In a market where one size never fits all, strength and depth of experience, processes and knowledge are crucial for an early exit and the best possible outcome.
Dispute Lawyers for the Global Business Community
Reed Smith blends strong commercial litigation and international arbitration practices with an in-depth understanding of the energy and natural resources sectors to provide practical advice and firm representation for our clients. Whether seeking sector-specific experience, or a proven provider of international litigation and arbitration services, companies of all sizes trust Reed Smith to deliver a rapid resolution on the best possible terms.
We have dispute lawyers in our European, Asian, Middle Eastern and North American offices. We represent clients in arbitrations in key established arbitration jurisdictions around the world, including London, Paris, Stockholm, Dubai, Geneva, Vienna, Singapore, and Cairo and throughout the United States. We provide representation in procedural and final hearings and co-counsel where we have no local office, or where the governing law or the procedural laws are different from our own.
Our work involves disputes on transactions and projects throughout the world. Recent instructions have seen our lawyers acting for clients in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, India, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Nigeria, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Qatar, Tanzania, Ukraine, the European Union and the United States. Our lawyers can work in French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Cantonese, Mandarin and several other languages.
"A highly rated international arbitration group... The team is considered to be a ‘top outfit' with good strength at both partner and associate level... They offer great client service and there's real depth to the team..."
Chambers & Partners
A Unique Skill Set
Reed Smith's highly rated international dispute resolution group is renowned for its expertise in key commercial areas, including disputes relating to the energy and natural resources sectors.
We operate across all industry groups, combining in-depth sector knowledge with strong technical dispute resolution skills to deliver truly unique business solutions for our clients.
Our pre-eminent energy and natural resources and shipping practices mean we are proficient in arbitrations under all the major international arbitration bodies, including the ICC, LCIA, AAA, SIAC, and DIAC/DIFC, and we also represent clients in UNCITRAL and other ad hoc arbitrations.
Investing Time in Your Business
A growing number of enterprises are turning to arbitration to resolve complex international disputes that can arise at any stage of the supply chain - from creation of the commercial and financial platforms supporting exploration and extraction (including extraction rights), through development, production and refining, to transportation and distribution. Against a backdrop of instability in many of the regions key to the energy and natural resources sectors, in-depth sector knowledge and commercial know-how is essential from the outset.
We develop close working relationships with our clients, investing time in their business to ensure that we devise a dispute resolution strategy so that any litigation or arbitration follows a process appropriate to their needs and in line with their desired business outcomes as quickly as possible. We can also provide practical advice from the outset of a project to help clients avoid common pitfalls and potential disputes before they arise.
Examples of our international arbitration work include representing:
- An international subsea contractor on an ICC arbitration on disputes arising out the design and installation of subsea equipment for the AKPO development offshore Nigeria
- Independent oil companies in a UNCITRAL arbitration in Malaysia brought by the Government of India under a production-sharing contract