Praise For Sidley Austin’s International Arbitration Practice
Awards
Sidley Receives Gold Award for International Arbitration
Sidley received the Gold Award 2010 for “best U.S. law firm for international arbitration” from the International Legal Alliance. Winners of the International Legal Alliance Awards are selected by a panel of senior legal executives from major global companies and recognize law firms for outstanding results during the past year and consistent excellence in the areas of practice management and leadership.
The International Legal Alliance Summit & Awards 2010
Client and Industry Praise
U.S.News - Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” Sidley received a first-tier national ranking and a first-tier regional ranking in Washington, D.C. for its international arbitration practice, and the most first-tier national rankings of any U.S. law firm overall, in the inaugural U.S.News - Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” survey for 2010, published by U.S.News & World Report. According to a client quoted in the survey: “Sidley has one of the most versatile and experienced international arbitration teams. They are truly preeminent in the area of investor-state arbitration under bilateral investment treaties. We rely on Sidley for assistance in structuring transactions covered by these agreements and in resolving disputes under them. They consistently deliver extraordinarily high value and positive results.”
Washington, D.C. partners Stanimir Alexandrov and Daniel Price are recognized in the 2011 edition of
The Best Lawyers in America. They are praised by clients as follows:
Stanimir Alexandrov
“is very practical and possesses an excellent understanding of global issues. He understands how different governments and government officials think and react; and represents clients aggressively yet civilly. His advice has always been spot on.” “We have received outstanding advice on one of the longest procedures ever in front of ICSID. I would highly recommend him.” “Mr. Stanimir Alexandrov is the leading expert with regard to international arbitration cases. He is very professional, very knowledgeable, understands the key issues very rapidly, is patient, and overall a very pleasant person to work with.” Daniel Price
“is widely acknowledged as one of the leading practitioners and most important thought leaders globally in the areas of trade and arbitration. He is hugely influential. His advice is sought by both companies and governments, and when governments know you are represented by Dan, they pay attention. In addition, he is a superb strategist and advocate. He knows these areas from all sides, having served as a negotiator of trade and investment agreements, counsel for both claimants and respondents in disputes under these agreements, and as an arbitrator in many disputes. Dan is also both creative and commercial, which is hard to find. In short, he’s a ’towering figure’ in these areas.”
Chambers and Partners
“This firm has a very strong Washington, DC-based arbitration practice, which is particularly active in investment treaty arbitration work. Peers recognise the group‘s presence in large cross-border trade disputes. Sidley Austin also has a significant presence in Asia, which aids the lawyers‘ international reach and attracts a number of high-value instructions. Sources say: ‘
The team is really supportive and constructive, with real experience and reputation.’ Daniel Price makes a welcome return to private practice after a stint in the administration of George W Bush. Formerly the firm‘s practice group chair, his gravitas is a great draw.”
Chambers Global 2010 – Global, Arbitration (International)
“This firm is especially prominent in the investor-state arbitration arena. The team offers a service that encompasses representing clients as counsel and providing advice pertaining to arbitration clauses and policy development. . . . Sources say:
’This firm offers clients the whole package. It works hard to avoid matters going to arbitration in the first place, but if they do, the lawyers have flawless advocacy skills.’ Stanimir Alexandrov is
’a highly impressive individual whose contributions to hearings are insightful and invaluable.’ While acting on matters globally, he receives particular praise for his expertise in matters involving Central and Eastern Europe. . . . Daniel Price has a wide range of experience, having previously worked as part of the Bush administration. Sources describe him as ’
a fabulous lawyer who is enthusiastic, pragmatic and creative.’ He has been central in building the firm’s international arbitration practice and is involved across the full spectrum of work undertaken by the team.”
Chambers USA 2010 – Nationwide, International Arbitration
“This firm is [a] new entrant to the
Chambers [public international law] rankings this year following consistent recognition of its capabilities in the field of investment treaty arbitrations. It has also conducted work in relation to boundary disputes. . . . Sources say:
’This firm is quick to propose sophisticated strategies for PIL issues’;
’The lawyers can rapidly master the complex facts of each case’;
’It has the ability to cover all issues seamlessly.’ Daniel Price is commended by commentators for his
’ability effectively to manage the political dimensions of disputes alongside the legal implications.’ Stanimir Alexandrov is another crucial player for PIL, with clients appreciating
’his exceptional ability to understand how companies operate in a PIL context, providing clear and practical advice.’ ”
Chambers Global 2010 – Global, Public International Law
“Investment treaty arbitrations form the mainstay of this team’s work, accounting for a large part of its fine reputation. It has been instructed by governments and companies alike in a variety of disputes relating to international trade agreements and investment treaties. . . . Sources are full of admiration for Stanimir Alexandrov, declaring him a brilliant strategist who can accurately predict the tactics used by the client’s opponent and incorporate them into his own handling of the case.”
