Editorial: Commercial Arbitration

01 December 2007

We feature more individuals in this chapter than in any previous edition of The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, and more jurisdictions, which not everybody considers a good thing.

One person told us that the chapter was "starting to have some fat on it" because we include lawyers from jurisdictions that cannot be considered the equal of France, England or Switzerland in the depth of their arbitration bars. Given the expansion of arbitration across the globe, we think it useful to take a broad view, so long as we are sufficiently elitist about each particular location. This approach has identified 449 individuals from 60 countries as the world's leading arbitration specialists. Although commercial arbitration remains a field where the major currency is individual standing, some firms' reputations are enhanced here, as a by-product of their professionals' success.

GLOBAL PLAYERS

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has 11 lawyers selected for this edition - one more than last year. The largest concentration of these is in Paris. Jan Paulsson once again is among the very best and was described as the "guru", "completely reliable", and "very imaginative" among other things. Paulsson was commended for his "extraordinary ability to find a solution" and "to understand so rapidly cases that have no precedent". Nigel Blackaby is "one of the great names of his generation", who has a "great practice of his own at a relatively young age" and focuses on work originating in Latin America. Having made his name on cases related to Argentina, Blackaby of late has been working for Eni Dación in its billion-dollar claim against Venezuela. Georgios Petrochilos is the firm's new entry to the book. He became a partner in 2007 and is said to be "unbeatable" and already possesses a "great reputation". Meanwhile the more established Peter Turner is "efficient" and "effective".
To add strength between its London and Paris offices, the "superb" Constantine Partasides has relocated to London. He "will be one of the field's absolute leaders in five years", according to one reviewer. Partasides recently won a large case for the Republic of Kenya against World Duty Free, a company that the panel concluded had obtained its contract through bribery. The award is expected to become a key decision on this important subject. In the case Partasides bested Geoffrey Robertson QC, one of the UK's most feared advocates. Partasides joins Nigel Rawding in our London list.

In Austria, Günther Horvath is prominent, with one respondent to the survey noting he's a "very reputable member of the Austrian legal community with a fine record in arbitration". In Germany, Rolf Trittmann is prominent and rated as "really impressive". Jacomijn van Haersolte-Van Hof represents the firm in the Netherlands list - she is one of the country's most nominated practitioners. Brian King is en route to London, via New York (at the time of publication). He and the group's permanent representative in the US Lucy Reed performed well in our survey. King was recommended for his work on ICSID arbitrations, and possesses an "outstanding practice"; Reed has been representing CMS Gas Transmission Corporation. One source said he "thinks the world of [her]".

Herbert Smith LLP is also better represented in this year's edition - although much of its strength lies in Asia where the competition for places is less fierce. The firm now has nine individuals in the book, one up on a year ago. The new entry is Matthew Weiniger in London. He was recommended a number of times for advising Eurotunnel on its successful claim against France and the UK over damage arising from poor security at one end of the tunnel. Laurence Shore is another highly nominated individual in England. He is known for his "brilliant mind" and for being "very good at judging the mood of an arbitration". Shore has been working for Videsh Sanchar Nigam in its appeal against an International Chamber of Commerce ruling in favour of FLAG Telecom. The "fantastic" David Brynmor Thomas also works in London - as does Mark Lloyd-Williams, who in previous editions has been a nominee for Hong Kong. "Very strong" Charles Kaplan performed exceptionally well in our France research and is "perfectly bilingual".

Graeme Johnston who is a partner in China was praised as "very capable" and "top tier". Herbert Smith also has two Japan-based lawyers in this book - Peter Godwin and Dominic Roughton. Roughton specialises in energy sector and in technology, media and telecoms disputes. Godwin, for example, has been advising a Japanese telecoms company on a billion-dollar dispute over third generation mobile phone technology. The ninth Herbert
Smith partner in the book is Alastair Henderson, "the man in Thailand" and unsurprisingly the country's most highly nominated individual.

