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.
Prompt, commercial and practical advice – Your business goals drive our strategy. We partner with you to manage disputes in a way that mitigates the day-to-day impact on your business while achieving the best commercial results. Should your situation be time-sensitive, we have significant experience of acting in emergency situations and taking steps in support of arbitral proceedings, including obtaining pre-emptive remedies such as injunctions and asset tracing orders.
Full-service – Representative engagements include:
- The interpretation of legal documents and obligations
- Handling breach of contract actions
- Corporate governance disputes
- Debtors’ and creditors’ rights and fiduciary duty issues
- Defense or prosecution in relation to acts of fraud or misrepresentation
- Professional liability
- Trade secret disputes
- Unfair competition
Our commercial arbitration lawyers regularly deal with issues arising out of mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions, handling claims relating to warranties and indemnities, loan and guarantee disputes, earn-out disputes under share purchase agreements, the interpretation of joint venture agreements, the interpretation of option deeds, and disputes over anti-dilution and pre-emption rights.
Industry focus – Many of our arbitration lawyers are embedded within our industry practice groups and apply deep subject-matter expertise, combined with excellent technical arbitration and dispute resolution skills, to arbitration matters. Particular areas of focus include:
- Transportation
- Manufacturing
- Insurance
- Projects
- Construction and engineering
- Energy and natural resources
- International trade and commodities
- Pharmaceuticals
- Life sciences
- Entertainment and media
- Financial services
- Telecoms
Regional expertise – Our firm’s reach means that we can serve you in arbitrations taking place around the globe, including the world’s leading arbitral seats, such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Miami and Houston. Whether you face a complex multi-party or multi-jurisdictional dispute, or a specialized matter, our counsel have the knowledge, skills and experience to help you manage your dispute.
Globally recognized – Our international arbitration practice is ranked in the GAR 30, Global Arbitration Review’s list of the world’s leading international arbitration practices, and is recognized in all the major directories, including Chambers Global, The Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal.
