Highlighting its status as a top-tier international arbitration practice, the team at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is well-versed in leading, complex cases. The practice is equally skilled at handling commercial and investor-state arbitration work, and is particularly skilled at handling matters for clients in Latin America. Displaying its capabilities, members of the New York-based team recently represented Freeport-McMoran in an ICSID arbitration against Peru, with claims exceeding $1 billion. Co-practice head Catherine Amirfar has vast experience acting on high-profile international commercial and treaty arbitrations, and led the team in successfully defending the Government of the Republic of Iraq against high-value ICSID claims. Also leading the practice is Mark Friedman, who sits as co-chair of the firm’s mining and natural resources group, and whose experience spans a wide range of sectors and jurisdictions. Dietmar Prager has knowledge of ICC, ICSID, LCIA, and ICDR proceedings, representing clients on disputes linked to complex infrastructure projects, investment treaties, and mining projects. Natalie Reid represents multinational corporations and non-government organisations in US courts and international fora, while multilingual Ina Popova is particularly experienced in the energy, technology, and media sectors. Laura Sinisterra and William Taft are noted.

King & Spalding LLP is a ‘truly global leader in the international arbitration space’, boasting experience across international commercial and investment arbitration. The team is particularly adept at handling matters in the energy and natural resources space, with a number of leading clients including Chevron and leading renewable energy clients. Based in Houston, team head Wade Coriell is ‘persuasive and a top advocate you will always want to have on your team,’ with extensive expertise in energy disputes. Also leading the practice is Atlanta-based Elizabeth Silbert, acting on a number of leading projects focusing on energy, infrastructure, and pharma industries. Based in Washington DC, Aloysius Llamzon is ‘impressively knowledgeable, responsive and reliable’, representing private and sovereign clients in a number of commercial and inter-State disputes. In the New York office, Edward Kehoe and Samaa Haridi are key names, while in Houston, Doak Bishop has vast experience in oil and gas, energy, and construction work. In Miami, Harry Burnett has a focus on international commercial and investment treaty disputes, specialising in arbitrations in Latin American and Portuguese speaking countries. The practice has continued to grow, with the arrival to the New York office of Sarmad Khojasteh from Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP in April 2024 and Christopher Duffy from Vinson & Elkins LLP in May 2024.

Arnold & Porter boasts a growing commercial arbitration practice, commended for life sciences arbitration and tech-related disputes. Disputes linked to Asia are a particular strength of the practice. San Francisco based Maria Chedid acts as chair of the practice, having acted on a number of ICC arbitrations involving the technology and energy industries. Chedid also plays a leading role in the ICDR’s global working group on technology and life science arbitration, bringing this expertise to the practice. The practice consists of a number of bilingual lawyers, allowing arbitrations to be handled in Spanish, Korean, and Mandarin Chinese, to list a few. Based in Washington DC, Paolo Di Rosa represents sovereign states in a number of multi-billion dollar claims, while Sally Pei focuses on transnational disputes and foreign sovereign immunity. Operating out of New York, Mélida Hodgson is a skilled investor-state arbitrator, and is particularly skilled in Latin America.

The arbitration practice at Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP is highly commended for its state representation work, representing a number of impressive clients, including the Kazakh Ministry of Investments, Libya, and Saudi Arabia. Setting aside and enforcing arbitral awards across a range of jurisdictions is another strength of the practice. The firm notably conducted the largest annulment hearing in the history of ICSID arbitration. Based in New York, George Kahale leads the team, acting on leading mandates of the team, including for high-stakes arbitrations for key State clients. Operating out of Washington DC, Claudia Frutos-Peterson has extensive experience across investor-State and international commercial arbitrations, with experience across Latin America, Europe, and the United States. Also in DC, Justin Jacinto has experience acting on arbitrations across the oil & gas, mining, and banking and finance sectors, while in New York, Simon Batifort has ICSID experience and Hermann Ferré has particular construction expertise.

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP boasts an ‘outstanding’ international arbitration practice, with experience spanning international commercial, investor-state, and state-to-state arbitrations. Members of the practice are skilled at handling investment treaty arbitration under ICSID and UNCITRAL rules, and is experienced acting for and against sovereigns in disputes linked to bilateral investment treaties. Team head James Boykin is an ‘outstanding lawyer in international arbitration proceedings’, with an emphasis on state-to-state and investor-state arbitrations. Boykin is based in the firm’s Washington DC office, along with Gaela Gehring Flores, advising in disputes in energy, intellectual property, and artificial intelligence. In New York, Malik Havalic is ‘highly valued for his multidisciplinary approach and his ability to see different aspects of a problem’, while Daniel Weiner focuses on art-related and pharmaceutical disputes.

