Our arbitration practice covers the field, from complex international disputes that span the globe to domestic US matters in specific industries conducted under specialized rules. Our lawyers have practiced before, and under the rules of, virtually all of the major arbitral bodies operating in the world today. We are lead counsel in some of the most significant arbitrations currently pending, and we have secured some of the largest arbitral awards ever issued.
Our work encompasses advocacy before arbitrators, as well as litigation about arbitration that focuses on enforcement of arbitral agreements and awards. In addition, many of our lawyers serve as arbitrators and mediators, either by ad hoc appointment or as members of standing panels established by judicial bodies or prominent arbitral institutions. We also regularly advise clients in transactional contexts on arbitration provisions and considerations.
Representative Matters
- ExxonMobil, in pending ICC and ICSID proceedings against the Republic of Venezuela and its state-owned oil company, relating to expropriatory and other acts of the Venezuelan government.
- Merck, in an ad hoc London arbitration against its insurers, resulting in a recent award and publicly disclosed recovery of over $450 million, plus unspecified further settlements, in connection with the company’s Vioxx-related liabilities.
- Spanish investors in Yukos Oil Company, in a Stockholm Chamber of Commerce arbitration against the Russian Federation, relating to the Russian government’s liquidation of Yukos.
- A joint venture of Newmont Mining and Sumitomo, in an arbitration under UNCITRAL Rules against the Indonesian government, relating to the government’s efforts to terminate an agreement governing exploitation of copper and gold resources on the island of Sumbawa.
- A Malaysian construction and development firm, in an ICSID arbitration that resulted in a substantial damages award against the Republic of Chile.
- The State of Eritrea, in a successful arbitration of its boundary dispute with Ethiopia, before a specially constituted PCA tribunal in The Hague.
- Telkom SA, the former South African state telecommunications company, in successfully resisting US enforcement of one of the largest ICC awards in recent years, following an arbitration handled by other counsel.
- Public Broadcasting Service, in complex proceedings before the Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel, to allocate royalties among owners of TV programming rights.
- Exxon, in an arbitration and related litigation against Lloyds of London and other international underwriters for losses arising from the grounding of the Valdez - matters that settled for $780 million.
Accolades
- Consistently ranked as a leading practice in Chambers, The Legal 500, and Global Arbitration Review.
- Described by The Legal 500 as having “an excellent reputation in international arbitration;” “first-rate in terms of work product;” considered by clients to operate according to “a general rule of exceptional quality.”
- Described in Chambers USA (2008) as “riding high,” with particular strength in Latin America; “it is the addition of common sense and practical knowledge that distinguishes Covington’s lawyers.”
- Two partners currently serve, by Presidential appointment, on the standing panels of ICSID conciliators and arbitrators; others serve on the CPR or AAA Panels of Neutrals.
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