multi-party cases can extend to 24 months or more. We work to optimize timelines without sacrificing thoroughness.

  • Costs include institutional fees, arbitrator fees, legal fees, and expert/witness costs. Institutional fee schedules (ICC, ICDR) are publicly available and based on the amount in dispute. We provide detailed budgets and phased cost projections at the outset of every engagement.

  • In a three-arbitrator tribunal, each party typically nominates one co-arbitrator, and the two co-arbitrators (or the institution) select the chair. In sole arbitrator proceedings, the institution appoints unless the parties agree. We maintain deep knowledge of the arbitrator community and advise on selection strategy.

  • Yes. Under the 1958 New York Convention — ratified by over 170 states — arbitral awards are enforceable in national courts worldwide. Award enforcement is a core capability of the firm, with particular depth in U.S. federal courts.

  • Most institutional rules provide for confidentiality of proceedings, submissions, and awards. The degree of protection varies by institution and by the governing law of the arbitration. We advise on confidentiality protections tailored to each matter.

  • Yes. Most major institutions offer emergency arbitrator procedures. Court-ordered interim measures in aid of arbitration are also available in most jurisdictions. We have extensive experience seeking and opposing both forms of provisional relief.

  • We conduct arbitrations in English, Spanish, and French. We handle multilingual proceedings and coordinate translation of evidence and submissions as required.

RESOURCE

Checklist for the First Month of International Commercial Arbitration

A step‑by‑step guide covering ICDR and ICC procedures, filing deadlines, arbitrator selection, and key tasks for the critical first 30 days.

The information on this page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by use of this website. All engagements are subject to a conflicts check and execution of an engagement letter. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Discuss Your Matter

Request a confidential consultation regarding an international commercial arbitration. All inquiries are subject to a conflicts review.