Sovereign-Side Investment Treaty Arbitration

Arnold & Porter has served as lead counsel in more than 80 investor-state arbitrations, under a variety of arbitral rules. Across our International Arbitration practice, we have represented 27 sovereign states, securing for them an unparalleled track record of positive results (see our brochure). Further, five states have entrusted us with their first-ever investor-state case, and 12 states have entrusted us to defend them in multiple matters. Our firm has been at the forefront of investor-state arbitration from the very beginning, as one of the firm's founders, Thurman Arnold, was a member of ICSID's very first Panel of Arbitrators, in the 1960s. With this head start, it is no wonder that we have developed one of the world's most active and successful investor-state practices.

Track Record of Success: No other firm has a longer streak of consecutive positive rulings on behalf of sovereign states in investment arbitrations.
Trusted Advisers to States Worldwide: Clients have included governments, subdivisions or state-owned entities of Argentina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czechia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Middle Eastern state, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Slovak Republic, Southeastern European state, South Korea, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey and Venezuela.
Client Service: With 40+ attorneys across 8 offices in the US, UK, China, and South Korea, and professional fluency in 10 languages, we provide extraordinarily responsive (and user-friendly) client service and support.

“A recent study by an expert witness firm ranked Arnold & Porter as the most successful law firm in investment arbitration in terms of case outcomes. The firm reckons it has achieved positive results for state clients in 46 out of 47 cases [A&P: now 48 out of 49].”— Global Arbitration Review “GAR 100”

50 Positive Results

Based on verifiable data from the ICSID website (the world’s leading investment arbitration institution), Arnold & Porter is the world’s leading law firm in ICSID history in number of cases resulting in full dismissal of all claims against the Respondent State.

“Its defence wins for states are too numerous to list in full, but they include knocking out a US$700 million ECT claim against Hungary; claims worth US$750 million against Costa Rica; and claims totaling US$140 million against the Dominican Republic.”— Global Arbitration Review “GAR 100”