Disputes (International & Cross-Border) | Global

A&O Shearman is a premier international firm with a highly-integrated network of global offices, and its London team is frequently identified as a standout choice to coordinate cross-border work. Offering a well-developed, full-service platform which offers consistent quality across numerous practice areas and sectors, the London office fulfils a significant role as the law firm’s central hub within its diverse global network. The team advises on some of the biggest and most complex cross-border deals in the market and is particularly highlighted as having an edge over many competitors in the banking sector.

A&O Shearman's highly regarded international disputes offering is predominantly driven by its reputable London office. It comprises a market-leading banking litigation practice readily instructed by global investment banks, private equity firms and hedge funds, and is particularly adept at benchmark manipulation claims. The law firm also houses an impressive commercial litigation team, which frequently handles cross-border shareholder disputes and breach of contract claims. The firm also demonstrates international arbitration capability, with a solid track record of representing sovereign states and corporates in high-value investment treaty disputes. A&O Shearman's global network provides the ideal platform for multi-jurisdictional disputes, and with feet on the ground in key jurisdictions, the law firm is also noted for its effective cross-office collaboration.

An imposing presence in the international disputes space, Clifford Chance effectively combines an exceptional London office with an impressive global footprint to service its clients in a variety of cross-border cases. The law firm's disputes offering is spearheaded by a market-leading banking litigation practice, well positioned to coordinate multi-jurisdictional class actions and misrepresentation disputes. The team works in tandem with its specialist forensic accounting team for litigation and investigatory work. Clifford Chance also has a notable commercial and corporate litigation team seasoned in sophisticated shareholder disputes and cross-border breach of contract cases. Additional expertise includes a fully fledged international arbitration practice, assisting clients with commercial and investor-state disputes, with a particular focus on construction arbitrations in Africa and the Middle East.

Freshfields boasts a formidable global disputes team constituted by its strength and depth within the key jurisdictions, including Germany, France, Hong Kong and Singapore. The London office acts as a key body of expertise within that team, housing a leading corporate and commercial litigation group adept at handling cross-border shareholder disputes, as well as cases concerning contractual breaches and cyber crime. Freshfields remains an unquestioned leader in banking litigation, frequently representing investment banks and private equity firms in sophisticated, multi-jurisdictional litigation, including mis-selling claims and contentious trading issues. The law firm is also sought after by clients to coordinate global antitrust actions and is globally recognised for its international arbitration practice.

Herbert Smith Freehills is regarded a global disputes powerhouse, driven by a market-leading London team and an impressive Asian footprint. The law firm places disputes at the absolute core of its firm identity, with an ever-increasing focus on cross-border matters, which they can expertly handle given their deep bench of arbitrators, litigators and regulatory specialists around the world, and through effectively leveraging their international network. Given this appeal, the team acts for a plethora of international financial institutions, major corporations and high-profile individuals on various high-value matters.

Highly regarded for big-ticket corporate and banking litigation, Herbert Smith also enjoys prominent roles on multi-jurisdictional follow-on damages claims and is well versed in class actions. The law firm employs a global advocacy initiative which aims to provide clients with local law advocates across its network to ensure consistency and good communications across all time zones.

Quinn Emanuel's rapidly developing global profile is typified by the growing reputation of the London office. The team is highlighted for its international arbitration expertise, particularly within the energy sector. Additional expertise includes high-stakes commercial and corporate disputes, representing an international client base of private equity firms and large tech corporations.

Hogan Lovells represents international clients across its full-service scope, providing an excellent cross-border service for a range of contentious, transactional and regulatory work. The London team remains a central contributor to the law firm's worldwide success, and it is particularly revered for its outstanding expertise in international dispute resolution. The team frequently coordinates cross-border work and has particularly close ties to the law firm's European offices as well as forming an effective team with Hogan Lovells lawyers in other key jurisdictions throughout the USA, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Africa.