Norton Rose Fulbright has a leading international arbitration practice, with extensive experience in ICSID and UNCITRAL arbitrations, often acting on high-profile international law matters. The practice is split evenly between international commercial arbitrations and investment treaty arbitrations, and has acted on a number of massive collateral enforcement matters involving foreign sovereigns. Houston-based Kevin O’Gorman heads the US arbitration team, with experience handling cases under all major arbitral rules, and specific experience in commercial, energy, and sovereign disputes. In Washington DC, Matthew Kirtland has extensive experience representing clients from a broad range of business sectors, with complementary experience in enforcement-related litigation, while in Houston, Denton Nichols is key to the team, recently acting on a high-value claim against an international major in an ICDR arbitration. The practice continues to expand, with the arrival of Courtney Hikawa in Washington DC from Sidley Austin LLP and Timothy Tyler from Vinson & Elkins LLP in Houston.

BakerHostetler boasts one of the 'premier international arbitration practices in the world in both investor-state and commercial arbitration', with an impressive bench of leading arbitrators. The team recently successfully represented True Blue Development Limited in a $50 million ICSID dispute against Grenada, displaying the international prowess of the practice. Sashe Dimitroff acts as the global leader of international arbitration and litigation, operating out of Houston. Dimitroff has a focus on commercial matters linked to energy disputes, as well as fraud and internal investigations. In Orange County, Marco Molina heads the international arbitration practice, acting on leading matters spanning the energy, construction, entertainment, and shipping sectors. Washington DC-based Analía González and Kenneth Reisenfeld lead the Latin America arbitration and investor-state arbitration teams respectively, while in New York, Gonzalo Zeballos is an expert in complex cross-jurisdictional arbitrations. Also key to the practice are Carlos Ramos-Mrosovsky in New York, frequently representing sovereign governments in treaty arbitrations, and Paul Levine in Washington DC, regularly handling major treaty and investment issues.

The international arbitration practice at Baker Botts L.L.P. is heralded as the ‘best one in investment international arbitration’, with extensive experience in headline-grabbing, complex arbitrations worldwide. The team has particular expertise in arbitrations including energy, intellectual property, construction, and contractual disputes, acting on complex US seated and international arbitrations. New York-based Andrew Behrman heads the practice that recently represented the Republic of Peru in dismissing a 20-year-dispute and including $1 billion in damages. In Washington DC, Jennifer Haworth McCandless is key to the practice, along with María Carolina Durán. McCandless takes a ‘meticulous, hands-on approach to every aspect of a case’, while Durán has ‘remarkably quick litigation reflexes that allow her to pivot and handle any twist and turn that a case may present’. In Houston, Michael Goldberg is of note, as well as Ben Love, who joined the Houston office from Boies Schiller Flexner LLP in January 2025.

Clifford Chance has ‘one of the most trustworthy international arbitration practices in the US’, commended for providing ‘hands-on experience and comprehensive subject matter management’. The team is known for handling complex international disputes across the energy, infrastructure, and oil & gas industries, notably handling an impressive number of ICSID arbitrations. In New York, Robert Houck leads the ‘great team with a deep understanding of Latin America’, that recently represented an energy company in a high-value ICSID arbitration brought against Costa Rica. ‘Star’ José García Cueto is a ‘great partner who knows how to organize a team and deliver results’. Based in Washington DC, Cueto boasts extensive experience advising on disputes in the construction, energy, and infrastructure sectors. In the same office, Steve Nickelsburg is skilled at handling arbitrations in the healthcare and life sciences sector, while on the East Coast, Anthony Candido represents financial institutions on complex commercial arbitrations, in New York.

The practice at DLA Piper LLP (US) is well versed at handling the gamut of international arbitrations, with a plethora of experience in large-scale commercial and investment arbitrations. The team is particularly skilled at handling disputes in the energy, natural resources, and life sciences sectors, and recently secured a victory in a Chicago-seated US$120 million ICC arbitration for UpHealth Holdings. Kate Brown de Vejar leads the team, representing private corporations, sovereign states, and state-owned entities in international arbitrations under both institutional and ad hoc rules. Michael Ostrove has recently relocated to the New York office, and has over three decades of experience in investment and public international law disputes. Kiera Gans, James Berger, Charlene Sun, and Joshua Kane are all key to the team, with experience spanning enforcing arbitral awards and foreign judgments, and representing private corporations and sovereign states. All individuals are based in New York.

