We embrace and actively encourage clients to pursue alternative dispute resolution where appropriate, in the hope of prompting early settlement of what could otherwise be unnecessarily costly disputes. We specialise in arbitration (including international arbitration) and mediation.
Mediation
Often the most popular form of dispute resolution, Kennedys has several qualified mediators and we have conducted many successful mediations and adjudications on behalf of our clients.
Arbitration
Our highly experienced team of arbitration specialists, act for a wide range of international commercial clients. Our expertise spans many industries including insurance and reinsurance, construction and engineering, maritime and international trade. With partners who are qualified as advocates, as well as arbitrators, we have a real insight into the process.
In the UK, nine partners and 12 solicitors specialise in commercial arbitration. Four of us are Fellows of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, whilst two hold Diplomas in International Commercial Arbitration. One of us is also an active senior member of the prestigious Dispute Board Federation. In addition, many of us regularly lecture on arbitration in the UK and internationally.
We represent and advise clients in both arbitrations and court appeals from arbitral awards under the rules of all the major international commercial arbitration institutions, including:
-
LCIA
-
ICC
-
LMAA
-
The Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce
-
The Court of Arbitration for Sport
-
Commodity and trade arbitration schemes
We are no strangers to making new law and were privileged enough to have secured the first successful enforcement, through a Final Partial Arbitral Award, of a Dispute Adjudication Board decision given by the ICC on an international infrastructure project.
Much of our work is of an international nature and we work very closely with our overseas colleagues, especially those in Australia, Dubai and Singapore. We also have an association with Tuli & Co in New Delhi and Mumbai, to assist us in relation to matters with an Indian dimension. In addition, we have dealt with arbitrations in most jurisdictions (both domestic and international) from Russia to the US.
Work highlights
-
Acting for a client in a UAE arbitration relating to the construction of a sulphur storage facility worth $20 million.
-
Acting for construction contractors in a series of ICC arbitrations against an Eastern European government on myriad infrastructure projects funded by the European Union.
-
Successfully overturning an independent engineer’s “default notice” on a $40 million power line construction project in Papua New Guinea (ICC).
-
Acting in an arbitration regarding the effect of United Nations’ trade sanctions on payment obligations, which involved parallel proceedings in different jurisdictions and issues of res judicata
-
Acting for an international investor in an arbitration relating to a government seizing control of assets worth over $30 million.