Reed Smith’s Arbitration Pricing Calculator is a first-of-its-kind mobile app designed to help you estimate the maximum costs of arbitration at over 40 arbitral institutions across the world.

Shortlisted for “Best Innovation” at the 2022 Global Arbitration Review Awards and for “Most innovative use of technology’’ at The Lawyer Awards 2022, this innovative app enables users to forecast arbitration costs at key arbitral institutions around the world by navigating the myriad cost structures quickly and accurately.

Reed Smith’s commodities and international trade arbitration practice is recognized as one of the best in the world. With commodities and international trade arbitration lawyers based around the globe – in particular in London, Dubai, Paris, Houston, Singapore, Beijing and Hong Kong – we are the go-to choice for clients across the commodities and international trade sector, including trading houses, mining and oil majors, agricultural and financial institutions and funds engaged in the trading and financing of commodities.

We are ranked in the top band by both The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.

• “Reed Smith are switched on, commercially minded, knowledgeable, and have a huge expertise in commodity trading matters. Undoubtedly one of the best firms in the industry." Chambers UK 2022
• “The depth of expertise and the strength of the energy and commodities team put the firm in a class of its own among commodity firms.” Legal 500 UK 2022

Reed Smith’s global international arbitration construction team has deep industry experience. Our construction and projects lawyers are recognized as leaders in Global Arbitration Review, Chambers, The Legal 500, Who’s Who Legal, Best Lawyers™ and Acritas Stars.

The Legal 500 describes our team as “the best in technical construction knowledge,” adding that our practice is “well known for its construction arbitration ability and handling significant cases in that area.” Chambers comments on our “ability to cut through complex matters and provide clear, commercial advice” and Who’s Who Legal recognizes our “extremely good counsel deserving of recognition, able to identify important issues quickly – and how to deal with them.”

Our wide sector knowledge and understanding of the issues that can arise mean our lawyers know how the arbitration process can best be shaped to minimize risk and deliver the best outcome for clients.

Reed Smith has “a team with very strong expertise, arbitration skills, flexibility, availability” (The Legal 500 EMEA 2022) and is “a solid player across [the] main arbitration centers” (The Legal 500 USA 2021).

Helping clients to find solutions to their domestic and international corporate and commercial arbitration disputes is a core practice area for our firm. As one of the largest disputes practices in the world, we have a dedicated team of over 100 international arbitration lawyers across 31 offices globally who act as trusted legal counsel to leading national and international businesses.

We assist our clients in navigating the complexities of operating in evolving marketplaces, and deliver solutions aligned to their business objectives. We represent clients in disputes arising from corporate and commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures and partnerships, in addition to a whole range of commercial agreements, including licensing and distribution agreements.

We can help you at any and all stages of a business transaction, from advice on the effective use and drafting of arbitration clauses (including forum choice and how to maximize enforcement efficacy), through to dispute avoidance/resolution strategy, negotiation and representation before tribunals. Our clients benefit from bespoke, insightful advice and tailored legal decision-making, as demonstrated by our inclusion in BTI Consulting Group’s “Most Recommended” law firms for eight consecutive years.

The ability to globally enforce arbitral awards is a key reason why international businesses increasingly select international arbitration as their dispute resolution method of choice. Our international arbitration lawyers can help you at any stage of the dispute lifecycle, from advice on the effective use and drafting of arbitration clauses, including choice of forum, seat and arbitral institution, to enforcement of awards and subsequent collection.

Francophone Africa is an important and growing market, dynamic and rich in business opportunities. Our Francophone Africa arbitration team has deep experience assisting African and international companies operating across the region to manage business and investment risk, as well as advising states and state-owned entities in their relationships with private investors.

We combine extensive international commercial and investment treaty experience with in-depth knowledge of key sectors in Francophone African countries, including oil and gas, construction, mining and minerals, infrastructure, transportation (railway, shipping and aviation) and telecoms.

We guide our clients through the unique challenges and opportunities of arbitrating in the region and help them to achieve the best possible outcome for their businesses. Recent successes include a $170 million ICC award in favor of a major construction group in an arbitration brought against the State of Gabon in a dispute involving undue pressure and allegations of corruption, and successfully obtaining a conservatory measure on a state asset valued at €400 million.

We are well-versed in acting in arbitral proceedings under the rules of the major arbitration institutions, including the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the Swiss Chambers’ Arbitration Institution (SCAI), and the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA). We also represent clients in ad hoc arbitrations under the OHADA (Organisation pour l’Harmonisation en Afrique du Droit des Affaires) Uniform Act on Arbitration and the UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law) Rules. Our wide experience covers arbitration-related litigation, including representing clients in annulment proceedings before state courts.