White & Case LLP's international arbitration practice provides nine nominess for the chapter. Three of these work from France. Stephen Bond was the most highly nominated of the the White & Case contingent - he is said to be the "crème de la crème" and deserving "of greater recognition". Christopher Seppälä is spoken of as the "leading construction arbitration specialist in Paris". Seppälä has chaired ICC tribunals and served as counsel to African states. The "excellent" Michael Polkinghorne completes the trio and is said to be prominent in energy and infrastructure disputes.

Outside Paris, White & Case lawyers are included from the United States, Sweden, Hong Kong and London. In the US the firm is said to have "one of the leading arbitration practices". Carolyn Lamm in Washington, DC is a "first-rate international arbitrator" about whom people "can't say enough good things". Abby Cohen Smutny also features prominently in the Washington, DC research. Among other things, Lamm and Smutny have helped the government of the Philippines defend against a US$425 million claim brought by a German airport builder. Sources say Paul Friedland is "fantastic" and is prominent in New York. Claes Zettermarck in Sweden is "definitely top tier". He's recently been counsel for one of the respondents in hard-fought arbitration about ownership of a mobile company. Kim Rooney has a high profile in Hong Kong and "gets interesting instructions", according to sources.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERTISE

A number of other UK and US origin international firms also see multiple partners included in this book, without quite reaching the levels of these three firms.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, for example, can point to a solid arrangement of well-regarded practitioners in London, Paris and New York, making it exceptional among firms. It has recently strengthened its line-up in London - adding the UK's former attorney general, Lord Peter Goldsmith QC (too late, however, to be considered for this chapter). At present it has five highly rated individuals in the publication. We do, however, include "thoroughly professional" David W Rivkin who forms with Donald Francis Donovan "an impressive duo in New York". Donovan is a "creative thinker" who has been awarded an Aztec Eagle - the highest honour a foreigner can receive from the Mexican government - for his work on human rights cases. Mark Friedman and Peter Rees feature prominently in London, as does the "brilliant" and "very intellectual" Barton Legum in Paris.

Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP is another leading US name in the international arbitration market. It has five nominees this year, one up on the last edition. John Gardiner, the new entry, works from New York and is "experienced". Dana Freyer and Barry Garfinkel also featured prominently in conversations about New York. Garfinkel was described as "one of the top people". He helped to represent Cemex Asia Holdings in a claim against Indonesia that was the first use of the ASEAN treaty for investment protection - White & Case was on the other side. In London, two partners Karyl Nairn and Paul Mitchard feature. Nairn is "ambitious" and "superb". The two are counsel to the claimant in an Energy Charter Treaty claim against the Republic of Georgia.

In London, everybody is talking about Allen & Overy LLP. It has two partners in this edition from London, and three from elsewhere. From the London office, Judith Gill is "positive and thorough", "excellent", "terrific" and "a star"; Stephen Jagusch is "very charming and nice - which matters in arbitration" and "extremely impressive". Matthew Gearing is "one of the brightest of the bright young things" and is relocating from London to Hong Kong at the end of April 2008. In Belgium Luc Demeyere is "excellent counsel". Across the Atlantic, Louis Kimmelman, who was recruited to the firm to work from New York, displays "very good judgement".

Lovells LLP has an additional person in the book this year - Robert Hunter in Germany. Hunter joins Volker Triebel - who has "extensive experience" - in the German section of the book. Phillip Capper is the firm's most highly rated arbitration specialist for London, it seems. He was described as particularly good on construction disputes. And the final entry for the firm is Timothy Hill in Hong Kong. Hill is the Hong Kong representative of the LCIA.
Clifford Chance LLP has five nominees following the departure of Paris-based Jason Fry to become the new secretary general of the ICC's Court of International Arbitration. Two of the firm's partners on our list work from London. John Beechey leads the firm's arbitration practice. He personally received one of the highest numbers of recommendations and was described as "very, very well known", "a star" and "someone with a truly international profile". Audley Sheppard is also prominent in London and "excellent". Fabian von Schlabrendorff features greatly in our German research and was recommended as "the main guy at Clifford Chance in Germany". David Lindsey gives the firm a notable presence in the New York market and is said to be"good". Ignacio Suarez Anzorena features prominently in Washington, DC and his Latin American experience was brought to our attention.

