We should use the “momentum” of “greater openness” for procedural reform of arbitration in the wake of the pandemic to completely reinvent it, just as Google and Apple reinvented the map, Singapore`s Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon said at the 36th Freshfields Conference. This is another recognition for our international arbitration practice, which continues to represent the interests of clients in Canada and around the world. “Ank Santens has given us excellent support in our dispute. She mastered the details of a complex file and shared strategic ideas that were crucial to us. She also guided us through international arbitration, which in our case is not common for in-house lawyers or investment teams. In my practice, I work with a large number of external lawyers, firms of similar rank, but Ank is one of the few who has earned my full trust. “This team is technically very good and very experienced in international arbitration. In addition, and most importantly, the team is very sensitive to cultural issues in the world and able to work respectfully and very effectively in many jurisdictions. This sets the team apart from many others. “Great leadership in oil and gas arbitration with extensive experience and global reach. King & Spalding LLP`s arbitration group, primarily located in Houston, New York and Atlanta, is not only one of the largest players in the U.S. market, but can also draw on the firm`s global presence and specialists with extensive experience representing parties from more than 140 countries. The firm provides a full range of services to some of the largest multinationals in sectors such as construction, energy and natural resources, manufacturing and hospitality, among others.

In particular, the team`s expertise in the energy sector would be difficult to achieve – it handles multiple claims made by long-term and newly acquired clients under the Energy Charter agreement. Co-leaders Doak Bishop (Houston) and Edward Kehoe (New York) count clients such as Chevron and Shell among their largest clients. Other prominent New York practitioners include Harry Burnett, whom clients describe as “simply an absolute pleasure to deal with,” and Viren Mascarenhas, who excels in his additional specialization in international law and human rights. Reginald Smith (Houston) focuses on asserting claims against sovereign states and other parties on behalf of energy clients. Elizabeth Silbert is the primary point of contact for the Atlanta office. John Bowman retired in September 2020. Vinson & Elkins LLP`s arbitration group remains true to the firm`s traditional strength in the energy, infrastructure and construction sectors, where it handles both commercial and arbitration arbitration. The team also relies on the expertise of the firm`s highly respected litigation specialists to handle all stages of litigation. For its cross-border work, it also draws on the expertise of a global network of more than 40 dispute resolution experts. James Loftis of Houston leads the practice. Clients also singled out Camilo Cardozo and attorney Jose Sanchez, a New York-based duo known for their “great ability to come up with innovative legal arguments.” Eversheds Sutherland launched a new international arbitration practice in March 2020 when a group of seven Dentons lawyers joined the firm.

Notable lateral entrants are spread across New York and Washington DC and include the two co-leaders Meriam Nazih Al-Rashid (New York) and William O`Brien (Washington DC) as well as John Lomas (Washington DC) and a team of four employees. Clients describe the group as “professionals at the top of the game, with unparalleled experience and incredible experience in resolving international disputes.” In fact, the team is able to manage both international trade and investor–state disputes for a mix of sovereign states, government agencies and corporations. The department`s ability to advise on cross-border mandates is further enhanced by the firm`s global resources, which include more than 80 lawyers in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Clifford Chance represents a growing number of clients in high-quality litigation in the energy, oil and gas, construction and infrastructure sectors. The department, co-led by Washington DC-based duo David DiBari and counsel José García Cueto, as well as Anthony Candido in New York, can also draw on the firm`s resources in other major arbitration centers such as London and Paris.