Chambers Global 2010 - Latin America-wide, International Arbitration
“Sources speak of
’a fine-quality team with impressive skills’ in areas including UNCITRAL arbitrations for a number of international clients. A team of
’creative, can-do lawyers with whom long-term relationships are a given’ acts for clients from a range of sectors, including pharmaceutical, mining and financial services. Charles Allen is lauded for his ‘
thoughtful, straightforward answers and diligent work ethic’ across both litigation and arbitration.”
Chambers Asia 2010 – China/Hong Kong, Dispute Resolution: Hong Kong
“This team boasts one of the region‘s top disputes practices, combined with a cross-border M&A team that supports Korean and foreign clients. Allen Kim is ‘
a truly unique asset’ for the firm, with an active practice representing Korean clients in overseas disputes, particularly in North America. . . .”
Chambers Global 2010 – South Korea - Overseas Counsel, Dispute Resolution
“Complementing the firm’s corporate capabilities, this thriving dispute resolution practice is singled out for its lawyers’ ‘
objective and pragmatic advice’ and well thought-out approach. . . . ‘
A good, lateral thinker,’ Charles Allen was made partner in 2007 and is prized for the strong relationships he builds with clients. Bilingual in Korean and English, Allen Kim ‘
engenders great confidence with his skilled and efficient manner’.”
Chambers Asia 2009 – Hong Kong, Dispute Resolution
“Sources say [the team] ‘
looks at the big picture, without missing the minutiae.’ . . . Fantastic insurance litigator Dorothy Cory-Wright is
‘bright, hard-working and pragmatic’.”
Chambers UK 2010 - Restructuring/Insolvency: Insurance Insolvency: London
The Legal 500
Sidley Austin LLP’s international arbitration practice is built around a seven-partner Washington DC team, whose ‘
work product is absolutely superb’, with support in New York, Los Angeles, London and Hong Kong. The practice concentrates on high-profile investor-state arbitration, where it has one of the largest dockets of any firm, and has developed ‘
a very experienced team of lawyers who are experts in these types of international arbitration disputes’. The firm has extensive experience advising both companies and governments on disputes arising under international trade and investment agreements before most major arbitral bodies. . . . Meanwhile, in addition to its investorstate offering, the firm also has a prominent commercial arbitration profile spearheaded by the West Coast team. This group is particularly active in Asian arbitrations, either involving clients based in Asia or with significant business in the region. . . . Washington DC-based Stanimir Alexandrov is ‘
an amazing attorney whose knowledge of international arbitration decisions and jurisprudence surpasses most others’. Daniel Price has quickly re-established himself on his return to the firm after serving as an assistant to the President during the Bush Administration. He is ‘
a substantive legal and policy expert with some of the best instincts on how to address key issues and problems’. Jennifer Haworth McCandless, is an expert on investor-state and WTO disputes, and is ‘
extremely astute and detail-oriented’.
The Legal 500 United States 2010, Litigation – International Arbitration
“Admired for its ‘
awesome quality’, Sidley Austin LLP’s Geneva office is dedicated solely to work relating to the WTO. Described as an ‘
excellent oral advocate’, Nicolas Lockhart was made a partner in July 2008. Scott Andersen leads the team that is currently representing stakeholders in 17 WTO disputes . . . .”
The Legal 500 also highlights the ‘
excellent’ Marc Palay for leading a team “which is praised for its ‘
thorough and business-minded’ approach. Handling almost exclusively international arbitration, it continues to advise on some of Europe’s highest-profile complex arbitrations . . . .
Legal 500 EMEA 2009 – Switzerland, Dispute Resolution
”Sidley Austin LLP has seen a gradual increase in the volume of disputes it handles, enjoying its share of credit crunch insurance disputes, contested US catastrophe claims, and Bermudan work. Steven Pitt has been promoted to partner.
Legal 500 UK 2010 – London, Insurance, Insurance and reinsurance litigation
“In London, Dorothy Cory-Wright heads the department and is noted as ‘
very client focused’ with ‘
excellent technical skills’. The group has been involved in some interesting multi-jurisdictional disputes, and works closely with colleagues in Chicago and New York City.”
Legal 500 UK 2009 – London, Insurance, Insurance and reinsurance litigation
“Sidley Austin has an extremely diverse practice that covers a broad swathe of commercial litigation and arbitration . . . Allen Kim, who clients describe as ‘
very professional’, ‘thorough’, ‘responsive’ and a talented advocate, has brought a substantial portfolio of Korea-originated arbitration to the Hong Kong office. . . . Charles Allen heads the department and is widely praised for his record in Hong Kong disputes.”