Shearman & Sterling LLP is especially strong in Paris, where four of the six lawyers we profile are based. Yas Banifatemi is a new entry this year. She is said to be "experienced and excellent" and "very hard working". Alongside Emmanuel Gaillard she has been acting for three Cypriot companies in a consolidated US$33 billion claim against Russia. Gaillard is "the biggest name in Europe if not the world" and "the leading light at Sheaman & Sterling". Fernando Mantilla-Serrano is another prominent Paris-based practitioner. Sources noted he "brings in the Spanish work" and that he is very good on Latin American arbitrations. Philippe Pinsolle comes recommended as "experienced". Meanwhile, Richard Kreindler in Germany is "well known" and John Savage is rated as "the best in Asia". Praised for his "international profile", Savage is based in Singapore.

John Fellas and Steven Hammond of Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP appear in the New York section. Fellas is now starting to appear on cases as an arbitrator - for example, he is Harvard University's appointed arbitrator in one of the first-ever class actions to proceed under particular arbitration rules, in a dispute between the university and a Russian oil company. John Townsend in Washington, DC is "very smart and pays attention to detail", making him "good on complex cases". Townsend is chairman of the American Arbitration Association's board of directors. Hughes Hubbard is also strong in France. Axel Baum is one of Paris's leading lights. Jose Rosell from the firm also features and is "very active" according to sources.

Salans is a French firm with a deep global footprint. Aigoul Kenjebayeva is the only person featured in Kazakhstan and new to the Who's Who Legal series this year. Piotr Nowaczyk is rated "as the best arbitrator and counsel" in Poland. He is president of the court of arbitration at the Polish Chamber of Commerce. Salans also remains strong in its French heartland, with three nominees. In Paris, Carl Salans is "totally reliable", "impressive" and "disciplined". Jeffrey Hertzfeld is "absolutely first- class" and Sarah François-Poncet is "a dynamo".

ENGLAND

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP jumps from one practitioner to four in this edition. Long-term inclusion in this series Gary Born again receives huge amounts of praise - "the leading expert on the interface between EU and US law", says one source. He is now joined by three of his partners, all of whom work from London in a large team that, although based in London, is multi-national in membership, and covers civil and common law. Partners Steven Finizio, Wendy Jane Miles and Franz Schwarz are the debutants.

The English bar brims with arbitration experience. Despite embarking on his career intent on being a criminal defence barrister, a fact revealed at a recent conference, VV Veeder QC ("Johnny" to everybody), is now at the pinnacle of the arbitration field. He is "outstanding" and the "writes the very finest awards". Julian Lew QC from 20 Essex Street is also "outstanding". He is also "smart, down to earth and relaxed" and well deserves to be a "leading UK name". Lew is a fomer head of international arbitration at Herbert Smith LLP and head of the School of International Arbitration at Queen Mary University, making him a mentor to many up-and-coming practitioners. VV Veeder's colleagues at Essex Court Chambers, the younger Toby Landau QC and the older Martin Hunter, also feature prominently. Landau is "first-rate" and routinely selected as the junior arbitration barrister of the year, it seems. Hunter almost needs no comment. He wrote the book on international arbitration, literally, with Alan Redfern. Hunter is "a towering figure", according to sources. Redfern at One Essex Court is someone that other arbitrators look up to. Like Hunter he makes the cut, and is "always responsive and thorough", comments one source. Neil Kaplan CBE QC at Essex Court is "the doyen of arbitration in Hong Kong", where he is a member of Des Voeux Chambers and a former judge and chair of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre. Kaplan divides his time between Europe and Asia. Retired law lord and former vice president of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, Michael Mustill is"very smart and effective". Charles Brower, of 20 Essex Street is "a household name" according to sources. Brower has been a judge of the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal continuously between 1983 and now, though varying between titular (1984-1988 and 2001-present) and substitute (1983-1984 and 1988-2000) status. David St John Sutton, of 20 Essex Street makes the list - described as "very smart", particularly when it comes to energy disputes. David Williams QC, of Essex Court Chambers, is many people's chairman of choice at the moment.
Williams is a New Zealander but runs his arbitration work from Europe. He is "well organised and very bright". Michael Lee, of 20 Essex Street is an "effective tribunal chair", say sources, while former head of chambers Kenneth Rokison QC is "impressive". William Rowley QC of 20 Essex Street is emerging as an arbitrator who receives the top cases. He presided over a key treaty-based arbitration that recently concluded against Argentina, giving a "magisterial" award. The London list also features Arthur Marriott QC of Dewey & Leboeuf LLP, who began as a barrister. Dewey & LeBoeuf was created from the recent merger between LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae LLP and Dewey Ballantine LLP. Marriott commutes between London and Hong Kong. Sources commend him on his advocacy, and ability to be "on top of his files".

