Our lawyers specialise in complex, multi-jurisdictional arbitration law.
Based in Central London, our arbitration solicitors have the expertise, resources, and sheer intelligence required to advise and represent individuals and companies involved in arbitration hearings, enforcing arbitration awards, and drafting arbitration agreements.
Our solicitors have conducted UK based and international arbitrations before the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and numerous other institutions.
We are also experienced in advising and representing clients in ad hoc arbitrations applying the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) rules.
Our Experience
We are one of the few law firms that have extensive experience in UK, EU, US, and UN sanctions and can advise on drafting arbitration agreements and enforcing awards that are impacted by sanctions.
Relevant Arbitration Work
- Acted for a multi-national European company in civil fraud and asset recovery proceedings arising out of an arbitration award issued in a European arbitration centre. Successfully obtained freezing injunctions, and insolvency and bankruptcy orders in order to trace and recover the Defendants’ assets in Europe, the United Arab Emirates and various offshore jurisdictions, including the British Virgin Islands.
- Acted for a Kazakh quasi-state entity in an UNCITRAL arbitration before the LCIA against one of the world’s largest multilateral development banks.
- Acting for a Kazakh quasi-state entity in an arbitration before the London Maritime Arbitrators’ Association.
- Acting on behalf of a multi-national construction company in an ICC arbitration against Shell Iraq Petroleum.
- Advising a Kazakh quasi-state entity in an action against an Azeri state oil company regarding the delivery of Azeri light crude oil.
- Acting for numerous franchisees in fraudulent misrepresentations claims against the former CEO of UK based franchisor, operating over 100 gyms in the UK, Central Europe and the Middle East. The claims were brought on the basis of fraudulent misrepresentations made to the franchisees regarding the performance and profitability of the franchise business. Successfully pierced the corporate veil by bringing the claims against the former CEO, eventually obtaining judgment and initiating insolvency proceedings to recover assets.
- Acting for a Kazakh quasi-state entity in an UNCITRAL arbitration before the LCIA against one of the largest European development banks. Reduced quantum significantly following trial, and then provided advice on appeal inter alia.
- Acting for a Latvian multi-national company in fraud proceedings arising out of an Arbitration before the German Arbitration Institution (DIS). Successfully applied to have the Award before DIS recognised before the High Court of London, and then applied to enforce the Award. Now proceeding with contempt and insolvency proceedings, including a winding up and bankruptcy order.
- Advising a multi-national corporate, through its UK based director, on an ICC arbitration against Shell plc, arising out of a dispute over JCT construction contracts for projects carried out for Shell plc in Basra, Iraq. A referral was issued to the ICC and the matter resolved through dispute resolution
Our Lawyers
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Our Clients
- Multinational Corporations
Companies engaged in cross-border business who require arbitration to resolve international disputes, particularly in construction, energy, oil, and trade sectors. - Quasi-State Entities and Sovereign Bodies
Government-affiliated organisations involved in international commercial agreements or joint ventures, especially from Central Asia or Eastern Europe (e.g. Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan). - Private Companies in Cross-Border Transactions
Businesses seeking to enforce or challenge arbitration awards in multiple jurisdictions, including offshore entities (e.g. BVI, UAE). - Franchisees and Franchisors
Individuals or companies in franchise agreements, particularly where misrepresentation or fraud may have occurred and disputes cross international borders. - Construction and Infrastructure Companies
Firms involved in international infrastructure projects, especially those operating under JCT contracts or with entities like Shell in regions like Iraq. - Corporate Clients Impacted by Sanctions
Businesses needing to navigate arbitration agreements and enforcement where international sanctions may apply (e.g. UK, EU, US, UN sanctions). - Parties to UNCITRAL or Ad Hoc Arbitrations
Clients who are not tied to a specific institutional body but still require expert legal guidance under UNCITRAL rules. - Legal Departments of Development Banks or Financial Institutions
Entities involved in disputes with other governments or quasi-state actors, particularly in commercial lending or infrastructure funding. - Companies Seeking Arbitration Agreement Drafting
Any business entering commercial contracts that need expertly tailored arbitration clauses to protect their interests. -
FAQs
What is arbitration?