Eversheds Sutherland advises leading multinationals, high-profile individuals, and start-ups in arbitrations before all major international arbitral institutions. The team has over two decades of expertise in section 1782 matters, and is skilled at enforcing foreign court judgments against sovereigns and sovereign owned entities. In New York Meriam Nazih Al-Rashid leads the team, with a focus on public international law, especially issues linked to human rights, international investment and commercial arbitration, and foreign investor risk management. For one client, Al-Rashid is ‘equally technically and personally impressive’. William O’Brien, based in Washington DC, acts as head of international commercial arbitration, and is ‘astute, tireless, and has complete command of the facts and the evidence’, while John Lomas, in the same office, is adept at handling matters linked to sovereign immunity, and the enforcement or arbitration agreements by non-signatories. Also of note are New York-based Ulyana Bardyn and Levon Golendukhin.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP‘s international arbitration practice is ‘incredibly valuable’, with expertise acting on high-profile, complex disputes that span jurisdictions. The practice acts on headline-grabbing arbitrations, including a series of victories for Crystallex in high-value arbitrations against Venezuela, and ICSID arbitration against Morocco linked to a multi-billion dollar investment in African oil refineries. Team head Rahim Moloo is based in New York, with extensive knowledge of investor-state arbitrations, while Lindsey Schmidt in the same office acts on disputes linked to mining, steel, insurance, and financial services. Moloo acts on novel cases, including one of the first legacy NAFTA claims brought against Mexico. Also in New York, Robert Weigel and Charline Yim are noted. Based in Washington DC, Matthew McGill is key to the practice, representing clients in public enforcement matters against governments.

The ‘extremely smart and diligent team’ at Jones Day is commended for its ‘tremendous expertise and deep bench’, acting on large-scale, multi-jurisdictional disputes in all leading arbitral centres. Members of the team represent investors and States in complex treaty cases, in the energy, mining, tech, and pharma sectors. The practice frequently acts on politically sensitive cases brought under bilateral and multilateral investment treaties. Based in Washington, Melissa Gorsline is ‘terrific’, and acts on cutting-edge investor-State arbitrations, with a focus on public international law and treaty-based arbitration. In San Francisco, Steven Smith focuses on complex disputes in the energy, infrastructure, and biotech fields, while New York-based Stephen Pearson is dual-qualified, and ‘an absolute star’. Jeremy Cole operates out of Chicago, representing clients before the ICC, ICDR, and AAA, while in New York, Fahad Habib acts on complex investor-state arbitrations under NAFTA.

Latham & Watkins LLP‘ international arbitration practice has experience representing leading public companies across a number of States and sectors, working on matters that regularly include multiple jurisdictions. The team is skilled at handling high-value arbitrations, recently representing a leading private equity firm in a $700 million post M&A SIAC arbitration seated in Singapore.  Based in New York, John Pierce is the global co-chair of the international arbitration practice, representing a raft of clients in institutional and ad hoc arbitrations in both common and civil law jurisdictions. Santiago Bejarano has vast experience representing clients on matters involving the LatAm region and notably recently represented Calidda in a Washington DC seated ICSID arbitration linked to the construction and operation of Lima gas pipelines. Nicolas Esguerra is key to the practice, acting on a number of arbitrations in the mining and pharmaceutical sectors. All lawyers are based in New York.

Sidley Austin LLP‘s international arbitration practice is noted for being the ‘best in the business’, with a focus on multi-jurisdictional bet-the-company arbitrations. The team is particularly skilled at handling investor-state arbitrations and boasts an impressive client list, including the likes of Lone Star US Acquisitions, InfraRed Capital Partners, and TC Energy Corporation. In Washington DC, Gregory Williams leads the team, acting on novel claims across the energy, defense, government contracts, and infrastructure sectors. In New York Simon Navarro focuses on cross-border disputes, particularly those with a Latin American or European nexus, while Martin Jackson specializes in disputes involving international financial transactions and insurance. In San Francisco, Scott Nonaka has knowledge of disputes with an Asian component, particularly in the tech, energy, and construction sectors.

Squire Patton Boggs boasts excellence across commercial, investment-treaty, and public international law arbitrations. The practice recently achieved a victory for Ecuador in a complex investment treaty arbitration, defeating a $120 million claim, in a matter with significant consequences for investor-state arbitrations. The firm is particularly adept at handling energy disputes, often acting on leading matters that attract international media attention. A number of governments rely on the expertise of the team, including the Republics of Kosovo, Croatia, and Iraq, among others. Cleveland based George von Mehran leads the team recognised for its ‘exceptional expertise, professionalism, and dedication to client success’ along with Stephen Anway, who splits his time between New York and Washington DC. In New York, Ali Gursel represents States and State agencies in global investment arbitrations, while Luka Mišetić has extensive experience handling matters before ICSID, and the International Court of Justice. Carlos Guzmán Plascencia is skilled at handling disputes with a focus on construction, infrastructure, and telecoms.