FRANCE

"Superstar"Yves Derains of Derains & Associés in Paris drew gushing comments from respondents to our survey. Although principally known as an arbitrator, Derains does still act as counsel: for example, he has recently been advising one of the sides in a UNCITRAL claim by Spanish fuel companies Repsol and Gas Natural against Algeria's state-owned oil company. Eric Schwartz of the newly merged Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is also described as "top tier" with a "distinguished career" in international arbitration. Jan Paulsson's long-time friend and co-author - they wrote a book on arbitration at the ICC - Laurence Craig is another "star". Serge Lazareff, the senior partner of Serge Lazareff Law Firm also makes the list. Sources say he is an "excellent arbitrator". From the Paris office of Jones Day LLP, two practitioners feature - Swede Sigvard Jarvin and the firm's arbitration practice leader, Michael Bühler. Both receive high praise. Jarvin is as good as he is well-known, say sources, while Bühler is a "quiet but effective" advocate. Matthieu de Boisséson of Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier is "outstanding". De Boisséson was once with Gide Loyrette Nouel - a firm that also appears in our France section, with two entries in the list: Carole Malinvaud and Christian Camboulive. Malinvaud is, like her former colleague, recommended as "first-rate" and "a quite outstanding lawyer". Camboulive too comes with strong recommendations and offers "very good counsel", according to sources. "A good mind" was the verdict on Alexis Mourre, one of the founding partners of boutique firm Castaldi Mourre & Partners and accomplished arbitrator and academic. Partners from Dechert LLP round out the French section. Pierre Mayer "combines practicality with academia", and is "one of the outstanding arbitrators of his generation." Colombian national Eduardo Silvero Romero joins him on the list, an expert on Latin America and someone one source "would call upon in a moment".

GERMANY

Independent arbitrator Karl-Heinz Böckstiegel is "one of the best of the world". Klaus Michael Sachs of CMS Hasche Sigle "would be in the Champions League, if there were one", possessing a "rare combination of personal and judicial skills". The "widely published" Hilmar Raeschke-Kessler was also commended. He is one of only 31 members of the bar of the German Federal Court of Justice and works as chairman, arbitrator and counsel in international arbitrations. At the University of Cologne, Klaus Peter Berger is praised for his "hands-on approach". Our source noted that "in 10 years' time he'll be a global star". Gino Lorcher of Lorcher & Lorcher and Wolfgang Kühn of Heuking Kuhn Luer Wotjek also make the cut. In addition, Siegfried Elsing of Hölters & Esling is a "good academic" who is also "commercially minded and user-friendly".

SWITZERLAND

Switzerland manages to hold no fewer than 33 arbitration experts deemed essential for this year's book. Since completing our research the most senior figures at Schellenberg Wittmer, Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler and Laurent Lévy, have left to run a boutique, Levy Kaufmann-Kohler, and devote their time to sitting as arbitrators. Kaufmann-Kohler received more nominations than any other Swiss lawyer and is "first class", "absolutely superb" and "the best". They leave behind Schellenberg Wittmer partners Nathalie Voser, Georg Von Segesser ("well known") and rising star Anne-Véronique Schlaepfer. In addition Elliot Geisinger appears.

