King & Spalding’s energy arbitration lawyers are highly experienced in handling arbitrations in every major forum in the world, including ICSID, ICC, LCIA, AAA, and UNCITRAL, among others. The firm has handled energy arbitrations involving projects and parties in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East and involving every major sector: oil and gas (upstream, midstream, and downstream), electricity, utilities, and water services, among others. Having served as advocates in numerous multimillion- and multibillion-dollar arbitrations, the firm’s lawyers are experienced in the art of advocacy. With a multicultural group of international lawyers trained in every major legal system and fluent in numerous languages, King & Spalding is able to handle cases effectively and efficiently anywhere in the world.
Legal 500 describes King & Spalding’s Doak Bishop as “one of the most knowledgeable investor-state arbitration attorneys practicing today,” and Chambers Latin America observes that “his knowledge of the energy sector is unparalleled.” Chambers USA confirms that Bishop “stands out; his abilities are truly extraordinary.” Legal 500, noting his focus on the energy sector, states that King & Spalding’s John Bowman is considered “an exceptional international arbitration specialist” and Chambers USA confirms that Bowman is a “key player on the team” and adds that he is both a “tremendously skillful lawyer, and a wonderful human being.” In addition, Chambers USA records that Ed Kehoe “receives abundant praise for his talented approach to international arbitration and leadership skills in developing the practice,” and remarks that Craig Miles is “seen by sources as ‘the man behind a lot of the recent success of the group.’”
King & Spalding is dedicated to the growth of its International Arbitration Practice to serve its clients’ needs. In 2009 the firm opened an office in Paris, which is led by Eric Schwartz, former secretary-general of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, who has been recognized by Chambers Global as having“excellent global experience,” and as having “acted in some very important commercial arbitrations.” In 2010 the firm saw further expansion with the opening of an office in Singapore, from where John Savage now leads the International Arbitration Practice in Asia. Chambers Asia has reported that clients find Savage “excellent in strategic advice and indispensable when it comes to conducting the arbitration hearings.” Chambers Global has observed that Savage is “incisive, imaginative, and prepared to be tough if need arises.”
King & Spalding’s experience provides many benefits:
- A long track record of taking energy arbitrations to hearing on the merits and final award, having tried at least one high-dollar energy arbitration (minimum $100 million in controversy) each year for the past several years.
- A team highly trained in the hybrid system of energy arbitration, which combines extensive written submissions (the touchstone of civil code legal systems) with the art of oral cross-examination (the touchstone of common law systems).
- A record of successfully representing energy clients in all the major arbitral institutions.
Recognitions
- Chambers USA selected King & Spalding as the 2010 recipient of its annual Award for Excellence in the field of international arbitration, recognizing it as the top Tier 1 arbitration practice and citing its achievements in the energy industry, among others.
- Chambers Latin America selected King & Spalding as the 2010 recipient of its annual Award for Excellence in the field of international arbitration, observing, “The team is renowned for its exceptional capabilities across the energy sector, where the firm acts for some big-name clients.”
- Global Arbitration Review reported, in its Guide to Specialist Arbitration Firms 2010, that King & Spalding’s “rise up the rankings speaks volumes for the power of a winning record,” and ranked the practice in the top 15 worldwide.
- Legal 500 in 2010 recognized King & Spalding as having “developed a prominent reputation in the oil and gas sector,” and emphasized the team’s “consistently excellent work.”
- King & Spalding ranked second in the world in Focus Europe’s May 2009 Arbitration Scorecard issue, based on size and number of disputes handled.
- King & Spalding was named one of the top energy and natural resources firms in the United States in the 2008 edition of Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
