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Litigation & Arbitration · Sub-Practice

When the contract provides for arbitration, the strategy
begins before the proceedings do.

International arbitration calls for familiarity not only with the subject matter of the dispute but with its distinctive procedural and institutional framework. We support clients in arbitrations under the rules of international institutions such as the ICC, the LCIA and UNCITRAL, with an emphasis on the arbitration agreement, the tribunal's jurisdiction, the procedure, and the recognition and enforcement of the award.

What We Handle Discuss Your Dispute
ICC · LCIAInstitutional Rules
Seat & LawSet in the Agreement
3Languages
Strategy from the start of the arbitration
The seat, the procedural rules, the applicable law and the composition of the tribunal shape the framework within which the dispute will be decided. We assess these questions before the proceedings begin and build their consequences into the overall strategy.
ICC, LCIA and UNCITRAL proceedings
Experience in supporting arbitral proceedings under the rules of international arbitral institutions, from the commencement of the proceedings and the constitution of the tribunal through to the hearing and the issue of the award.
English Law
Familiarity with English commercial law, which is the law most commonly chosen to govern international commercial contracts.
Multi-jurisdictional experience
Handling matters that run across more than one jurisdiction calls for coordinating different applicable laws, procedural requirements and evidential questions in international arbitrations.
Facing an international arbitration?
Get in touch for an initial conversation about the arbitration clause, the procedure and the options available to you.
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What We Handle Our Approach Process Experience FAQ Related

Scope of Practice

International arbitration from the
agreement to enforcement.

We handle the full lifecycle of international arbitral proceedings — from the strategic decision to arbitrate, through the conduct of the proceedings, to enforcement of the award. Our multi-jurisdictional expertise means we can advise on the procedural rules of many different arbitral institutions. An international arbitration lawyer will read the clause first, because it determines seat, rules, language and enforceability.

ICC Arbitration
Arbitrations under the ICC Rules of Arbitration for complex international commercial disputes. We support clients at every stage of the procedure, from the request for arbitration and the constitution of the tribunal through to the main proceedings and the issue of the award.
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LCIA Arbitration
Arbitrations before the London Court of International Arbitration, particularly useful in disputes concerning contracts governed by English law. We support clients from the commencement of the proceedings and the constitution of the tribunal through to the hearing and the issue of the award
02
UNCITRAL Arbitration
Arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Rules, which are used both in ad hoc arbitrations and in proceedings administered by arbitral institutions. The Rules cover the whole procedure, from the appointment of the arbitrators and the conduct of the proceedings through to the issue of the award.
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Seat & Governing Law — strategy
The choice of seat and the choice of governing law are different questions, but both can decisively affect the arbitration. The seat determines the procedural framework of the arbitration and the supervision of the national courts, while the governing law concerns the substance of the dispute. We advise on these questions from the stage of drafting or negotiating the arbitration clause.
04
Interim Measures
Support with applications for emergency arbitral relief and for interim or protective measures before or during the arbitration, including measures requiring the intervention of the competent national courts.
05
Enforcement of Arbitral Awards
Legal support on the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in Greece, and on the enforcement of Greek awards abroad where required. We also act in proceedings concerning opposition to the recognition or enforcement of an award.
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Our Approach to Arbitration

International arbitration calls for a strategy that
begins before the proceedings.

International arbitration differs substantially from domestic court proceedings. The arbitration agreement, the seat, the procedural rules, the governing law and the way the tribunal is constituted all shape the framework within which the dispute will be decided. For that reason, the strategy does not begin with the request for arbitration but with the assessment of the arbitration clause itself.

We examine the dispute as a whole: the contractual basis of the claim, the tribunal's jurisdiction, the evidence available, the governing law and the prospects for recognition and enforcement of the award. The firm's experience across different legal systems, combined with in-house experience in an international business environment, allows us to see arbitration not only as a means of resolving a dispute but as part of a wider commercial relationship.

"In international arbitration, the strategy begins before the arbitration does — with the clause, the seat, the rules and the governing law."

Arbitration can offer the parties a neutral forum, greater flexibility in the procedure and, in international commercial disputes, a broad framework for the recognition and enforcement of the award. We advise both on the drafting and negotiation of arbitration clauses and once a dispute has arisen, assessing whether the agreed procedure serves the client's particular objective.

