Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Europe
Navigate International Arbitration With Cross-Border Expertise
When parties from different countries fall out, neither wants to litigate in the other’s courts. International arbitration provides a neutral, private and enforceable forum — but it demands lawyers who understand multiple legal systems. We match you, free of charge, with counsel experienced in cross-border arbitrations.
- 155+ legal services, 14 practice areas
- Lawyers across the EU & EEA
- No fee to get matched
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Who this is for
A neutral forum for disputes that cross national borders
International arbitration resolves disputes between parties from different countries — or disputes with a genuinely cross-border character — through a private tribunal rather than any national court. Its core appeal is neutrality: neither side has to submit to the other’s home courts, and both can influence the choice of seat, rules, language and decision-makers. The award that results is recognised and enforced across most of the world under the New York Convention, which is why international arbitration is the default dispute mechanism in so many cross-border contracts. It spans a patchwork of institutions — the ICC, LCIA and many others — alongside ad hoc proceedings under frameworks such as the UNCITRAL rules. Success depends on more than advocacy; it requires judgement about jurisdiction, applicable law, evidence drawn from several countries, and the practical realities of enforcement where assets actually lie.
Where cross-border cases falter
Every choice compounds across jurisdictions.
Jurisdiction, law and enforcement must all be handled coherently.
A strong case can be undermined by choices made at the outset about seat, rules and governing law.
Jurisdictional battles
Disputes over whether a valid arbitration agreement exists, who is bound by it, and what claims fall within its scope are common in international cases — and they can consume months before the merits are ever reached.
Conflicts of laws
Determining which country’s law governs the contract, the arbitration agreement and the procedure itself is a recurring battleground, and the answer can change the outcome of the entire case.
Enforcement across borders
Even a favourable award must be enforced where the losing party’s assets are located, potentially in several countries at once, each with its own courts, procedures and potential grounds for refusing recognition.
What you get
Cross-border arbitration counsel who see the whole board
We only match you with lawyers who handle international arbitrations regularly, across institutions and jurisdictions.
Seat and rules strategy
Your lawyer advises on the optimal seat, institution and procedural rules for your dispute, weighing cost, neutrality, applicable law and enforceability before the process is locked in.
Multi-jurisdiction case management
Evidence, witnesses and legal arguments drawn from several countries are coordinated into a coherent case, with language, translations and document production handled across the board.
Interim and protective relief
Where assets or evidence are at risk in multiple countries, your lawyer pursues emergency arbitrator relief or court support to freeze the position before it deteriorates.
Global enforcement planning
Your lawyer maps where the losing party’s assets sit and plans recognition and enforcement of the award in each relevant jurisdiction from the outset, so victory is not merely theoretical.
Coverage
International arbitration lawyers across Europe
Europe hosts some of the world’s leading arbitration seats and institutions, each governed by its own national arbitration law. The right counsel is familiar with your chosen seat and the courts that supervise and enforce there. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
International arbitration — common questions
What makes arbitration ‘international’?
An arbitration is generally considered international when the parties have their places of business in different countries, or when the dispute involves a foreign element such as performance abroad, assets in several states, or a seat in a neutral country.
What is the New York Convention?
It is a treaty, ratified by the vast majority of countries, that obliges signatory states to recognise and enforce foreign arbitral awards, subject to limited grounds for refusal. It is the main reason arbitration awards travel across borders more easily than court judgments.
Which arbitration institution should I choose?
There is no single best institution. Bodies such as the ICC, LCIA and regional institutions differ in their rules, fee structures, administration and reputation in particular sectors. The right choice depends on your contract, the seat, the amount in dispute and the parties’ preferences.
What is the ‘seat’ of arbitration and why does it matter?
The seat is the legal home of the arbitration, not necessarily where hearings take place. It determines the procedural law that governs the arbitration, the courts with supervisory power, and the enforceability of the award, so it is a strategically important choice.
How is the governing law of the dispute decided?
The parties are usually free to choose the substantive law governing their contract. If they have not, the tribunal applies the rules it determines to be appropriate, often through conflict-of-laws analysis — which is why an express, well-drafted choice of law is strongly recommended.
Can I enforce an international award in several countries at once?
Yes, in principle. Because of the New York Convention, an award can be taken to each country where the losing party has assets and enforcement sought there. Each country applies its own procedure, and parallel enforcement in multiple jurisdictions is a common strategy.
Free case review
Get cross-border counsel before the choices compound
Tell us about your dispute and the parties involved, and we’ll connect you with an international arbitration lawyer who handles cases like yours every day — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.