International Arbitration

We have more than 40 years of international arbitration experience and are widely known and respected for the results we achieve for clients. Our historical connections to this practice are deep, and continue today. In the 1970s the firm represented several major oil companies in the arbitration of expropriation claims against the Libyan government; and in the early 1980s the firm represented a broad range of US companies in investment claims against the Iranian government before the Iran-US Claims Tribunal in The Hague. Steptoe has continued this practice in recent years with prominent representations in investor-state arbitration, international commercial arbitration, and state-to-state arbitration.

Our partners have also served as chairs and party-appointed arbitrators, putting them among an elite group of lawyers with deep insight into the arbitral decision-making process. In addition to the above-mentioned experience, we have played significant roles in the development and application of public international law. In particular, many Steptoe lawyers have had extensive experience developing and applying international law in senior governmental and institutional positions. In the US, this includes senior positions at the Departments of State, Defense, and Homeland Security, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency.

International commercial and investment arbitration may involve virtually any kind of commercial dispute in any industry. We have extensive experience handling international commercial arbitrations in a broad range of industries, particularly the construction, energy, telecommunications, and high-tech industries. Clients range from governments and financial institutions to manufacturers and telecommunications firms and more. Steptoe’s lawyers have handled cases before all of the major world’s tribunals, established under the rules of all of the major international arbitration institutions.

Steptoe has represented clients in arbitrations held in: London, Paris, The Hague, New York, Washington, Geneva, Vienna, Zürich, Stockholm, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Moscow, and Cairo. Our lawyers have conducted arbitrations, in whole or in part, in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Russian, and Mandarin Chinese, and are capable of handling arbitrations in a number of other languages.

Foreign investors sometimes contend that statutory or regulatory measures adopted by host governments have deprived them, in whole or in part, of the economic value of their investments. The investors may have the right to bring their claims against the host state before an international arbitration tribunal under the auspices of the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) if the investors’ home state and the host state of the investment are parties to (a) a bilateral investment treaty (BIT), (b) a free trade agreement with investment protection provisions (e.g., the Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement), or (c) a multilateral investment treaty (e.g., the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT)). Investor-state disputes of this nature are typically complex and often involve issues governed by both public international law and the laws of one or more states.

Steptoe also advises clients on the structuring of their international investments so as to ensure that any disputes with the host country will be subject to international arbitration under a BIT or other applicable treaty.

Our lawyers work closely with the Rule of Law Committee and the Private International Law Committee of the US State Department to formulate the terms of standard US BITs so as to best protect US investors in their investments in other countries.

Professionals

Yousuf Aftab

Yousuf Aftab is a partner at Steptoe's New York office, where he focuses on business and human rights and sustainability law. With a rare depth of practical experience, Yousuf is renowned for...

Partner

Business & Human Rights, ESG, Climate & Sustainability, Independent & Internal Investigations, White-Collar Defense

New York
+1 212 506 3920

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Chloe Baldwin

Chloe Baldwin focuses on international disputes and public international law, and in particular the resolution of international investment disputes. She currently advises sovereign and non-sovereign...

Partner

WTO Disputes, Trade Policy & Negotiations, Investor-State Arbitration, International Arbitration

Washington, DC
+1 202 429 8143

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Michael J. Baratz

Michael Baratz focuses on all aspects of commercial litigation, arbitration, and mediation, as well as judgment enforcement, including many matters with a cross-border emphasis.Complex Litigation and...

Partner

Commercial Litigation, Financial Services, Financial Services Litigation, International Arbitration

Washington, DC
+1 202 429 6468

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Justin Ben-Asher

Justin Ben-Asher represents clients in commercial disputes, including in complex multidistrict litigation and international arbitrations. His work spans the aerospace and defense, energy, construction...

Of Counsel

Commercial Litigation, Financial Services, Financial Services Litigation, International Arbitration

New York
+1 212 506 3905

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Christophe Bondy

Christophe Bondy has practiced international arbitration for over 25 years. He has taken on substantive and leading roles in high-stakes, cutting-edge international commercial and investor-State...

Partner

Investor-State Arbitration, Trade Policy & Negotiations, International Arbitration, Public International Law

London
+44 20 7367 8028

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Letizia Busso

Letizia Busso focuses her practice on international investment and commercial arbitration, and public international law. She has experience with arbitrations arising under the rules of, among others,...

Associate, Steptoe International (UK) LLP, Qualified in Spain

International Arbitration, Investor-State Arbitration, Public International Law

London
+44 20 7367 8027

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Matthew Coleman

Matthew Coleman's international arbitration and public international law practice has a particular focus on acting as lead counsel in investment disputes between States and foreign investors (ISDS),...

