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Lalive
Department profile | Lalive
Arbitration (International)

About

Provided by Lalive


LALIVE is a global leader in international commercial arbitration. Founded over 50 years ago by pioneers who shaped the world of arbitration, the team is recognised today as ‘arbitration royalty’ by Global Arbitration Review’s GAR 30 index of the world’s leading arbitration experts.


LALIVE's lawyers are disputes specialists, focused on providing top-tier arbitration expertise to individuals, corporations, and States, on their most complex and critical matters. They bring an unrivalled breadth and depth of experience in high-value, international disputes, in particular in the construction, infrastructure, energy, mining and pharmaceutical sectors.


The firm's expertise spans borders and cultures, reflecting our clients’ needs. The team includes over 25 nationalities speaking some 20 languages, and qualified in over 15 jurisdictions. They handle proceedings across a broad range of jurisdictions and under arbitration rules worldwide. In 2023, the firm was involved in arbitrations involving 49 different applicable laws and 26 arbitral seats in Europe, the US, Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia. This diversity and international reach form part of the firm’s DNA.


The firm's lawyers routinely act as both counsel and arbitrators in arbitral proceedings, allowing them to bring a strategic and balanced view to every case. Many are recognised as leading figures in the field and hold key positions in international arbitral institutions and associations.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Arbitration (International) - Europe-wide

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Lalive is an outstanding Swiss firm operating out of Geneva, Zürich and London, with the experience and reputation to compete at the pan-European level. Its team is praised for its prowess in large-scale investor state arbitrations on behalf of states as well as state-owned and private companies. The firm is particularly active in the energy, construction and mining sectors, with a strong caseload of ICSID and UNCITRAL arbitrations relating to disputes between European and Middle Eastern or Asian parties. The firm is recognised as a superb choice to handle Geneva-seated commercial cases, with additional experience in cases seated in London or Helsinki. It is also well reputed for the numerous prominent arbitrators within its ranks.

Work Highlights

  • Lalive represented Romania in a USD6.7 billion ICSID arbitration brought by investors from the UK and Canada under BITs arising from a gold mining project.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

The whole team can grasp the nuances of the case very quickly and own the details. The lawyers are responsive and very motivated, with a breadth of expertise and experience in the industry.

Arbitration (International) respondent
Global

Lalive has an excellent reputation with outstanding lawyers on their arbitration team. The legal work is excellent.

Arbitration (International) respondent
Global

Lalive is incredibly well known on an international scale, with particular strength in state investment arbitration.

Arbitration (International) respondent
Global

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Domitille Baizeau
1
Domitille Baizeau
1
Band 1

Domitille Baizeau demonstrates prowess in acting as counsel in various investor state and commercial disputes governed by different arbitration rules, such as those of the ICC and ICSID. She is also noted as an arbitrator, acting as president or co-arbitrator in European-seated tribunals.

Domitille Baizeau is excellent and whatever she does is quality. If you have her on a tribunal, things will go right. She has high standards and is a class act.

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Matthias Scherer
2
Matthias Scherer
2
Band 2

Clients appreciate Matthias Scherer for his expertise in high profile investor state arbitrations under ICSID rules, where he mostly acts for European states. He is also in demand as an arbitrator, sitting in ICC and SCC tribunals in Switzerland and Stockholm.

If my life were at stake and I needed an arbitrator or counsel, he would be my choice. He has so much charisma and is very clever. Astonishing.

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Michael E Schneider
3
Michael E Schneider
3
Band 3

Michael Schneider is particularly appreciated for his role as an arbitrator in ICSID and ICC tribunals across the continent, overseeing construction-related and BIT disputes.

He is very big picture. I think he is brilliant.

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Joachim Knoll
5
Joachim Knoll
5
Band 5

Joachim Knoll advises a wide range of clients from the mining world, oil and gas companies and the construction sector. He has experience of UNCITRAL and ICSID arbitrations as well as ECT and BIT matters.

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Melissa Magliana
5
Melissa Magliana
5
Band 5

Melissa Magliana represents clients in the pharmaceutical, energy and construction sectors in post-M&A and contract proceedings, often under ICC rules with seats in various jurisdictions.

Melissa is really pragmatic, diplomatic and well prepared.

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Noradèle Radjai
5
Noradèle Radjai
5
Band 5

Noradèle Radjai has extensive experience handling BIT claims under ICSID rules as well as European-wide ICC arbitrations. Her expertise includes proceedings involving the energy and manufacturing sectors.

Noradèle is very diligent and well-prepared, acting on two fronts at the same time. She is very organised and cogent in her thinking.

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Ranked Lawyers at
Lalive

Provided by Chambers
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Band

Europe-wide

Arbitration (International)
Matthias Scherer
3
Matthias Scherer
3
Band 3
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Domitille Baizeau
4
Domitille Baizeau
4
Band 4
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Joachim Knoll
5
Joachim Knoll
5
Band 5
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Melissa Magliana
5
Melissa Magliana
5
Band 5
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Noradèle Radjai
5
Noradèle Radjai
5
Band 5
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International Arbitration: Most In Demand Arbitrators
Domitille Baizeau
1
Domitille Baizeau
1
Band 1
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Matthias Scherer
2
Matthias Scherer
2
Band 2
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Michael E Schneider
3
Michael E Schneider
3
Band 3
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Members

Provided by Lalive

Joachim Knoll

Head of Department

Melissa Magliana

Head of Department

Industries

Provided by Lalive

Aerospace & Defence

Automobiles & Parts

Banks

Chemicals

Commercial & Professional Services

Construction & Materials

Consumer Product Manufacturing

Energy

Financial Services

Food & Drink Producers

Forestry & Paper

Government

Industrial Engineering

Media

Mining & Metals

Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences

Private Clients / Individuals

Real Estate

Sports

Technology, Hardware & Electronics

Telecommunications

Transportation

Travel & Leisure

Utilities