International Arbitration: The Elite | Global

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a leading destination for international disputes, with clients benefiting from a highly active bench of experienced arbitration counsel with a successful track record of representing both corporate entities and sovereign states in complex cross-border disputes. The team is noted for its expert handling of Latin American and European disputes, with impressive strengths in proceedings concerning mining, telecommunications, oil and gas and construction issues. It boasts an impressive number of multilingual and dual-qualified attorneys able to practice in both common and civil law jurisdictions.

King & Spalding's premier arbitration practice demonstrates outstanding credentials in high stakes investment treaty and commercial arbitral matters. It offers an extensive nationwide platform bolstered by broad global capabilities, with considerable strengths in Latin American, East Asian and European matters. The firm's signature expertise in energy industry disputes is complemented by notable experience in other areas, such as construction and pharmaceuticals.

White & Case has a dominant investment treaty practice across both the claimant and state sides, with significant strength in arbitrations involving emerging markets. The team offers additional expertise in commercial arbitrations, acting for clients from a wide range of sectors. The firm draws from a formidable pool of arbitration experts to provide outstanding representation in construction, energy and financial services disputes, alongside significant expertise in enforcement litigation. Its impressive global coverage allows for the adept handling of matters across all major hubs worldwide.

Arnold & Porter has attained a strong reputation for its representation of sovereign states in high value international arbitration proceedings. The team is also engaged in significant commercial disputes, drawing from a strong group of multilingual practitioners with wide-ranging industry experience. The firm is particularly well regarded for its handling of South and Central America-related disputes, alongside a thriving West Coast practice servicing clients in East Asia.

Chaffetz Lindsey is a versatile dispute resolution boutique with an extensive investor-state practice, acting for both sovereign states and corporate clients. The firm also offers a broad-based commercial dispute practice, with experience in fields including telecom, financial services, construction and energy. The team is identified for its deft handling of Latin American disputes, in addition to housing experience in arbitrations involving Europe and the Middle East, and fields significant multilingual capabilities and substantial experience acting in disputes conducted in Spanish.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom houses skilled arbitration advocates at all levels of seniority, experienced in appearing in an impressive range of institutional and ad hoc disputes. The team is frequently engaged in both investor-state and commercial disputes on behalf of major international corporations, alongside complementary strengths in enforcement litigation. Particular areas of strength include telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, financial services and energy arbitral matters. The firm offers experience in disputes across the globe, with recent activity in Asia, Europe and Latin America.

Three Crowns is a highly respected arbitration boutique with excellent credentials in high-stakes investment treaty work and commercial arbitration matters. The team is noted for its skillful handling of energy sector arbitrations, in addition to housing strength in disputes within the finance and defense sectors. The firm calls upon an experienced roster of high-caliber attorneys in Washington, DC, London and Paris to offer expertise in major cross-border disputes and offers substantial experience acting for global corporations as well as sovereign states.

Covington & Burling's particular areas of strength include international energy, infrastructure and pharmaceutical matters. The team acts for a wide range of clients across the globe, including multinational corporations and states, and is regularly engaged in major commercial arbitrations and on claimant-side investment treaty work, alongside additional expertise in areas including state-to-state disputes and arbitration-related litigation. It calls upon a strong group of advocates whose arbitration expertise is bolstered by frequent appointments as arbitrator.

Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle is especially well regarded for its expertise in the representation of sovereign states and state entities in investor-state arbitrations, alongside growing expertise in commercial disputes and enforcement. The firm draws from a deep pool of internationally experienced practitioners, with notable strengths in handling oil and gas disputes. The team offers additional expertise in the construction, telecommunications and infrastructure sectors.

Herbert Smith Freehill's has a well-respected disputes group which is well placed to advise on complex and high-profile investment treaty and international commercial arbitrations under a broad array of institutional rules. It acts for an impressive roster of corporations and sovereign states and brings to bear extensive expertise in Latin America, as well as notable strength in matters concerning Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The group is experienced in disputes spanning a broad range of sectors, including energy, hospitality, telecommunications, finance and mining.