Latham & Watkins is recognised as an excellent option for clients who require counsel on highly complex and multifaceted cross-border matters. The law firm provides an impressive, well-integrated team across its global offices and is praised for consistently excelling across multiple practice areas and sectors while delivering an internationally-oriented approach and comprehensive global support. Latham & Watkins has unsurpassed global strength, and its effective coordination across its international network is key to its appeal among high-profile multinational corporations, banks and investment funds.

Linklaters has a globally integrated disputes practice which facilitates cross-office working through its lockstep compensation structure, with strong teams in key jurisdictions across continental Europe and Asia. The London office plays a central role in coordinating the law firm's cross-border disputes and features a market-leading banking litigation team renowned for high-profile disputes concerning insolvency, derivatives and structured financial products. Its litigation offering also includes multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes concerning shareholder issues and breach of contract.

Slaughter and May is an elite UK law firm which is revered for its ability to orchestrate global mandates from London and which has carved out a high level of influence worldwide. In addition to its London headquarters, the law firm operates from office locations in Brussels, Beijing and Hong Kong. Slaughter and May's independent, lockstep model has also proved appealing when forging close relationships with firms of a similar style and status in jurisdictions outside the UK.

Baker McKenzie's large, globally integrated practice has a particularly coordinated offering between its London, New York and Chicago teams to provide an effective cross-border service to its clients. The London office houses a notable banking team which regularly represents global financial institutions in multi-jurisdictional litigation and investigations. The law firm is also adept at defending multinational corporations against large-scale claims alleging product defects and safety issues, as well as advising on associated reputation and crisis management issues. Baker McKenzie also boasts a reputable arbitration team with particular expertise in construction and commercial development disputes concerning the Middle East and the CIS region. The law firm is able to draw upon the local expertise of a wide array of countries, due to its impressively vast and much-vaunted global network.

Simmons & Simmons is a distinguished London-headquartered law firm with significant global reach throughout Europe and Asia. The law firm provides an attractive offering to clients through its sector-focused international strategy, concentrating on financial services, asset management, technology and life sciences. Simmons & Simmons regularly manages sophisticated multi-jurisdictional mandates from London across these areas of focus and works in conjunction with its other offices. The law firm has also developed a strong network of co-counsel from other jurisdictions to provide a seamless service for clients.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is a US powerhouse with an established UK base. The law firm's international work from London is spearheaded by its leading international arbitration practice, renowned for representing financial institutions as well as clients in the energy and TMT sectors, in high-stakes commercial disputes. The team also acts for sovereign states and investors in complex investment treaty cases and the London office houses a skilled commercial litigation team, particularly adept at shareholder disputes and matters concerning individuals based in Russia and the CIS region.

Alongside from their expertise in energy and TMT, the Skadden team are well versed in advising clients in a range of industries, including in banking and finance, heath-care and pharma, insurance, manufacturing, real estate, technology and telecommunications. Beyond its recognised transatlantic strength, Skadden is also picked out for its cross-border capabilities across the globe, with established offices across continental Europe, Latin America and APAC.

White & Case provides clients with an impressive global platform. The UK team handles high-end, complex mandates and works seamlessly with other offices in the law firm's expansive network across the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific. By remaining highly attuned to the needs of international clients, the law firm is a popular choice for global operations.  

Ashurst has a network of international offices throughout Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region, and the London team acts as a significant central hub for the firm's global activities and advice. The law firm provides its multinational clients with a targeted full-service offering that is delivered by industry sector specialists assembled in global teams. Its cross-border expertise spans transactional, regulatory and disputes matters that are staffed by local and overseas lawyers operating as a single department.

