International Arbitration

Arbitration is now seen as the natural choice for the binding resolution of commercial disputes. With the expansion and globalization of multinational investment, trade, and employment, international arbitration is increasingly a preferred option for matters involving complex commercial relationships between businesses, investors, and states. The continuous advancement of arbitral practices across the globe is also generating positive economic benefits for states perceived as “arbitration friendly.”

Although arbitration can have some similarities to court litigation, it is a different process in which unique factors and considerations apply and where specific arbitration experience is of considerable benefit. Stoltmann Law Offices team of commercial arbitration lawyers have more experience in high-stakes arbitration than most large law firms.

International commercial and investment arbitration may involve virtually any kind of commercial dispute in any industry. The Stoltmann Law Offices Commercial Litigation Grouphas extensive experience handling international commercial arbitrations in a broad range of industries, including securities, real estate, hospitality, and tech.

International Arbitration Forums and Rules

The Stoltmann Law Offices Commercial Litigation Group handles claims in the major international arbitral institutions, including the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the International Center for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the Swiss Chambers’ Court of Arbitration and Mediation, and the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC).

We litigate claims arising under treaties, HKIAC Rules, ICC Rules, UNCITRAL Rules, as well as the United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards of 1958 (the “New York Convention”).

Our attorneys are members of the United States Counsel for International Business, International Chamber of Commerce, the International Organization of Employers, and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OCED.

Practice Areas and Business Sectors in International Arbitration

Claims from any of our core practice areas—whether securities, business break up, shareholder disputes, or employment claims—can be litigated in international arbitration forums.

The Stoltmann Law Offices Commercial Litigation Group has arbitration experience in a wide variety of industry sectors, including but not limited to:

• Energy/oil and gas and natural resources
• Services industry
• Telecommunications
• Transportation
• Engineering/construction and design
• Joint ventures
• Financial services
• Hospitality
• Real estate

Alternative Fee Arrangements (AFA’s): Partnering with You to Share Your Litigation Risk Investor-State Arbitration

Foreign investors sometimes contend that statutory or regulatory measures adopted by host governments in the country they invested in have deprived them 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, such as the Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement, or (c) a multilateral investment treaty such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

What Makes Us Unique

This is a practice area still dominated by large law firms driven by the billable hour with high overhead. We are nimble, aggressive, litigators who fight to win, not just bill more time.

While larger law firms tout permanent physical offices around the world, we maintain a nimble footprint based in Chicago and rely on our extensive experience in complex commercial arbitration as well as our close associations with select local counsel around the world.

Just as in our other practice areas, in international arbitration we bill for value. We do not charge hourly fees. Instead, whenever possible, we work on a contingent fee basis so we when you win. Unlike most firms who handle international arbitration, whose fee arrangements are based solely on hours, Stoltmann Law Offices’ alternative fee arrangements can take the form of a fixed fee, a fixed monthly retainer, a partial contingency fee, or pure contingency in which no attorney fees are paid unless we recover money. We base our fees on results, not time spent.

Discuss Your International Dispute with an Experienced Arbitration Attorney

If you are involved in a business dispute or other litigation, the Chicago lawyers at Stoltmann Law Offices Commercial Litigation Group can provide knowledgeable legal representation on a flat fee or contingent fee basis. We bill for value provided to clients rather than time spent. Our goal is efficiently winning your case rather than running up more billable hours. Call us at 312-332-4200 or contact us via email at alex@stoltlaw.com. We represent clients worldwide including New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, Paris, London, and Dubai.