International arbitration

With extensive experience arbitrating at the ICC, LCIA, DIFC and other leading international arbitral institutions, under the UNCITRAL Rules and on an ad hoc basis – we are robust and results orientated, formulating settlement and enforcement strategies at the very outset.  

We have seen an increase in arbitration across the sectors in which we operate. International arbitration is the dispute resolution mechanism of choice in many industries for high value, cross-border contracts. Its unique features include giving clients the ability to select their arbitrator and to enforce arbitration awards worldwide under the New York Convention 1958.

Our team offers a seamless service across our UK and Middle and Far Eastern offices. We have extensive experience arbitrating at all the major arbitration institutions and in ad hoc proceedings. We manage cases from start to finish, adopting a holistic approach guiding clients from pre-action settlement strategies through to enforcing awards.

Team members act as advocates, sit as arbitrators, author textbook and academic articles and lecture on international arbitration at universities and practitioner conferences. Our core practice is international commercial and construction arbitration, with public international law issues also increasingly in play.

"Clients can be completely confident that the practice will achieve the very best result in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible" – The Legal 500, International Arbitration 2018

We are particularly well known for our Middle Eastern work, and work in both English and Arabic. We also have deep experience in the energy, manufacturing and aviation sectors and handling disputes with heavy technical elements. We work on cases funded by third party funders, with clients to obtain funding packages, and on occasion advise funders themselves.

Trowers & Hamlins LLP's 'excellent team' has a focus on energy, manufacturing and aviation sector matters as well as Middle East matters – The Legal 500, International Arbitration 2019.

Our work includes

LCIA arbitration, commodities contract – acting for a longstanding client, a US energy company, in a dispute with one of its central European customers, a state owned energy concern. We began LCIA arbitration and acted as advocates to obtain an eight figure award. We then managed the successful enforcement of the award, including via parallel court proceedings and instructed investigation agents.

BIT arbitration, construction dispute – we are advising a litigation funder in respect of its potential funding of claims by a construction company against a North African state. The claims arise out of losses the company has suffered as a result of civil disturbances within the state and is expected to be the first of a number of disputes arising out of these matters.

LCIA arbitration, aircraft leasing contracts – acting for a Middle Eastern aerospace business in a substantial dispute with its largest customer. We commenced multiple LCIA arbitrations under a number of different contracts, had those arbitrations consolidated and acted as advocate successfully to obtain two eight figure awards. In the enforcement phase, our award was recognised by the Supreme Court of the respondent's home state, and we successfully froze assets in the English High Court.

ICC arbitration, pharmaceutical contract – acting for a Swiss pharmaceutical business in a dispute with its UK distributor. We commenced ICC arbitration and used the threat of these proceedings to successfully obtain an early settlement on favourable terms.

GCC arbitration, licence agreement – advising a European manufacturing company in a GCC commercial arbitration with it seat in Bahrain, obtaining a very substantial final award after a full merits hearing.

In brief

• Experienced before all major arbitration institutions and in ad hoc proceedings.
• A deep track record in international commercial and construction arbitrations and experience in public international law.
• Offering seamless services across our UK, Middle East and Far Eastern offices, particularly well known for our Middle East work in both English and Arabic