Asia Pacific Legal 500,
2008/2009, Hong Kong – Dispute Resolution
Benchmark Litigation “With its expansive global footprint, Sidley Austin has become adept at handling international disputes for corporations and governments relating to international trade agreements and investment treaties. Stanimir Alexandrov co-chairs the firm’s international arbitration group and specializes in investor state arbitrations and resolving trade disputes before bodies such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). One satisfied client applauds the expertise of Daniel Price as well as that of the overall international disputes group. ‘
With Dan and his group, you’re paying for experience. If you’re looking for a group to work up a case and do document work, they can do that, but they’re real value is they have very seasoned lawyers who have spent significant time over at the WTO,’ says the client. ‘
They come from the walks of life that make their input very valuable. They know all the people in the international trade level. They see it from all angles. You get a top-heavy group in terms of the experience, which is what I need for this type of litigation.’ ”
Benchmark Litigation 2010 – National
“The firm excels in virtually all areas of litigation including bankruptcy, international arbitration, and securities. ‘
I think Sidley brings the wisdom, experience and political savvy that comes in handy in international trade cases,’ says a client. . . . Daniel Price, Marinn Carlson and Stanimir Alexandrov have a strong international arbitration practice. . . . A former assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor for international economic affairs, Price is ‘
a very wise counsel,’ says a competitor. Alexandrov co-chairs the firm’s international arbitration practice and, a peer notes, has an ‘
absolutely first-rate mind.’ ”
Benchmark Litigation 2010 - District of Columbia
The Lawyer
The Lawyer, a U.K. publication that covers the legal profession, has named Dorothy Cory-Wright to its “Hot 100” list for 2008. As a barrister and solicitor-advocate, Dorothy was named in the litigators category.
The Lawyer also highlighted Dorothy’s practice in its December 1, 2008 issue in an article that discussed U.K. litigators who have joined U.S.-based firms. The article noted that since joining Sidley in July 2007, Dorothy ‘
has turned her hand to a whole bunch of commercial disputes’ in addition to her practice in reinsurance litigation.
The Lawyer Hot 100 2008
Global Arbitration Review
Global Arbitration Review published a special report on the rising status of women in the international arbitration field, according to which “many women between the age of 38 and 48 are now considered by peers and clients as heavy hitters”. Sidley’s Marinn Carlson was profiled alongside 37 other prominent women arbitrators from around the globe.
Global Arbitration Review 2007
In an article profiling the leading international arbitration practices based in Washington, D.C., Sidley is among the four firms standing out as elite. Yet while “[e]ach earns points with rivals for having: (i) a mix of types of work, and (ii) well respected leaders with international standing in the field. . . . In the peer review category, Sidley Austin appears to stand apart, even from the other three elite Washington arbitration practices . . . . Its team is spearheaded by Dan Price . . . . ‘
Sidley’s a very serious practice’, comments one rival. ‘
Dan Price is a spectacular lawyer and the group as a whole is very good at its job.’ Price is described as the practice’s initial lightning rod.” Stanimir Alexandrov, Marinn Carlson and Jennifer Haworth McCandless are also mentioned as key members of the Sidley team.
Global Arbitration Review 2006,
Volume 1, Issue 4
American Lawyer
“When [Sidley Austin's] Daniel Price left the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in 1992, he understood globalization from the inside out. . . . Price saw a broader order — and a new practice area — emerging from the Uruguay Round of trade talks, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and bilateral investment treaties. . . . ‘
I saw the opportunity to do something different — to serve private stakeholders dealing with the challenges of globalization.’ . . . Global trade practice is expanding as the law implicates ever more economic sectors and players. ‘
The WTO covers every aspect of international economic affairs,’ says Price, ‘
not only goods, but services and intellectual property. For sophisticated companies, it’s impossible to ignore as they structure investments or address regulatory problems.’ . . . Now arbitration between states and investors takes up 30 percent of the Sidley group’s time. ‘
There’s an artificial line between WTO and investor-state cases,’ [Price] says. ‘
We’re the first group to identify this practice, and conceptualize it as seamless.’ “
The American Lawyer, Focus Europe, Winter 2006
Cross-border Quarterly
Observing that “The single most important development in the international arbitration arena over the past few years has been the rise in the number of investment treaty claims brought before the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID),”
Cross-Border Quarterly and
Which Lawyer? identified Dan Price as one of the “Top 20 Arbitration Specialists,” noting that he “has been praised for his high-profile work in investment treaty arbitrations.”
Cross-Border Quarterly, July-Sept. 2006: “The Arbitration Elite: In a League of Their Own”
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