Now that Schellenberg Wittmer has said goodbye to those two, Lalive is the best-represented Swiss firm, with five lawyers included. Pierre Lalive needs little introduction. He remains "the grand old man" of Swiss arbitration. Michael Schneider is "extraordinary" and "able to get on top of painful fact-orientated disputes". He is a respected construction-sector specialist too. Others mentioned are Dominique Brown-Berset, Teresa Giovannini and Matthias Scherer - all of whom are going up and up in people's estimation, some now starting to sit as arbitrators.

Lenz & Staehelin has tow nominees. "He's a take-charge kind of person," adds one. Paolo Michele Patocchi and Xavier Favre-Bulle are "up and coming" young counsel - both worth instructing, say sources. Outside the top firms, Pierre Karrer is of course on the list. He is the chair of the arbitration commission of the Swiss national committee of the ICC. Comments such as "great" and "the best arbitrator, in my opinion" were made about him. Marc Blessing, of Bär & Karrer AG is "experienced and good". His partner Daniel Hochstrasser is an "intelligent and sophisticated lawyer" who "can advise on any international arbitration problem that might arise". Professor Pierre Tercier is an essential inclusion - he is the president of the ICC's Court of International Arbitration. From the law firm Python Peter, partners Wolfgang Peter and Pierre-Yves Gunter both get credit. Peter is "someone I would strongly recommend," says a source. Gunter is "solid and good" and an "up and coming star". The Swiss section also includes two partners from Homburger. Markus Wirth, a former president of the Swiss Arbitration Association is considered"highly qualified" and "well respected, alongside Gabrielle Nater Bass who is "up and coming".

AUSTRIA

Despite its relatively small size Austria punches above its weight in the arbitration world. Two firms deserve particular mention. At Wolf Theiss, Christoph Liebscher and Andreas Theiss appear. Liebscher was recommended for his skill presenting arguments and his "fine record in arbitration". He has sat as an arbitrator in disputes under ICC rules and is a prolific writer. "What he publishes is excellent," says a source. Dorda Brugger Jordis is the other Austrian firm with more than one lawyer liste, Florian Kremslehner's and Christian Dorda's inclusion being essential, we were told.

Other prominent practitioners in Austria are Andreas Reiner at ARP - Andreas Reiner & Partner, who tops the Austrian findings and is "first-class" according to the research, and Werner Melis. Melis practises at Baier Böhm Rechtsanwälte and is "first-rate".

BELGIUM AND THE NETHERLANDS

Members of Hanotiau & van den Berg topped the Belgium research - three of its members were consistently nominated. The two named partners both feature in our breakdown of the practice area's leading lights. Of Bernard Hanotiau, one source noted, "I cannot rate him highly enough!" Albert Jan van den Berg once again emerges as "one of the real stars" and is joined in the final reckoning by the"seriously good" Pascal Hollander.

The "superb" Filip De Ly of Erasmus University School of Law accrued the most votes for the Netherlands. Otto de Witt Wijnen of Ideka BV, Judge Rosalyn Higgins, president of the International Court of Justice, and the previously mentioned Jacomijn van Haersolte-van Hof of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer also come highly recommended.

SPAIN AND ITALY

B Cremades & Asociados can be said to have topped the Spanish research, as the only firm with two partners chosen.
Bernardo Cremades is "the man to go to in Spain". His colleague, "rising star", David Cairns is also featured. Likewise in Italy, Bonelli Erede Pappalardo Studio Legale is the only firm with two lawyers included, Antonio Crivellaro, a "well known figure in arbitration" and Luca Radicati di Brozolo. Piero Bernardini at Studio Legale Ughi e Nunziante is described by his peers as "the top man in Italy". He is reportedly "well organised and able to keep control over parties".