Commercial litigation is stressful and expensive. Arbitration provides an alternative dispute resolution method that is generally faster, cheaper, and more effective, especially in cross-border disputes.
Parties to a dispute must agree to arbitrate. A neutral third party, known as the Arbitrator, will preside over an arbitration hearing and make a binding decision which, thanks to various international conventions, can be enforced in overseas jurisdictions.
Arbitration in England and Wales is governed by the Arbitration Act 1996.
What is an arbitration agreement?
An arbitration agreement provides not only an agreement between the parties to arbitrate, but also a framework for how the arbitration will be conducted. Details of an agreement, which our team of expert arbitration lawyers will draft for you, can include:
- The law governing the agreement.
- The jurisdiction that determines the procedural law governing the arbitration.
- Whether the arbitration will be institutional or ad hoc.
- The procedural rules that govern how the arbitration is conducted.
- The language in which all arbitration proceedings and documents are communicated.
- How the Arbitrator will be appointed and the expertise they must have.
Our Solicitors will ensure we understand your business and the cultural norms of the market and jurisdiction in which you operate so you can be confident that your arbitration agreement is tailored to reflect the commercial realities of your venture/partnership.
Can your Arbitration Lawyers advise on the New York Convention?
The Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, commonly known as the New York Convention (NYC), has been signed by over 160 countries (including the UK) and is the main instrument of international arbitration.
Countries that have signed the Convention will recognise and enforce awards made in States other than the one in which recognition and enforcement of the award is sought. For example, if an arbitration award is made in the UK, it can be recognised and enforced in Australia. This makes arbitration an extremely effective option for resolving cross-border commercial disputes.
What is the LCIA?
The London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) is one of the world’s leading centres for resolving commercial disputes. Over 80 per cent of arbitrating parties who use the LCIA are international, reflecting the fact that London is the number one place for commercial dispute resolution.
LCIA arbitration is governed by the LCIA Rules 2020 and is administered by the LCIA Secretariat, based at the International Dispute Resolution Centre (IDRC) in London.
Can Eldwick Solicitors help me regarding arbitration matters?
Our experienced team of London based Arbitration Solicitors will:
- Advise and assist with the selection of Arbitrators (in line with the terms of the arbitration agreement).
- Advise on the law governing the arbitration and how this will affect your position.
- Inform you about arbitration costs.
- Gather evidence and witness statements.
- Prepare written submissions that are presented to the Arbitrator.
- Explain the award to you and advise on enforcement options, including the provisions of international conventions.
Why Choose Us?
We understand the procedures of the LCIA, ICC, LMAA and UNCITRAL rules in detail and keep up to date with developments in each forum.
Our team has helped clients obtain practical results in difficult cross-border cases: securing freezing injunctions and insolvency orders in Europe, the UAE and the British Virgin Islands; enforcing awards of the German Arbitration Institute before the High Court in London; and reducing claim amounts for quasi-state entities after trial.
Arbitrations that touch on sanctions present extra challenges. We are one of the few UK firms that combine arbitration know-how with day-to-day experience of UK, EU, US and UN sanctions, so we can draft arbitration clauses and enforcement strategies that still work when sanctions are in play.
Clients work directly with senior lawyers who have represented multinationals, development banks and state-linked bodies from Central Asia to the Middle East. Our office in Central London, close to the International Dispute Resolution Centre and the Commercial Court, lets us deal quickly with urgent filings and hearings.
From drafting arbitration clauses to enforcing awards and recovering assets, we stay involved throughout the life of a dispute and measure success by the outcomes we secure for our clients.
To make an appointment with our Arbitration Solicitors, please get in touch with us at mail@eldwicklaw.com or phone our London office at +44 (0) 2039728469.