Ray Werbicki

Partner

• rwerbicki@steptoe.com
• vCard
• London Office

Ray Werbicki is a Partner in the London office of Steptoe & Johnson, where he heads the International Dispute Resolution group.  His practice focuses on international arbitration, commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

Having conducted over 60 international and domestic arbitrations and related court applications as a Solicitor Advocate (England and Wales) and Barrister and Solicitor (Ontario), Mr. Werbicki has extensive experience as lead counsel in both institutional and ad hoc arbitrations, including under ICC, LCIA, AAA, SIAC, UNCITRAL and ICSID rules.  He sits as an arbitrator, both as Chairman and as party nominee.

Mr. Werbicki also has extensive litigation and ADR experience, having represented companies, governments, state agencies and individuals in numerous court actions, mediations and expert determinations, covering a wide variety of corporate, commercial, energy, technology, construction, engineering, commodities and other disputes.

For several consecutive years Mr. Werbicki has been ranked by The Legal 500 as one of the UK's leading arbitration lawyers.

“Ray Werbicki’s advocacy, written and oral skills are first class, easily the equal of any QC”  
- The Legal 500, 2011

A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London), he is on the panels of arbitrators of the ICC Canadian National Committee and the UN's World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

Mr. Werbicki is a Visiting Professor of Law (law and practice of international commercial arbitration) at the University of Western Ontario. 

Representative Matters

Arbitration

• Representing three global telecommunications suppliers in parallel LCIA arbitrations concerning rights to distribute technologically advanced telecommunications services in worldwide markets.
• Representing an Asian State and its national oil company in the defence of multi-party claims of $120 million arising from sponsorship, construction and operation of a 1300 MW power project. LCIA arbitration.
• Advising an EU State in the defence of ICSID arbitration claims arising from a State privatisation programme.
• Advising a system supplier concerning £10 million in software development claims arising from a joint venture with a major international oil company for development of North Sea drilling systems. UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules.
• Advising an Asian conglomerate in connection with $25 million in ICC arbitration claims arising from a series of disputes under a joint venture agreement with a major US media corporation.

Litigation

• Defending a UK based commodities dealer and its Turkish subsidiary in a complex €30 million conspiracy action in the English High Court concerning trade finance facilities granted to processors of hazelnut products in Turkey. Reported at [2004] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 395
(jurisdiction) [2008] EWHC 659 (strike out application) [2009] EWHC 1276 (liability trial) [2009] EWHC 1696 (costs).
• Representing a Taiwanese manufacturer of contact lenses in the defence of £3.5 million in claims in the English High Court by its former UK distributor and prosecution of counterclaims arising out of premature termination of their Distribution Agreement. Reported at [2004] EWHC 3209.
• Prosecuting claims by a Slovenian manufacturer of laser systems against its UK and worldwide distributor for non-performance of their Distribution Agreement.
• Representing a French cosmetics manufacturer in a series of disputes with its former UK distributor concerning breaches of distribution agreements, infringements of registered trade marks and passing-off of cosmetics products.
• Obtaining emergency injunctions in the Commercial Court freezing assets transferred in a controversial prepack administration of a computer manufacturing company.

Noteworthy

• UK Legal Experts: Arbitration (2011 edition)

Select News & Events

• David Lorello, Kevin Williams and Ray Werbicki Speak at Informa's Cross Border Arbitration & Dispute Resolution Conference, November 15, 2010
• C5’s Investment Treaty Arbitration Conference, September 22, 2010

Selected Publications

• Arbitral Interim Measures: Fact or Fiction?
  American Arbitration Association Handbook on International Arbitration, 2010
• Dispute Resolution Clauses in European Community Distribution Agreements, Siefarth (ed.)
  International Distribution Law, 2001
• Transnational Protective and Conservative Measures Available in England and Wales
  Center for International Legal Studies, 1999
• International Considerations in the Protection of Confidential Business Information
  New York State Bar Practicum, 1996

Professional Affiliations

• Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London)
• Visiting Professor of Law, University of Western Ontario
• Member, ICC Canadian National Committee
• Member, London Court of International Arbitration
• Member, International Bar Association
• List of Arbitrators, World Intellectual Property Organisation