Vinson & Elkins LLP‘s international arbitration practice specializes in disputes involving energy, infrastructure development, and technology. Members of the team are particularly skilled at handling international energy and construction disputes, as well as ICSID annulment proceedings involving bilateral investment treaties, and advising on hydrocarbon developers’ rights. In Houston, team head James Loftis is noted for his expertise in both commercial and investor-state disputes, and arbitrations involving energy, construction, and infrastructure development. Loftis is joined at leadership level by New York-based Camilo Cardozo, who is particularly skilled at handling Latin American commercial arbitrations. In New York, the trilingual José F Sanchez regularly acts as lead counsel on high-profile bet-the company cases, and has vast experience of handling injunctive relief work, while in Houston Peter Danysh has knowledge of all major institutional rules.

WilmerHale boasts a ‘highly capable and experienced international arbitration team’ that for one client, ‘consistently exhibited an exceptional breadth of knowledge and expertise’. The team handles highly-complex disputes across a wide range of industries and jurisdictions, with expertise in both commercial and investor-state arbitrations, particularly those involving oil and gas, financial services, and aviation. The team works closely with the intellectual property practice to act on high-profile intellectual property arbitrations. Based in Washington DC, Rachael Kent leads the team, frequently leading on complex arbitrations in the energy, mining, and defence sectors, also with vast commercial expertise. DC-based Danielle Morris and John Trenor are both key to the team, Morris with a focus on investor-State arbitration, and Trenor on public international and international investment matters. In New York, Claudio Salas has extensive experience acting under a number of arbitral rules.

Winston & Strawn LLP‘s international arbitration practice handles complex, high-profile, international disputes. Members of the team regularly advise on numerous arbitrations in Latin America, and boasts extensive investment state experience, representing the Government of Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Haiti, and Ecuador. Demonstrating its expertise in the energy sector, the team has notably recently advised on a high-profile Energy Charter Treaty dispute against the Republic of Italy, as well as on a complex arbitration linked to a solar power plant.  In Chicago, Ricardo Ugarte is skilled in this area, and uses his multilingual capabilities to work on international arbitrations in English, Italian, French, and Spanish. In Miami, Gustavo Membiela handles commercial arbitrations internationally, representing consumer product companies, financial institutions and and corporations, and investors, with particular knowledge of Latin America seated arbitrations, while New York-based Marcelo Blackburn has complementary expertise of complex litigation and government investigations.

A&O Shearman‘s international arbitration practice is commended for its representation of multinational corporations, investors and sovereigns, frequently advising on all aspects of investment treaty arbitrations. The team handles complex, headline-grabbing, investor-state and commercial disputes, with expertise in construction, energy, financial, and technology disputes. Washington DC-based Patrick Pearsall leads the team, and has extensive experience representing clients in international disputes, and recently advised the Kingdom of Sweden on its first ever investment arbitration. In the same office, Christopher Ryan represents private and state clients before all major arbitral institutions, particularly those arising from construction and engineering projects, and is experienced at appearing in arbitration-related proceedings before US state and federal courts. David Ingle is skilled at handling matters in the energy and extractive sectors.

Cooley LLP‘s arbitration practice is recognised for its impressive cross-border capabilities, and representing leading technology and life sciences clients on highly sensitive, complex matters. The team represents Google, Zoom, and OpenAI, notably representing Google in a high-value ICDR arbitration against a Hong Kong based advertising company. Leadership of the team is based in New York, consisting of Marc Suskin, Rachel Thorn, and Teresa Michaud. Thorn has vast experience repersenting clients in commercial and investment treaty arbitrations, while Suskin represents leading tech clients in matters spanning digital advertising, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrency, and notably acts on mass arbitrations. Michaud joined the team from Baker McKenzie LLP in February 2024.