CMS is regarded as a highly-capable global practice, providing a comprehensive service to international clients in areas such as M&A, dispute resolution, and banking and finance. The sector-oriented London team exhibits real strength advising clients from the energy, insurance, technology and life sciences spaces. Cross-border mandates are often coordinated from the UK, but the law firm also stands out for its excellent network of offices throughout continental Europe, which is strengthened by its presence in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

DLA Piper's banking litigation practice is experienced in mis-selling claims and fraud-related disputes. The law firm is additionally experienced in product liability matters, particularly within the food sector. International arbitration is another area in which the firm is experiencing a growing reputation globally, with the London office hosting a number of lead partners in the law firm's integrated arbitration platform. DLA Piper is particularly active in multi-jurisdictional disputes within the energy, natural resources and infrastructure sectors. Utilising its extensive network of offices, the team frequently engages in disputes arising from Africa, Europe, Central and South-East Asia and the Middle East.

Eversheds Sutherland's international office coverage, which includes offices across more than 30 jurisdictions around the world, is a real asset to the disputes team, housing dedicated litigation expertise in each office. Cross-border work is further facilitated by the law firm's global litigation technology team, a group spread across the USA, the UK and Asia, designed to streamline various processes such as e-discovery, licensing and general case management. The London office is the largest hub within the global disputes team and is central to much of the firm's international work, with its lawyers adopting a quarterbacking role on the majority of the firm's multi-jurisdictional disputes and investigations.

Norton Rose Fulbright has an extensive network of offices distributed throughout North and Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region. The law firm is structured in alignment with global industry sectors, which, combined with the geographic spread of its lawyers, makes it a popular choice for global clients seeking a full-service offering. The law firm focuses on building teams with sector-specific multi-jurisdictional expertise to meet the needs of clients with global businesses.

Stephenson Harwood is regularly instructed by global banks, hedge funds and sovereign wealth funds on complex banking disputes concerning financial product mis-selling and benchmark manipulation. The team is additionally active in corporate and commercial litigation with cross-border aspects, including joint venture disputes and contract breach claims. Its lawyers act for high net worth individuals and multinational corporations, and they are highlighted for their experience in handling cross-border claims with clients based overseas.

Three Crowns is a compact and dedicated international arbitration law firm with a global reputation and a near-exclusive focus on international and high-end disputes. The law firm's global practice is spearheaded by offices in London and Paris and supported by additional teams in key arbitration centres in Madrid, Singapore and Washington, D.C. The highly rated London team consists of lawyers with extensive experience of handling international cases across a broad range of jurisdictions far beyond their main base, including Latin America and across Asia.

Three Crowns are particularly focused on commercial and investor-state arbitration, for which they boast stellar reputations for, typically acting for sovereign States, private individuals and leading corporate entities. Other areas of expertise include investment treaty arbitration, inter-state disputes related to territory, international trade and maritime law, public international law matters and arbitration-related litigation cases. Amongst these practices, the law firm has experience advising clients across the financial services, energy, engineering and telecoms sectors.

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher is a well regarded international law firm with strong capabilities in cross-border disputes, including matters spanning the Middle East and North America. The London team regularly advises on complex international arbitrations and litigation, including on commercial and investor-state dispute matters. They are particularly experienced advising on disputes related to insurance agreements, joint ventures, and commercial contracts, as well as on ad hoc disputes.

When it comes to sector expertise, Gibson Dunn is experienced in advising across the energy, healthcare and pharma, financial services, technology, and media and entertainment industries. The law firm is also adept at handling criminal and commercial proceedings, representing a diverse client base that includes leading corporations and individuals, and the team is also competent in high-profile competition related disputes, including assisting on damages claims and collective proceedings. Other typical clients include technology and sporting clients, as well as private equity firms.

Jones Day's noted capacity to take on cross-border litigation work for its corporate client base extends to its London team, which is well-versed in litigation arising from shareholder actions, complex contractual issues and joint venture disputes. The law firm is further highlighted for its extensive global network from which it can draw local expertise in a wide array of jurisdictions.

Reed Smith offers clients comprehensive support from its London base in a breadth of contentious and non-contentious areas of law. The law firm's resources in the UK are bolstered by its comprehensive international network, which includes teams positioned across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region, providing broad cross-border coverage.