Partner

Investor-State Arbitration, International Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, Financial Services

London
+44 20 7367 8019

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Robyn C. Crowther

Named to the Los Angeles Daily Journal's list of Top Women Lawyers in 13 out of the last 14 years, Robyn is a trial lawyer focusing on commercial disputes. She serves as regional managing partner for...

Partner

Commercial Litigation, Class Action Defense, Copyright, Trademark

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Steven K. Davidson

Described by clients as a "real international statesman," Steve Davidson handles high-profile arbitrations and complex business litigation across the globe. As a recognized leader in international...

Partner

Commercial Litigation, International Arbitration, Judgment Enforcement & Asset Recovery, Professional Liability

Washington, DC
+1 202 429 8077

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Timothy L. Dickinson

Timothy L. Dickinson is a Senior Counsel in the firm's Washington, DC office, with more than 40 years of experience in anti-corruption law. His practice encompasses a wide range of areas, including...

Senior Counsel

Anti-Corruption/FCPA, Export Controls, Economic Sanctions, Independent & Internal Investigations

Washington, DC
+1 202 429 8028

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Representative Matters

Chaired a three-member tribunal in a SIAC, multi-party arbitration involving parties based in Singapore, Indonesia and the British Virgin Islands. Claims in excess of US$30 million for payments alleged to be due and owing under convertible loan notes and guarantees.
Defended a South Asian Government and its national oil company against US$120 million in multiparty claims in an LCIA arbitration arising from sponsorship, construction, and operation of a 1300 MW power project.
Represented a Caribbean state and its national electricity corporation in the defence of US$775 million in claims by an investor concerning power generation facilities, at the International Chamber of Commerce arbitration in Mexico.
Represented a Polish engineering and construction firm in a US$50 million arbitration with an Egyptian State-owned company before the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration.
Represented a US parts supplier in a US$80 million ICDR arbitration with an Indian manufacturer held in New York.
Represented the EU subsidiary of a Russian group in defence of an LCIA arbitration concerning a fraud claim brought by a State-owned bank in the former CIS; claims exceeded US$500 million.
Represented a large Russian metals producer in a multibillion-dollar LCIA arbitration arising out of a shareholders’ dispute.
Represented a major telecommunications provider in a £375 million product liability dispute under a GSM frame contract involving alleged defects in one of Europe’s largest GSM/GPRS networks.
Advised a system supplier concerning software development claims arising from a joint venture with a major international oil company for development of North Sea drilling systems. The arbitration was conducted under UNCITRAL Rules.
Obtained an LCIA award on behalf of three investor companies against a Bermuda-based affiliate of a leading Russian investment bank following the market crisis of 2008.
Represented a Swiss trading company in an SCC arbitration in Stockholm arising from a shareholder dispute and consequent fraud under various agreements associated with the Russian aluminum industry where claims of US$380 million were in dispute.
Represented shareholders in a shareholder dispute in relation to a commodities business. Ad hoc arbitration under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules.
Represented an African Bank in a dispute with its former Chief Executive over the alleged breach of an arbitration agreement. Ad hoc arbitration under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. Also acted in the High Court and Court of Appeal in England on the bank’s application for an anti-enforcement injunction in respect of the alleged breaches.
Represented a bank pursuing claims arising out of an alleged fraud concerning a trade finance transaction. Swiss Chambers' Arbitration Institution.

Investor-State Representative Matters

Represented Motorola in an ICSID arbitration against Turkey that resulted in payments to Motorola of approximately US$1 billion. The case arose out of Motorola’s claims against Telsim, a Turkish telecom company, which was seized by the Government of Turkey after Motorola had obtained both a US court judgment and a Zürich Chamber of Commerce arbitral award against Telsim and its owners.
Represented Corn Products International in an ICSID Additional Facility arbitration against Mexico (Case No. ARB(AF)04/1) arising from the application of a discriminatory tax. When rendered, the US$58 million (after tax) award was the largest rendered in a NAFTA Chapter 11 investment dispute.
Advised the Government of Canada in two high-profile NAFTA Chapter 11 arbitrations.
Represented foreign investors in three ICSID arbitrations against the Government of Zimbabwe, including the first ICSID case involving multiple, unrelated parties (Funnekotter & Ors v Zimbabwe, (ICSID Case No. ARB/05/6); Border Timbers Ltd & Ors v Zimbabwe (ICSID Case No. ARB/10/25); and von Pezold & Ors v Zimbabwe (ICSID Case No. ARB/10/15).
Served as lead co-counsel to investors in Trans-Global Petroleum Inc. v. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, an ICSID arbitration arising from alleged breaches of a BIT.