Baker Botts has a dedicated team of international arbitration and dispute resolution lawyers, offering one of the world's premier practices. Our multinational, multi-lingual team is from North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and trained in the civil law and common law. They work across all of our offices to provide seamless round-the-world experience with round-the-clock service.

Our lawyers have served in high government posts, and as judges, arbitrators, mediators and in-house counsel to international organizations. We have represented sovereign nations, princes and presidents and a vast number of global businesses. We have advised clients with projects ranging from intercontinental pipelines and international broadband networks to global manufacturing operations and worldwide distribution chains. This extensive international practice has allowed us to build trusted relationships with professionals and specialists around the globe. Baker Botts' collective knowledge and relationships have created a unique network to address and respond to each client's particular business and legal needs.

Our lawyers help clients navigate international disputes, regardless of the forum – arbitration, litigation, negotiation or government investigation. We take care to coordinate legal proceedings pending in multiple jurisdictions so that they complement, rather than interfere with, one another. Baker Botts has the experience to achieve its clients' goals, and is committed to doing so.

Baker Botts has been recognized in Chambers, Legal 500, Who's Who Legal, PLC and Global Arbitration Review for its strength and accomplishments over the previous years.

International Arbitration Practice
We routinely advise clients on the elements of an effective and enforceable dispute resolution clause that will maximize their chances of success if a dispute later arises. And if disputes do arise, we guide our clients through the many strategic choices they face in the arbitral process. We counsel our clients from start to finish because we understand the serious business and legal consequences that can result from a misstep along the arbitral path. We advise clients from all over the world on both institutional and ad hoc arbitrations. We are familiar with all the major arbitral rules and arbitral centres, and have recently handled disputes in Frankfurt, Geneva, Houston, London, Miami, New York, Paris, Quito, Seoul, Singapore, Stockholm, Washington D.C., Vienna and Zurich and under the Arbitration Rules of the ICC, the LCIA , the ICSID, the SCC, the ICDR, the ZCC, the VIAC rules and ad hoc. These arbitrations have been governed by a variety of different legal systems, including the laws of Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, England, Germany, Greece, Korea, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, The Russian Federation, Turkey, United States and Yemen. Our arbitration lawyers do not just manage cases, but actually try them. Our lawyers are experienced advocates, conducting arbitrations under the major multinational and national arbitral institutions.

Investor-State Disputes
Thousands of bilateral and multilateral investment treaties, including many recent free trade agreements, give those doing business outside their home country important substantive rights and private rights of action against the nations hosting their international business activities. Our investor-state dispute practice has four equally important components. First, we advise many clients on how to structure their international businesses to obtain the most advantage from existing treaties and how to use that advantage when confronting difficulties in a host state. Second, we advise sovereigns on the scope of treaty obligations and means of treaty compliance. Third, we represent both investors and host states when disagreements end up in arbitration. Fourth, we enforce awards and represent our clients in annulment proceedings if and when necessary.

Boundary and Other Public International Law Disputes
Public international law reaches many areas of dispute beyond those brought under investment treaties. It is directly at issue in disputes regarding national boundaries and maritime delimitations, sovereign and diplomatic immunities, economic sanctions, international trade regulations, international discovery proceedings, extradition and foreign corrupt practices, among others. Our lawyers have counseled both states and private parties in matters of public international law. By representing both sovereigns and private parties, and by having lawyers who have served in government posts and international organizations, we understand the practical realities as well as the legal standards and procedural rules.

International Litigation Practice
Baker Botts represents many sovereign nations, multinational corporations and individuals in cross-border disputes pending in national courts. Our trial lawyers have a remarkable record in these matters. Frequently, international disputes generate parallel proceedings in multiple jurisdictions. Whether we are licensed to practice before the courts in every nation where the dispute is pending, or instead are working cooperatively with qualified local counsel to develop winning strategies, our trial lawyers bring their judgment and experience to every case.

We have addressed disputes involving virtually every industry. International disputes, of course, often present an additional layer of special legal issues relating to conflicts of law, sovereign immunity, the act-of-state doctrine, the forum non conveniens doctrine, international service and international discovery. Our understanding of these issues is often a big part of the solution.

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INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION BROCHURE