The International Arbitration Practice at Sheppard Mullin includes more than two dozen attorneys practicing in the Firm’s New York, Washington, D.C., Shanghai and California offices.  More than a dozen different languages are spoken within the group, and our attorneys practice globally as well as being licensed in various domestic jurisdictions, including many U.S. states,  England and Wales.

The Firm regularly represents clients before the leading international arbitration institutions, including the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), American Arbitration Association (AAA), the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) and the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). We have experience in a variety of specialty practice areas, and have represented clients before the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), London Maritime Arbitration Association, Society of Maritime Arbitrators of NY, Iran-United States Claims Tribunal, Court of Arbitration for Sport and the Independent Film & Television Alliance (formerly the American Film Marketing Association), as well as in numerous ad hoc arbitrations.

Services Provided

Our services include advising on the drafting of arbitration clauses, representing claimants and respondents in institutional and ad hoc arbitral proceedings and, when necessary, representing parties in litigation to enforce or avoid arbitration agreements and awards under the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.  We also serve as neutral and party-appointed arbitrators.

The Firm’s attorneys offer various educational programs to familiarize clients and business groups with the international arbitration process and pros and cons of international arbitration.  We focus particular attention on the need to craft appropriate, tailored dispute resolution language at the time underlying transactions are negotiated and documented.  We also help clients navigate the procedural steps when a potentially arbitrable dispute arises.

Experience And Expertise

The types of arbitral disputes the Firm handles include the following:

  • construction projects
  • government procurement contracts
  • natural resource and energy projects and agreements
  • joint ventures
  • overseas investment
  • international sales agreements
  • mergers & acquisitions
  • life sciences
  • intellectual property licensing
  • patent validity
  • media & entertainment licensing and investment
  • sports
  • trade
  • insurance and reinsurance
  • marine
  • aviation
  • director & officers liability
  • executive compensation agreements
  • other international commercial disputes

The Firm represents a variety of parties in such disputes, from majority or minority shareholders in joint ventures, to independent contractors against State parties, to State entities in major infrastructure projects.  We have particular expertise in State entity disputes.