Dentons is well versed at handling a range of leading domestic and international arbitrations, with expertise spanning international commercial and investment arbitration. The team often works on a number of high-profile clients in headline grabbing cases, having recently obtained a $22 million LCIA award against Russia’s second-largest commercial airline. The team’s expertise extends to a number of key sectors, including mining, technology, and energy. Leading the practice is New York-based John Hay, with extensive expertise in arbitration tribunals worldwide, having acted under ICSID, LCIA, ICDR, and ICC rules. In the same office, Diora Ziyaeva focuses on mining and natural resources, while Anthony Ullman’s focus is on construction, healthcare, and power generation. In Washington, Catherine Luo and Drew Marrocco are key names, while in Los Angeles, Blake Osborn is a name to note.

K&L Gates boasts a ‘stand out international arbitration practice’ with a ‘very collaborative and diverse team of excellent people’. The team is particularly skilled at handling high-profile infrastructure projects, representing Fortune 100 and 500 companies, as well as ultra-high-net-worth individuals, and sovereigns. Members of the practice recently represented a leading construction company in a complex, multi-billion-dollar international construction arbitration. Team head Matthew Weldon is a ‘stand-out individual in international arbitration’, and based in New York, is ‘sharp and into the detail’. Based in Pittsburgh, Thomas Birsic acts on many of the international disputes undertaken by the practice, while Thomas Holt splits his time between Boston and Washington, and has impressive construction and infrastructure expertise.

Linklaters LLP‘s ‘attention to detail and meticulous approach to the case’ sets the practice apart from its competitors, with experience acting across all industry sectors, under all major arbitral rules. Complex commercial arbitrations and investment arbitrations under bilateral and multilateral treaties are another strength of the team that is adept at representing global corporations and foreign sovereigns on multi-jurisdictional disputes. In Washington DC, ‘incredibly articulate advocate and thorough analyst’ Joseph Profaizer acts as co-head of international arbitration, with over 20 years of relevant experience. Also in DC, Christian Albanesi acts as head of Latin American arbitration, having worked acted on many complex international arbitrations in the region. Splitting his time between the DC and New York offices, Adam Lurie has complementary litigation and investigations experience. The team has grown significantly in the last year, with the arrival of Joseph Profaizer and Adam Weiss from Paul Hastings LLP in October 2024, as well as Caio Campello in September 2024.

Mayer Brown is a ‘top firm with notable international arbitration practitioners in Europe and the Americas’, acting on leading international arbitrations, including investment treaty disputes. The team has vast experience spanning the energy, food, chemicals, and technology sectors. Operating out of New York, Ted Howes is head of US international arbitration, while in Houston, Michael Lennon, Jr. has expertise in the construction, energy, and chemicals sectors. Also in Houston, David Weiss has strengths in the energy industry and Latin American based work.

McDermott Will & Emery LLP‘s international arbitration practice has experience across a range of matters including commercial disputes, investor-state arbitrations, and related litigation. Mediations and conducting internal investigations are also a strength of the team. Clients relying on the expertise of the team include corporate giants, directors, governments, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Based in Washington, Lisa Richman leads the team, specializing in international commercial and investment treaty arbitrations. In New York, David Kiefer has over two decades of experience in international arbitration, with complementary litigation expertise. Maria Cristina Rosales del Prado is based in Washington and specializes in work including sovereign states and financial institutions. The practice has continued to grow, with the arrival of Ena Cefo in Washington from White & Case in April 2024.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP boasts an expert international arbitration team, with expertise split between commercial and investor-state disputes. A raft of clients including governments, investors, and commercial entities rely on the expertise of the practice, that is skilled at appearing before all major arbitration bodies. The firm stands out for its expertise in construction and infrastructure disputes, particularly linked to the energy sector, having notably recently acted for a leading energy company in an ICSID arbitration related to a major refinery expansion in Columbia. Based in Houston, Richard Deutsch leads the practice, along with Washington DC-based Michael Jaffe, and Derek Soller in New York. Derrick Carson joined the practice from Troutman Pepper Locke LLP from September 2024. In New York, Robert Sills and June Yeum are key names, while Stephan Becker is key in the DC office.

Withers is recognized for its multijurisdictional arbitrations, particularly related to the MENA region and Latin America, as well as enforcement proceedings brought in the US. The team is particularly skilled at handling investment treaty disputes, acting for both investors and States. ICSID and UNCITRAL arbitration rules are both areas of expertise, as well as disputes arising out of investments by Asian parties in Africa. Having joined the firm in April 2024 from Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, Floriane Lavaud leads the team, with experience working on high-profile commercial and treaty arbitration, particularly those related to the Middle East. Also in New York,  Christopher LaVigne focuses on representing digital asset companies, while Stephen Younger represents financial institutions and hedge funds in complex arbitration matters. Jovana Crncevic represents clients in a number of international arbitration matters, and frequently acts on the enforcement of arbitration awards.