Norton Rose Fulbright draws from a deep level of industry expertise in energy and mining arbitral matters, with wider strengths in maritime and construction work. The firm continues to undertake high profile and high value proceedings conducted under a range of institutional and ad hoc rules, as well as appearing in high-stakes enforcement proceedings. Its impressive client base includes a number of multinational corporations and sovereign states.

Reed Smith's distinguished dispute resolution team has deep experience in commercial arbitrations arising from Latin America, with notable capabilities in financial services disputes. It is also regularly engaged on arbitrations in the firm's core sectors of international trade, entertainment, energy and life sciences. The team offers wider strength in related litigation work, including litigation to compel arbitration, parallel proceedings and enforcement matters and fields strong multilingual capabilities across the practice.

Vinson & Elkins has a highly regarded international arbitration team, which leverages the firm's institutional expertise in the energy and infrastructure sectors to act for clients in some of the most complex commercial and treaty proceedings involving energy assets, pricing matters and construction claims. The team is experienced in handling arbitrations under a range of major rules including ICC, ICSID, ICDR and LCIA, among others.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is recognized for its significant expertise in representing sovereign states in arbitral disputes across a range of jurisdictions and a full array of arbitral rules, drawing upon an integrated global network of arbitration experts when advising on multijurisdictional disputes. Also acts on behalf of investors, and offers wider skills in commercial arbitration and related arbitral litigation matters. Handles disputes in a wide range of sectors, including oil and gas, telecommunications and banking.

Dechert is frequently engaged by sovereign states and multinational corporations to serve as counsel in both commercial and investor-state arbitrations. The team offers considerable strength in disputes arising in the energy, financial services and construction sectors, among others. The group offers additional expertise in internet governance work and arbitral enforcement proceedings.

Foley Hoag demonstrates impressive expertise in representing sovereign states in investment treaty arbitrations held across the world, alongside strong credentials in public international law. The team regularly appears in state-to-state disputes before the ICJ and other international tribunals, alongside wider skills in international commercial disputes. The group is identified for its expert handling of disputes arising in the construction sector, with additional strengths in sectors including aviation, financial services and energy.

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher demonstrates strength in handling disputes under wide-ranging major arbitral rules, including those of the ICC, ICSID and ICDR. Clients also benefit from the firm's hallmark pedigree in complex litigation, including significant expertise in enforcement and parallel litigation work.

Hogan Lovells offers substantial experience in representing clients across the globe in both investment treaty and commercial arbitration hearings, with strengths in areas including energy, finance, automotive and telecommunications disputes. The team demonstrates strengths in proceedings conducted under the major institutional rules and in ad hoc hearings and leverages its wide network of dispute resolution practitioners to provide an integrated service to clients, with particular strengths in matters across Latin America and the Middle East.

Hughes Hubbard & Reed has a heavyweight arbitration group, with impressive skill in commercial, investor-state and state-to-state disputes. The firm houses a strong bench of arbitration experts, many of whom are experienced in appearing as both advocates and arbitrators in arbitral proceedings under major institutional rules worldwide. The group offers expertise across sectors including construction, energy and pharmaceuticals.

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan is an expert dispute resolution firm fielding strong international arbitration capabilities, regularly handling major state-to-state, commercial and investment treaty proceedings on behalf of both sovereigns and corporate clients. The firm calls upon a pool of experts in the USA, Europe and Asia to offer globally integrated services in cross-border disputes. Its varied client list includes both sovereign states and foreign investors.

Sidley Austin has an impressive range of experience in international arbitration proceedings, regularly representing governments, state-owned companies and private corporations in investor-state, state-to-state and commercial arbitrations. The firm calls upon a multitalented roster of attorneys skilled in arbitration proceedings and in related litigation, including handling the enforcement of arbitral awards. The team draws on the firm's broad global footprint and complementary strengths in areas such as international trade and public international law to provide a fully integrated service to clients.