International arbitration

We are recognised dispute resolution experts and act on high value large-scale international arbitration claims in a wide range of fora.  Our team conducts commercial arbitrations under numerous sets of arbitral rules, as well as advising States and investors in investment treaty cases and States in State-State proceedings.

Our team brings the legal skills, tactical know-how and commercial awareness needed to protect our clients’ business and other interests.

We work with our clients to deliver cost-effective and innovative solutions. Each case is partner-led and supported by a specialist international team.

Carter-Ruck’s team has regularly acted in high-value large-scale international arbitration claims in a wide range of fora. These include commercial arbitrations under an array of governing laws of both civil-law and common-law jurisdictions, as well as investor-State and State-State treaty claims. In many of these disputes, billions of dollars have been at stake. Carter-Ruck is also frequently involved in geopolitically or diplomatically sensitive cases, notably for States and State entities.

We are also experts at conducting litigation in the English courts, as well as coordinating proceedings internationally.  Our experience includes pursuing ancillary measures, seeking anti-suit injunctions, mounting challenges to awards and resisting such challenges, and pursuing and resisting enforcement in numerous jurisdictions.

We also have significant experience of expert determination proceedings, as well as of arbitrations relating to such proceedings.

We act in a wide range of territories and jurisdictions including across Europe, the United States, Russia/CIS, the Middle East, South Asia, Africa and Latin America.

We are able to conduct arbitrations in a wide range of languages.

Our team conducts arbitrations under the rules and procedures of the main arbitral organisations including:

  • International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)
  • International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
  • London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
  • Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)
  • United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
  • London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA)
  • London Metal Exchange (LME)
  • Insurance and Reinsurance Arbitration Society (ARIAS)
  • We also act in ad hoc arbitrations

Clients that members of our team currently represent or have recently represented in international arbitrations include sovereign States, State-owned entities, leading international energy companies, international banks, private-equity funds, global media networks, technology companies, pharmaceuticals companies, UHNW individuals and an international airline.

Case studies

Carter-Ruck represented Al-Jazeera Media Network in a very substantial arbitration claim against the Arab Republic of Egypt before ICSID.

Doha-headquartered Al Jazeera claimed that Egypt breached its 1999 Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with Qatar by interrupting the network’s broadcasting activities and ultimately forcing it to cease operations in Egypt. Al Jazeera’s journalists were harassed and it suffered the loss of its investment in the country.

Al Jazeera has pursued its claim through the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

The broadcaster complained of a series of oppressive measures by Egypt, including arrests, detention of staff, raids on offices and seizure of equipment.

Al Jazeera argued that, in a direct attack on journalistic freedom, Egypt has prosecuted, convicted and imprisoned journalists on false and politically motivated charges – including having one journalist sentenced to death in absentia – and has attempted to pursue Al Jazeera journalists outside Egypt, including by abusing Interpol’s procedures to issue international arrest warrants and Red Notices.

Al Jazeera also contended that Egypt had jammed its signals within Egypt, interfered with its use of banking facilities, revoked its licence on spurious grounds and imposed the compulsory liquidation of Al Jazeera’s Egyptian branch.

From a legal perspective, the case raised issues about the relationship between BIT arbitration and Egypt’s numerous and systematic breaches of international human rights law. Recognising this, in a highly unusual move the Tribunal directed Egypt to ensure the humane treatment of an Al Jazeera journalist being held in jail without trial. The Tribunal also observed that human rights violations may be relevant to an investment dispute.

Case studies

Secured victory for a leading European energy company in an arbitration about under-deliveries of gas worth billions of Euros

Representing a leading European energy company in an ad hoc arbitration with an Eastern European energy supplier about under-deliveries of gas under long-term supply contracts and purported changes to the payment mechanism under those contracts, securing an award with a value of billions of Euros. The contracts were governed by a civil-law system of law, and the arbitration’s seat was in a Scandinavian country (experience gained prior to joining Carter-Ruck).

Case studies

Secured victories for leading international energy companies in arbitrations relating to the price of gas under long-term supply contracts

Representing a leading European energy company in an UNCITRAL arbitration with another leading European energy company about the gas price under a long-term contract, securing the dismissal of claims by the counterparty worth over € 1 billion in a case involving complex issues of res judicata and contractual interpretation (experience gained prior to joining Carter-Ruck).

Representing a Gulf State-owned energy company in an ICC arbitration about the gas price under a long-term supply contract – and securing the dismissal of claims worth hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars (experience gained prior to joining Carter-Ruck).

Case studies

Secured victory for a major international bank headquartered in the Middle East in an LCIA arbitration arising from a loan agreement and credit facility.

Acting for a major Middle Eastern bank in an arbitration arising from a loan agreement and credit facility provided to an investment company and its founder who failed to fulfil their payment obligations. A £25 million award was secured, together with interest and costs.

Case studies

Acted for a Sovereign State as one of three Respondents to an LCIA arbitration in respect of a professional services agreement; the claim was settled without any payment being made by the State.

Case studies

Represented a Middle Eastern sovereign state in a claim against two other states before a specialist tribunal.

Represented a Middle Eastern sovereign state in a claim against two other states for breach of treaty obligations in relation to a specialised agency of the United Nations