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International Arbitration

Our expert arbitration lawyers help to resolve high-value, cross-border disputes quickly and efficiently.

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Our highly experienced arbitration lawyers enable you to resolve international and domestic disputes quickly and efficiently. With experience in all types of arbitration, we have deep understanding of arbitration systems, procedures and practices.

We can act on arbitration that’s seated anywhere in the world but are typically instructed where there’s an English governing law clause in the parties’ arbitration agreement. Our clients range from high-net-worth (HNW) individuals to SMEs and both national and international businesses.

We offer a comprehensive legal service to guide you through each and every stage of the process and achieve the best possible resolution to conflicts — no matter how valuable or complex.

A form of alternative dispute resolution, arbitration offers parties a way to resolve a legal dispute — on a binding basis — outside of court. Since it’s a voluntary and consensual process, both parties must agree to submit their dispute to arbitration, which is usually provided for in a written agreement between the parties. Typically, the parties will have decided on arbitration and chosen the arbitral body within their written contract — such as the ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) or LCIA (London Court of international Arbitration).

While arbitration is the preferred method for resolving high-value, cross-border disputes between parties across different countries and jurisdictions, it’s also often used in smaller domestic disputes between contracting parties who simply prefer the benefits that the arbitration process can offer over the ‘traditional’ court process.

We know from our experience of arbitration that it can be expensive — particularly in complex and high-value cases. There are arbitrators’ fees and venue hearing fees to pay in addition to the usual legal costs and expenses. That’s why we offer competitive hourly rates and are also prepared to consider other alternative funding arrangements (where possible) to help meet your needs.

Our arbitration team forms part of our wider litigation practice, which is recognised in the top-tier of The Legal 500 2025 and praised for its “involvement in high-profile matters, including the ‘Wagatha Christie’ trial”. We also won the British Legal Awards Litigation Team of the Year award in 2022 and were nominated for Liverpool Law Society’s Team of the Year award in 2023.

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The arbitration process

Arbitration is commenced by a party indicating that a dispute has arisen and should be referred to arbitration in accordance with the parties’ written agreement. That agreement will usually set out the number of arbitrators, the legal place (or ‘seat’) of the arbitration and the procedural rules that’ll govern the arbitration. 

The parties will then either select one arbitrator or a panel of three arbitrators (known as the Arbitral Tribunal) that have the appropriate expertise to resolve the dispute. The arbitration then largely follows the same dispute resolution process as a Court — the submission of claims and defences, disclosure of documents, exchange of witness evidence and a final hearing. 

Yet unlike the court process, arbitration documents are confidential and hearings take place in private. This is often a key reason why parties choose arbitration over court proceedings — as well as the fact that it’s also considered to be quicker and more flexible than court proceedings.

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Paul Lunt

Specialist arbitration lawyers

Our arbitration offering is led by multi-award-winning commercial litigator Paul Lunt — a member of The Legal 500’s Hall of Fame who frequently advises in relation in contentious commercial matters and arbitration disputes. 

Jeff Lewis — who has practised since 1989 — is highly experienced in Arbitration proceedings and is very well regarded for his tenacity and dedication in fighting on behalf of his clients. Jeff has been consistently recognised in the top tiers of both The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners throughout his career and is a fellow member of The Legal 500’s Hall of Fame.

Helen Otty brings a wealth of experience in arbitration disputes with 25 years of litigation and arbitration experience. She’s recognised as both a Recommended Lawyer and Next Generation Partner by The Legal 500, which describes her as “outstanding” and “a seasoned commercial litigator” who “advises on high-value international arbitrations, commercial and company disputes”.

Our Partners are ably supported by our wider arbitration team, which includes Matthew Moy (recognised as a Leading Associate in The Legal 500) as well as Imogen Duck, James Roby and Tom Feeny — all of whom have a wide array of expertise in contentious litigation matters and arbitration proceedings. 

Meet the team

Meet the team

Paul Lunt

Paul Lunt

Partner

Jeff Lewis

Jeff Lewis

Partner

Helen Otty

Helen Otty

Partner

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“Brabners' broad expertise is evident in its diverse caseload, spanning high-value international arbitrations, sports litigation and privacy and reputation management disputes.”

The Legal 500 2026

Arbitration highlights

$50m joint venture dispute

Acting for a British Virgin Islands-based aviation company in respect of a joint venture dispute with a Cypriot-based company and an American individual concerning the sale of pre-owned aircraft on a worldwide basis. Proceedings were issued in an ICC arbitration worth in excess of USD $50m which resulted in the largest ‘win’ in our litigation history.

$20m ICC arbitration claim

Acting for Polish registered company in an ICC arbitration claim brought by an international hotel chain. Our clients brought significant counterclaims in a dispute valued in excess of USD $20m. This included challenging elements of the decision in the Swiss Courts and considering enforcement in other jurisdictions.

Multi-million-pound ICC arbitration claim

Acting for a UK-based subsidiary of a multinational engineering company headquartered in Germany in a multi-million-pound ICC arbitration claim brought by our client against a UK- and US-based aerospace manufacturing company.

Breach of Commercial Agents Regulations

Acting in an ICC arbitration for a UK-based agent against its German-based principal for a breach of Commercial Agents Regulations, obtaining an award in excess of €10m.

Defending arbitration claim

Acting for a national housing and construction company in defending an arbitration claim brought by a private individual who’d purchased a residential property from the company and alleged that the property had suffered from various building defects.

Arbitration FAQs

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