International Arbitration and Global Dispute Resolution

Sullivan & Cromwell’s International Arbitration and Global Dispute Resolution Practice has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading practices in this field. When disputes cross borders, especially in complex and noteworthy matters, clients rely on us to direct global strategy and work with local counsel to achieve commercial solutions.

We are experienced in arbitrations, litigations, restructurings and government investigations, and we have a long history representing clients in disputes involving Latin America. Our experience covers both commercial and investor-state disputes, and we have particular expertise handling disputes arising from joint ventures and large-scale projects in mining, energy and infrastructure. We also advise on international transactions, identifying litigation risks before they arise and crafting arbitration clause solutions.

We have handled arbitrations administered by all of the major arbitral institutions, including the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC). We also have substantial experience in arbitrations governed by foreign law and our team includes lawyers trained and qualified in both civil and common law jurisdictions.

S&C’s standing in the field of international arbitration is reflected in the number of major multinational companies that it has represented in commercial or investor-state arbitrations or related dispute resolution matters. Our international arbitration experience is global in nature, involving parties from all regions of the world, including:

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S&C Leads Centerra Gold to Successful Resolution of Dispute with Kyrgyz Republic

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International Commercial Arbitrations

Anheuser-Busch Companies, in an UNCITRAL arbitration with Grupo Modelo that threatened Anheuser-Busch’s $60+ billion acquisition by InBev, defeating, in their entirety, Modelo’s claims for damages of $2.5 billion.
A major life sciences company, in a multi-billion dollar ICC arbitration.
A communications software patent-pool administrator, in HKIAC arbitration to collect license fees against a Chinese manufacturer.
An Australia-based food and beverage manufacturer, in an ICDR arbitration arising from supply agreements

Gildan Activewear, in an arbitration pertaining to an indemnity provision in a business acquisition agreement resulting in an award in favor of Gildan. In 2019, the federal district court denied a motion to vacate the award, and granted Gildan's motion to confirm the award.
A Latin American LNG facility, in an ICC arbitration involving hundreds of millions of dollars in payments due under customer contracts.
A major Japanese pharmaceutical company, in an ICC arbitration against the former owner of a Mexican pharmaceutical business arising from a post-closing working capital adjustment required under the parties’ purchase and sale agreement.
A U.S.-based medical device company, in an ICC arbitration arising out of an M&A transaction.
A Brazilian investor, in a multi-jurisdictional dispute with a joint venture partner in an oil drillship venture. S&C obtained an interim award in ICC arbitration in New York barring the consummation of the proposed restructuring plan in the adversary’s Brazilian bankruptcy proceeding.

Investor-State, Investment Treaty and Sovereign Arbitration

Centerra Gold, in an UNCITRAL arbitration against the Kyrgyz Republic and a state-owned gold refining company relating to the May 2021 seizure of one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia, in violation of investment agreements.
A major mining company, in ICC and ICSID arbitrations against a Latin American sovereign and the state-owned mining company arising from one of the largest copper mining projects in the world.
A U.S. owner of significant mining assets in Venezuela, in connection with actions by the Venezuelan government inconsistent with Venezuela’s grant of the mining concession, including with respect to potential arbitration claims against Venezuela and potential political-risk insurance claims.
A cross-border investor, in an ad hoc, local-law arbitration with a Latin American sovereign arising out of a dispute relating to tariffs on an electric transmission facility. The arbitration was conducted by local outside counsel, in Spanish, under local law. S&C helped develop the strategy that got the parties into arbitration and guided the client in developing the procedures for an expeditious and ultimately successful arbitration.
Interim Government of President Juan Guaidó of Venezuela, in multiple actions seeking to enforce multimillion dollar ICSID arbitral awards and writs of attachment fieri facias against Venezuela and the Venezuelan state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela (“PDVSA”), for alleged expropriation.
Republic of Poland, in an investment arbitration dispute referred to by the Swedish Supreme Court to the EU Court of Justice (Grand Chamber).