Experience
ICC · LCIA · UNCITRAL Rules
We have conducted proceedings under the rules of the major arbitral institutions. Each set of rules has its own features and calls for specialist knowledge.
Seat strategy
The seat determines everything
The seat of the arbitration determines the supervising court, the procedural law, the grounds of challenge and the enforcement regime. We advise on the choice of seat as a primary strategic question.
Enforcement
New York Convention · Brussels I Regulation
Enforcement of arbitral awards in Greece and abroad. Objections to enforcement. Exequatur proceedings before the Greek courts.

How We Conduct Arbitral Proceedings

From the arbitration clause
to enforcement of the award.

STEP 01
Pre-Arbitration Strategy
Assessment of the case and the clause, choice of seat and rules, strategy for constituting the tribunal and the required pre-arbitration notices. We plan the procedure before the first formal step.
STEP 02
Commencement & Constitution
Request for arbitration, answer, constitution of the tribunal, jurisdictional objections and procedural conditions
STEP 03
Conduct of the Proceedings
Drafting the written submissions, examination of witnesses and experts, cross-examination strategy and (depending on the forum) oral argument at the hearing.
STEP 04
Award & Enforcement
Obtaining the award, challenging it where appropriate, and enforcement under the New York Convention or the Brussels Regulation

Our Experience

International arbitration across many
sectors and jurisdictions

Commercial Arbitration
ICC · LCIA · UNCITRAL · Ad Hoc
International commercial arbitrations in the technology, telecoms, energy, franchise, distribution and shipping sectors. Experience in both institutional and ad hoc proceedings.
Cross-Border Matters
Foreign element · Parallel proceedings · Private international law
Arbitrations with parties from different jurisdictions, cross-border contracts and matters where jurisdiction, governing law and enforcement all arise at once. Familiarity with English law.
Enforcement
New York Convention · Brussels I Regulation
Recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards in Greece under the New York Convention. Exequatur proceedings before the Greek courts. Coordination of the enforcement of Greek awards in England and other jurisdictions through instructed correspondent lawyers.
Clients
Listed companies · Fortune 500 groups
As international arbitration counsel we have acted for Greek and multinational companies — among them companies listed on international stock exchanges and Fortune 500 groups — in international arbitrations and cross-border commercial disputes

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions we are often asked
about international arbitration.

What is the difference between ICC, LCIA and UNCITRAL arbitration?+

ICC and LCIA are institutional forms of arbitration administered by the International Chamber of Commerce and the London Court of International Arbitration respectively, each with its own procedural rules and administrative oversight. UNCITRAL arbitration is typically ad hoc, meaning the parties adopt the UNCITRAL Rules without an administering institution. The right choice depends on the contract, the parties' nationalities and the commercial context — we advise on this before the arbitration clause is even drafted.

Why does the seat of arbitration matter so much?+

The seat of arbitration determines the procedural law governing the arbitration, the courts with supervisory jurisdiction over the proceedings, the grounds available to challenge an award, and — critically — the enforcement regime under the New York Convention. Choosing the seat is a strategic decision, not a formality, and we treat it as one of the first questions to resolve when structuring an arbitration agreement or assessing an existing dispute.

Can a foreign arbitral award be enforced in Greece?+

Yes. Greece is a signatory to the New York Convention, so arbitral awards made in other Convention states are generally recognised and enforced by Greek courts, subject to limited grounds for refusal. We handle the exequatur proceedings required for recognition and enforcement, as well as resisting enforcement where we act for the party against whom the award was made.

Do you handle arbitrations seated outside Greece?+

Yes. Our dual qualification in England & Wales and Greece means we regularly act in English-seated arbitrations and in matters governed by English law, in addition to Greek-seated proceedings. This allows us to handle both sides of a cross-border matter in-house, without referring work to a second firm in another jurisdiction.

How long does an international arbitration usually take?+
Timescales vary considerably depending on the complexity of the dispute, the institutional rules chosen and how responsive the parties are, but most institutional arbitrations take between twelve and twenty-four months from the request to the final award. Procedural efficiency is one of the principal advantages of arbitration over litigation, and we plan the strategy of the case from the outset so as to avoid unnecessary delay.

International arbitration questions?

Initial consultation to assess the arbitration agreement, the most appropriate forum, and the strategic options available. Confidential.

Contact +30 210 36 33 694