• “The practice offers long-standing experience in African-related disputes.” The Legal 500 EMEA – France 2021
• “A team with very strong expertise, arbitration skills, flexibility, availability.” The Legal 500 EMEA – France 2022

We are well-versed in acting in arbitral proceedings under the rules of the major arbitration institutions, including the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the Swiss Chambers’ Arbitration Institution (SCAI), and the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA). We also represent clients in ad hoc arbitrations under the Organisation pour l’Harmonisation en Afrique du Droit des Affaires (OHADA) Uniform Act on Arbitration and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) rules. Our wide experience covers arbitration-related litigation, including representing clients in annulment proceedings before state courts.

We have been trusted advisers for over 30 years to Indian clients and to businesses operating in the Indian market in relation to the resolution of disputes. Legal directories have commended our practice and our lawyers for our great industry knowledge, depth of understanding, and appreciation of the Indian market and how clients in the market like to be advised.

As an experienced and well-recognized India practice, we provide our clients with disputes advice and solutions that are “flexible and commercial” (The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020) and clients rate the team as “experienced and pragmatic” (The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2019). We have a “strong track record on India-related arbitration work” (Chambers Asia Pacific 2020) and extensive experience advising on a range of heavyweight disputes and investigations for Indian clients and/or arising out of projects, transactions and ventures involving a number of industry sectors in India.

We have a solid record of accomplishment built on our deep understanding of our Indian clients’ requirements and India’s history as a country and as a commercial marketplace.

• “Awestruck with their understanding of the foreign market and its business complexities, and their solution-focused approach.” Legal 500 APAC – India 2021
• “Reed Smith is our most preferred foreign law firm. They have a great team of lawyers and are well equipped to handle transactions in any geography.” Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022 India
• “Especially well versed in arbitrations arising from contractual, joint venture and shareholder disputes. ” Chambers Global: India 2022
• “The Reed Smith team really understands how businesses in India like to be advised. The firm’s network of offices in Europe, the US, Middle East and Asia make it well-placed to advise clients on business transactions and disputes across the globe.” Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022 India

Intellectual property (IP) and intellectual property rights (IPRs) are among your company’s most valuable assets. Helping our clients protect these assets in a highly competitive global environment is our priority.

Whether an IP dispute concerns issues of infringement, ownership, enforcement, commercialization, or protection and fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing, our lawyers provide commercial advice and solutions that help protect our clients’ IPRs and innovations. By combining market-leading international arbitration experience with advanced technological knowledge, our IP international arbitration team works to maximize and protect the value of our clients’ IP and safeguard the rights at the heart of their businesses.

International arbitration permits parties facing multi-jurisdictional IP disputes to achieve consistent, confidential and enforceable results, enabling businesses to efficiently exploit and enforce their IPRs across borders and take back their competitive advantage.

Reed Smith is a recognized leader in the region, as demonstrated by both our firm and our arbitration practice being included in Latinvex’s 2020, 2021 and 2022 rankings of top 100 law firms operating in the region.

Legal directories describe our practice as:

• “A deeply admired dispute resolution practice, highly sought after for its Latin American arbitration expertise. Their cross-examination skills are fantastic.” Chambers Latin America 2022
• “The best Latin American arbitration team in the industry.” The Legal 500 Latin America 2022
• “Excels at handling complex commercial arbitration cases, frequently advising clients on claims arising out of construction and financial disputes. Also adept at representing investors in significant investment treaty arbitration mandates.” Chambers Global: Latin America 2022

As a “first-class advisor for Latin American clients and cases” (The Legal 500 2019) we are regularly called upon by significant multinationals to advise on high-value commercial arbitration disputes (Chambers Latin America 2019). Our team leverages the depth and breadth of our experience and relationships with local strategic partners to provide commercial disputes advice to our clients in real time.

Our strong focus on the Latin American region means clients benefit from a high concentration of resources and our  reputation for the handling of high-level, complex arbitrations and litigations covering various jurisdictions in Latin America.

We are adept at bridging legal systems and resolving complex legal issues, resulting in nominations for Chambers’ Latin America Award for International Arbitration Firm of the Year for the past four years. Our team includes native multilingual speakers, and dual-qualified and bi-cultural lawyers who know the cultures of individual countries in the region, the regional arbitration institutions, their rules and the right questions to ask. Clients benefit from our extensive knowledge and experience of highly complex international arbitrations across both the common law and civil law systems.

Our “highly regarded” life sciences arbitration lawyers are renowned for their “expert handling of life sciences disputes” (Chambers 2020), and “understanding of the needs of life sciences companies” (Legal 500 USA 2022).

