International Arbitration

4 Pump Court’s specialist advocacy is among the most highly regarded at the commercial Bar and we are widely known for our success in settling disputes through international arbitration.

Our experience in international arbitration spans a wide range of industries and specialisations, from construction and large-scale projects, IT, shipping and shipbuilding, energy (including offshore and onshore, solar and wind), banking, international trade and sale of goods, as well as more general commercial disputes.

Our barristers appear in both institutional and ad-hoc arbitrations. They have experience of all the major rules, including CIETAC, DIAC, HKIAC, ICC, ICSID, LCIA, LMAA, LME, SCC, SCMA, SIAC and UNCITRAL.

In addition to appearing in arbitrations based in London, barristers from 4 Pump Court have a strong reputation for their frequent appearances in arbitrations outside the UK, including the Middle East (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Oman and Qatar) and Asia (China, Hong Kong, India and Singapore). Our members regularly appear in arbitrations where the governing law is not English law, including arbitrations under the laws of China, Hong Kong, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Singapore.

In addition to specialist advocacy and representation in arbitration, our barristers are also instructed in arbitration-related court applications, such as applications relating to emergency injunctions (including freezing and anti-suit relief), the preservation of evidence and the enforcement of awards, as well as challenges and appeals against awards. Our members have acted in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court on arbitration-related work.

Our extensive international experience means that we routinely act in partnership with lawyers from multiple jurisdictions. We are able to provide a single barrister or a team, depending on the requirements of the case and instructing lawyers. With established experience in international arbitrations, we are well placed to appreciate and deal with the challenges arising from having legal teams based in a number of international locations. We are often instructed as co-counsel with other international lawyers.

Many of our members also sit as independent arbitrators – either full-time or part-time. We accept appointments from all the leading institutions, UK-based and international, acting both as members of tribunals and also as sole arbitrators.