US AND CANADA

The Top 20 most highly regarded arbitration practitioners includes a strong contingent from Canada this year. Yves Fortier CC QC of Ogilvy Renault LLP - the country's most nominated practitioner - is "a very good arbitrator and very experienced". A few age generations down at the same firm, Pierre Bienvenu is"first-rate" and both he and Stephen Drymer make the final publication. The "legendary" Henri Alvarez of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP and the "excellent" William Rowley QC (already mentioned for his London-based practice) also feature prominently. At Rowley's Canadian firm McMillan Binch Mendelsohn LLP (which he chairs) one finds Robert Wisner, making his debut in this book. A very popular choice as arbitrator, Marc Lalonde QC, who is "very very good", is also included. Babak Barin of BCF LLP is "well versed in the law of arbitration" and also finds a place on our list. Thanks to his extensive investment treaty knowledge, Todd Grierson-Weiler, editor of naftaclaims.com, is included. He is "very smart and always has something useful to say". The "excellent" David Haigh QC of Burnet Duckworth & Palmer LLP is also selected.

Washington, DC and New York contribute 23 and 27 nominees respectively to this edition. Covington & Burling LLP has the highest profile in this section, with four chosen practitioners, all in DC. Oscar Garibaldi is "well known and respected" and Thomas Johnson is "very impressive". The two other members of this firm that appear are Peter Trooboff and Eugene Gulland.

Other specialists in Washington, DC that fared exceptionally well in the research are Stephen Schwebel who is a "splendid arbitrator" and "really on the ball", and Horacio Grigera Naon, who is described as "first-rate" and is a regular selection on ICSID cases. Also noted is the "very smart and knowledgeable" Mark Kantor.

Arnold & Porter LLP has two notable nominees, both in Washington, DC: Jean Engelmayer Kalicki and Paolo Di Rosa, who is an "up and coming" practitioner. White & Case LLP's Carolyn Lamm and Abby Cohen Smutny have been mentioned already - they are excellent counsel.

In New York, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP provides three individuals for the publication. Robert Smit is a "rising star" with Roy Reardon and John Kerr also featuring prominently. Also making the final cut is independent practitioner Gerald Aksen, who is "very fair and balanced when it comes to running an arbitration efficiently". Another nominee is the "knowledgeable" and "fantastic" Guillermo Aguilar Alvarez, the only inclusion from Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP. From Sullivan & Cromwell LLP come James Carter and Joseph Neuhaus, both New York lawyers. Carter is "deeply experienced" and Neuhaus is "first rate".

Houston is an emerging centre of excellence. In the Texas section of the book, Doak Bishop of King & Spalding LLP is known for his work in energy disputes, especially in Latin America and for work under investment treaties. He is said to be "first-class". His colleague John Bowman, who recently arrived as a lateral hire, is also "a very strong advocate". Fulbright & Jaworski LLP features in the research thanks to Mark Baker, who co-heads the firm's arbitration practice.

In Massachussets, William Park at Boston University Law Faculty is one of the few regularly sitting arbitrators on international cases to never have been affiliated with a law firm. He is "very knowledgeable" and "excellent on the details of cases". The
top man to go to in Florida is José Astigarraga of Astigarraga Davis. In Connecticut Michael Reisman of Yale Law School is described as "top-class and very accomplished".

LATIN AMERICA

The research also identified some leading figures in Latin America where arbitration is growing in importance. In Argentina, Guido Santiago Tawil of M & M Bomchil is "very active in ICSID arbitration" and is "very able". Carlos Nehring Netto, named partner at Nehring e Associados - Advocacia in Brazil, is "one of the oldest, most experienced and well regarded" specialists. He has represented Brazil in an arbitration under International Chamber of Commerce rules and has a mixed practice as both an arbitrator and counsel. Claus von Wobeser of Von Wobeser y Sierra SC is deemed the "best in Mexico" as both an advocate and an arbitrator, with a "good cross-cultural approach". Five practitioners from Peru appear in the research, including independent arbitrator Roberto MacLean. Eduardo Zuleta-Jaramillo of Zuleta & Partners Legal Group in Colombia is "exceptionally good", as is Jorge Suescún Melo from Suescon & de Brigard in the same country. Ecuador has two featured specialists. Cesar Coronel from Coronel & Perez and Javier Robalino of Perez Bustamente & Ponce both come highly recommended.