From strategically drafting arbitration clauses and formulating dispute avoidance strategies, to effectively representing life sciences companies before arbitral tribunals and courts in related litigation, our life sciences arbitration team can help you successfully navigate all phases of a cross-border life sciences dispute, including disputes with foreign governments.

In addition to acting as counsel, members of our life sciences arbitration team routinely sit as arbitrators and play leading roles in major arbitral institutions. We are recognized globally as thought leaders in the arbitration arena, affording us unique tools for effectively resolving life sciences arbitrations and adding to our “strong experience across both advisory and contentious matters” (Chambers 2020).

We draw on expertise from across our multidisciplinary global life sciences practice – which represents many of the world’s largest pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers – to build teams that provide holistic and comprehensive advice for life sciences arbitrations seated in the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America under a host of governing laws.

Reed Smith has “a wealth of experience in international arbitration/litigation in the Middle East across all major sectors” and the team is “always alive to the commercial objectives of the client and go out of their way to develop the best strategies in order to achieve them” (The Legal 500 EMEA – UAE 2021).

With over 40 years of experience in the UAE, we bring extensive knowledge gained from working on high profile, complex multimillion-dollar disputes across the region. We represent clients in cases under the rules of a wide range of international arbitration forums, including ADCCAC, DIAC, LCIA, ICC and UNCITRAL, as well as in ad hoc arbitration proceedings in both the UAE and wider Middle East region and in arbitration-related litigation before the courts of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the DIFC. Our lawyers are advocates, which enables us to offer a “one-stop shop” from start to end of any arbitration, without the need to involve outside counsel. Our strong advocacy experience covers both procedural and substantive hearings and is a true differentiator in our offering.

Clients and legal directories commend our forward-looking approach. The team was shortlisted for Arbitration Team of the Year in Law.com International’s Middle East Legal Awards 2022 and was declared UAE Construction Law Firm of the Year at the Chambers Middle East Awards 2022.

Our team is described as:

• “They are always alive to the commercial objectives of the client, and go out of their way to develop the best strategies in order to achieve them.” The Legal 500 EMEA – UAE 2021
• “Outstanding …with unrivalled experience of arbitration and international litigation in general” The Legal 500 EMEA – UAE 2020
• A “dynamic and forward-looking practice, which is superb at providing clients with advice which reflects their practical and commercial objectives. The ethos is hands on, down to earth and practical.” The Legal 500 EMEA – UAE 2020
• “They have considerable knowledge and experience of the local laws of all the states in the region, and are very experienced at working with co-counsel in cases which require input from local or foreign lawyers.” The Legal 500 EMEA – UAE 2021
• “The lawyers are very bright and extremely hard-working, and always willing to do everything which is required in order to achieve the very best possible results. They are an absolute pleasure to work with.” The Legal 500 EMEA – UAE 2021

Our market-leading transportation and shipping arbitration lawyers have decades of experience handling a wide variety of complex, cross-border transportation disputes in jurisdictions around the world. Described as an "excellent and extremely professional firm, as well as a consistent leader in the market" (Chambers), we are ranked Band 1 in Shipping by both Chambers and The Legal 500.

Clients comment that as a practice we are “impressively commercial, astutely knowledgeable and work seamlessly as a team.” (Chambers). Our top-ranked maritime practice includes a number of lawyers who are also individually ranked in the top tier in The Legal 500 and Chambers in their respective jurisdictions.

From its roots in shipping, our pre-eminent practice has expanded to cover disputes across the transportation sector globally, including offshore, infrastructure and aviation disputes. This expansion has been driven by a combination of growth in our team and capabilities, harnessing the firm’s energy and natural resources experience – for example, through our work on mine, rail and terminal projects – and acting as trusted adviser to a growing client base that includes many of the world’s leading operators, producers and suppliers.

Our U.S. international arbitration practice has an “outstanding reputation in the Americas” (Chambers USA 2020), thanks to being led by a “distinguished dispute resolution team with deep experience in commercial arbitrations” (Chambers Global 2020).

Our local presence across 17 offices in the United States allows us to offer coast-to-coast services to leading U.S.-based international businesses, from Fortune 100 corporations to midmarket and emerging enterprises. We act collaboratively on complex, cross-border matters, combining our “excellent strategic approach and advocacy” (The Legal 500 USA 2020), “gravitas and knowledge” (Chambers Global 2020) and “stellar reputation in the market” (Chambers USA 2019) to provide our clients with tailored solutions to suit their needs.

We advise clients on significant commercial disputes and in virtually every industry sector, many with an international element, including: pharmaceuticals and medical devices, telecoms, defense, projects, construction and engineering, energy and natural resources, commodities, oil and gas, chemicals, banking and financial services, transportation, international trade, manufacturing, leisure, environmental and insurance, as well as disputes arising from shareholder and joint venture agreements.