Litigation

International Arbitration

As recognized leaders in the field of international arbitration, we are a “go-to” firm for complex and high-value disputes.

100+ lawyers across 17 offices worldwide

Named “International Arbitration Group of the Year” twice in the last four years

– Law360

Secured two of the largest arbitration awards in the last year alone

We take a multi-disciplinary approach so we can address all aspects of a complex dispute

Overview
Experience
People
Accolades
News & Insights
Related Capabilities

Overview

Our International Arbitration Practice Group advises leading multinational corporations and sovereign states in proceedings before tribunals around the world.

The team is recognized as “a force to be reckoned with and frequently seen on high stakes matters” according to Global Arbitration Review in its rankings of the largest arbitration practices in the world.

Our lawyers are ranked as leaders in major directories, including Chambers Global, US and UK, and are frequent thought-leaders, speakers and writers on international arbitration matters.

Our team provides top-tier international arbitration capabilities (in commercial and investor-state disputes), alongside cutting-edge arbitral award and judgment enforcement strategies and solutions, with deep proficiency in cross-border litigation, and best-in-class advocacy that not only applies the law, but time and again, has crafted and shaped new law to achieve our clients’ objectives.

Clients value the comprehensive nature of our practice. We advise clients on each stage of the dispute resolution process, from the drafting of arbitration clauses to mediation or early neutral evaluation, to the conduct of arbitration proceedings and through to the enforcement of arbitral awards (where we work closely with the firm’s preeminent enforcement practice). Critically, most complex disputes also involve parallel or related litigation, which we can handle seamlessly. Our practice combines exceptional advocacy, strategic analysis, and a team of highly skilled lawyers at all levels, reflecting the core strengths of the firm.

Multi-Jurisdictional Team
The firm has a strong global presence, with experienced arbitration practitioners located in major international arbitration hubs worldwide. With this global reach, our team can effectively represent clients in complex cross-border disputes. The firm’s teams are multilingual and have conducted cases under diverse bodies of substantive law and before many of the world’s leading arbitrators.

Extensive Experience
The team is composed of highly skilled lawyers with extensive experience in both commercial and investment arbitration. Our team has appeared before many of the world’s leading arbitrators and have extensive experience with both ad hoc arbitration proceedings and all major arbitral institutions and rules, including the AAA/ICDR, ICC, HKIAC, ICSID, SCC, UNCITRAL, LCIA, SIAC, and CAS.

Our practice includes the former President of the European Court of Human Rights to reinforce our capabilities in disputes involving human rights, the environment and other ESG considerations.

Diverse Sector Experience
Our practice is particularly deep in the mining, technology, telecommunications, energy, insurance, construction, pharmaceutical, consumer products, and banking sectors.

Successful Track Record
Our lawyers have successfully represented clients in a wide range of disputes, including those related to foreign investments, concession and privatization agreements, infrastructure projects, insurance and reinsurance arrangements, joint ventures, licensing and distribution agreements, pricing disputes, patent-related disputes, and complex financial transactions. This experience, coupled with the team’s meticulous preparation and advocacy skills, positions Gibson Dunn as a formidable force in any arbitration proceeding.

“The reason I hired Gibson Dunn was because the matter involved international elements. They staffed the matter perfectly, with experts in the relevant jurisdictions who worked collaboratively so that I felt the team had been working together for years.”
Legal 500, client quote

Experience

Recent representations include:

Yukos Capital: Won a USD 5 billion award for Yukos Capital in a major victory against the Russian Federation in a Geneva-seated ECT arbitration. The arbitration related to the expropriation of Yukos Capital’s loans to its former parent company Yukos Oil and a denial of justice claim.
Crescent Petroleum: Won a USD 2.4 billion award for Crescent Petroleum in its ad hoc arbitration claim relating to a dispute that arose from a long-term gas sales agreement with National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).
IT Ltd.: Secured one of the largest awards of 2023 of over $1.7 billion for IT Ltd., a joint venture between Agility Public Warehousing Company and Orange S.A. (formerly France Telecom), in a high-profile ICC arbitration against Sirwan Barzani, CS Ltd. and Korek Telecom Company, an Iraqi telecoms company headquartered in Erbil. The dispute related to IT’s investment of over $800 million in Korek.
Dana Gas: Won a comprehensive victory on behalf of Dana Gas against MOL Group, concerning its settlement in a long-running dispute with the Kurdistan Regional Government. Our clients defeated a USD 600 million claim and won on every issue, recovering 100% of our client’s external counsel and arbitration costs.
Corral Morocco: Obtained a $250 million ICSID award for Corral in relation to the unlawful expropriation of its investment in the largest refinery in Morocco.
Exelon: Obtained a complete win for Exelon in an ICC pre-arbitral referee proceeding against France’s EDF, Inc. in a dispute valued at over USD 800 million, relating to the exercise of a Put Option in relation to three nuclear power plants in New York and Maryland. Subsequently prevailed in an ICC arbitration related to the same transaction leading to an amicable settlement.
Crystallex International: Obtained several victories for Crystallex to enforce its $1.4 billion arbitration award against Venezuela, including by being the first Venezuelan creditor to prove that PDVSA was the alter ego of Venezuela and obtaining a writ of attachment over PDVSA’s shares in CITGO’s parent company to satisfy Crystallex’s judgment.
Multinational Mining Company: Secured a favorable settlement on behalf of a multinational mining company on the back of three victorious partial awards in relation to a USD 2 billion LCIA arbitration.
Chevron Corporation: Defeated an attempt to confirm a sham $18 billion Egyptian arbitral award against Chevron Corporation and Chevron USA in U.S. federal court for the district of Northern California.
Sea Search Armada: Representing Sea Search Armada in a $9 billion claim against Colombia under the US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement in relation to Colombia’s expropriation of its investment relating to the San Jose Galleon.
ArcelorMittal North America: Achieved a favorable global settlement resolving ArcelorMittal North America’s USD 1.4 billion arbitration award against Essar Steel.