ASIA

Arbitration is burgeoning in Asia, as investment flows into countries such as India and China, and several arbitration institutes are looking to benefit from a growth in cases from the region. In Hong Kong, three lawyers from Des Voeux Chambers appear. Neil Kaplan QC is dual-listed (see London section). In addition, Teresa Cheng SC and Anthony Houghton are selected. Cheng is "very good". Other prominent individuals include Michael Moser, who co-chairs the China practice group at O'Melveny & Myers LLP who is "perhaps the best-known arbitration practitioner in region". Moser is president of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre and is an "old China hand" and "very experienced as an arbitrator and counsel," according to sources. His colleague at O'Melveny & Myers Nadia Darwazeh is also now included. Sally Harpole in Hong Kong is "enormously respected" and "has great credibility" and is often appointed as arbitrator on cases. For example Danone has appointed her in an arbitration brought by China's largest beverage company. Jingzhou Tao, until recently head of DLA Piper China and now at Jones Day, received more nominations than any other individual on the mainland. He is said to be "extremely well known" and "very knowledgeable".

In Japan, Yasuhei Taniguchi at Matsuo & Kosugi received the most votes. He is recommended as an arbitrator rather than an advocate, and is known for his academic work and experience. Bae Kim & Lee LLC's Kap-You (Kevin) Kim tops the research in Korea. In 2007 he was appointed to the ICC's International Court of Arbitration. He is joined in the publication by colleague John Bang, whose credentials are "very good".

Other individuals with high standing in the region include Michael Hwang SC, who tops our findings in Singapore. Hwang, who runs his own firm, has a "practical sense and wealth of knowledge." President of the Indian Bar Association Fali Nariman is a "pioneer in India", according to sources. Michael Pryles is chairing the panel hearing a claim brought by Invesmart against the Czech Republic. Pryles has "an international standing and exposure on commercial arbitration" that makes him the most highly-regarded Australian in this book. He is is president of the Australian Centre of International Commercial Arbitration.

SCANDINAVIA

Stockholm's Chamber of Commerce recently completed a modernisation of its rules - and is hoping that this will make it more of a mainstream player among the institutes, in addition to its traditional role as a venue for East-West commercial disputes. No fewer than five of the 15 Swedish lawyers we've selected are at Mannheimer Swartling Advokatbyrå - two more than last year. The "very capable" Tore Wiwen-Nilsson's abilities as an arbitrator "led me to appoint him twice recently" noted one prominent source. But the firm's leader remains Kaj Hobér who tops the Swedish research. He carries particular cachet for his work on "East-West disputes" according to our sources, and has experience under the Energy Charter Treaty as counsel. Claes Lundblad advised Svenska Petroleum Exploration on its US$13 million claim against Lithuania. Robin Oldenstam is "talented", "young and really good". Mannheimer Swartling recently poached Olle Flygt from Vinge. Despite the loss of Flygt, Vinge remains strong in Sweden. Hans Bagner is the firm's top nominee and was praised for his experience in the area. Christer Söderlund is also prominent. Jan Ramberg at AB Intralaw is also well regarded, though more as arbitrator than counsel. He is "one of the few international stars" Sweden has, as one respondent to our survey noted.

The rest of Scandinavia does not possess the quantity on offer in the Sweden list. Though it has great quality.The most noteworthy arbitration specialists are Rolf Meurs-Gerken at Advokaterne Amaliegade No. 42 in Denmark; Carita Wallgren-Lindholm at Roschier, Attorneys Ltd in Finland; and Ole Lund at Bugge Arentz-Hansen & Rasmussen in Norway.

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