International Disputes

"The arbitration team is the best I've ever seen; their strategic thinking and trial skills are unparalleled and it is a genuine delight to work with them."

Chambers USA 2022

Baker Botts' International Disputes Team combines strategic judgment with excellence in advocacy, providing round-the-world experience with round-the-clock service.

Who We Are.

Global. We are a multinational, multilingual team of international lawyers from every continent, trained in the civil law, the common law and international law. We pay close attention to the political and cultural realities of the jurisdictions in which our clients operate.

Client Advocates. We are not just lawyers, we are also advocates. Our extensive experience in the hearing room gives us the insight to understand what is important to our clients’ objectives and separate what actually matters — the “big picture” — from the noise. We are praised for the insightfulness and effectiveness of our oral advocacy.

Strategic Advisors. International disputes are often complex, with multiple applicable laws, different languages and factual and procedural twists and turns influenced by cultural differences. We leverage those complexities to find strategic opportunities. As a testament to our ability, we are often engaged to solve our clients’ most challenging and serious disputes.

Efficient and Cost-Effective Counsel. Our ability to identify and focus on the facts and principles – that matter to the outcome of our clients’ cases – allows us to avoid wasted costs on unnecessary distractions. We use that same experience to estimate, manage and budget matters to provide greater transparency into the costs of arbitration. And because we are confident in our abilities, we are always pleased to explore alternative fee options of mutual benefit.

"Certainly, the firm’s international arbitration practice is strong in all respects."

The Legal 500 U.S. 2021

What We Do.

International Commercial Arbitration. We are counsel to many claimants and respondents, around the world, in numerous industries. We represent our clients in proceedings before the major arbitration bodies, as well as ad hoc arbitral tribunals. We advise clients on all stages of their disputes, including dispute avoidance and pre-dispute advice, representation in legal proceedings, and enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards.

Investor State Disputes. We are counsel to many investors and States involved in a wide range of disputes arising out of the alleged mistreatment of investments — raising issues such as expropriation, fair and equitable treatment, national treatment, most favored nation treatment, and the adequacy of the protection and security provided by the host State. These disputes arise under bilateral or multilateral investment treaties, free trade agreements, regional cooperation agreements and investment agreements. We represent clients before the ICSID, the PCA in The Hague and other arbitration bodies.

“Distinguished team of public international lawyers representing clients in high-profile investment treaty disputes.”

Chambers UK 2019

Public International Law. We provide strategic counsel to clients on a wide range of public international law issues, including the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, claims that involve the European Convention on Human Rights, the application of the Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the interpretation of various treaties and international conventions, the rules and principles concerning dealings with the effective government of a State, the customary rules of the Law of the Sea and the effects of termination of, and withdrawal from, international treaties.

Multijurisdictional Litigation. We frequently represent clients facing multiple, related legal proceedings in several jurisdictions. In these situations, coordination and consistency of strategy are essential – and so is the ability to understand and manage the complex procedural issues that arise from the multiple, potentially different laws and rules that may apply. We pursue and defend various parallel legal proceedings, including arbitrations, national court lawsuits and international court proceedings.

A Sample of What Others Say.