International Arbitration

AZHA attorneys represent private and institutional domestic and international clients, as well as governments and state entities, in the context of arbitration proceedings related to commercial and investment disputes in a broad range of sectors. They have acted as counsel in both institutional and ad hoc arbitration proceedings. AZHA attorneys also offer pre- and post-arbitration legal advice.

If required by the specifics of a given mandate, attorneys at AZHA work in collaboration with lawyers, experts and academics in foreign countries, so as to provide their clients with the most complete and highest quality services.

Besides their counsel mandates, attorneys at AZHA accept appointments as arbitrators. They are admitted to the panels of arbitrators maintained by leading international arbitration institutions. In particular, Founding Partner Dr Mercédeh Azeredo da Silveira has been designated by the Government of Switzerland to serve on ICSID’s Panel of Conciliators.

Attorneys at AZHA are also regularly called upon to testify as expert witnesses in international arbitration proceedings on issues related to economic sanctions.

Finally, AZHA attorneys regularly act before the Swiss Supreme Court in challenge proceedings against arbitral awards.

Attorneys at AZHA have acted inter alia as:
  • arbitrators in proceedings governed by the ICC Arbitration Rules
  • arbitrators in proceedings governed by the Swiss Rules of International Arbitration
  • counsel in ICC arbitration proceedings related to a dispute in the automotive sector
  • counsel in arbitration proceedings regarding a dispute involving secondary sanctions against Russia
  • counsel in ad hoc arbitration proceedings related to a dispute in the banking sector
  • counsel for an Asian entity in ICC arbitration proceedings related to a dispute regarding the construction of power transmission lines
  • counsel for a European financial institution in ICC arbitration proceedings related to a post-acquisition dispute
  • counsel for a European energy company in ICC arbitration proceedings related to a dispute in the construction sector
  • counsel for a European entity in LCIA arbitration proceedings related to a dispute concerning loan facility arrangements
  • counsel for a European state in proceedings before the Swiss Federal Tribunal, pertaining to the challenge of an arbitral award in ad hoc arbitration proceedings
  • counsel in ICSID arbitration proceedings against a West Asian state
  • counsel for a European investor against a Central Asian state in UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings related to an investment dispute in the mining sector
  • counsel for North American investors against an Eastern European state in ICSID arbitration proceedings related to an investment dispute in the mining sector
  • counsel for a group of individuals against a group of East Asian state-owned entities in PCA arbitration proceedings related to an investment dispute
  • counsel for a Western Asian entity against a Central Asian state in ICSID proceedings related to a dispute in the oil and gas sector
  • counsel for a European investor against an Eastern European state in ICSID arbitration proceedings related to an investment dispute in the touristic real estate sector
  • counsel for an African state in ICSID arbitration proceedings related to an investment dispute in the telecommunications sector
  • counsel for a soccer player in proceedings before the Swiss Federal Tribunal, pertaining to the challenge of an award rendered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport

Economic Sanctions

AZHA advises governments, state entities and corporations on all issues pertaining to economic sanctions, both in the commercial and in the financial sectors.

In particular, AZHA regularly advises clients in relation to existing and future dealings that may be affected by unilateral, regional or multilateral economic sanctions programmes, carries out country-based analyses of existing programmes, and its attorneys serve as experts in the context of international disputes related to economic sanctions (including disputes involving state entities).

AZHA attorneys have a strong academic – teaching and research – expertise in the field of economic sanctions. Founding Partner Dr Mercédeh Azeredo da Silveira is internationally recognized in this field. She is the author of the award-winning treatise Trade Sanctions and International Sales – an Inquiry into International Arbitration and Commercial Litigation as well as numerous book chapters, articles and blog entries dealing with economic sanctions. She also teaches Economic Sanctions and International Arbitration at Sciences Po Law School, in the Master in Economic Law program – Global Governance Studies.

AZHA attorneys’ recent mandates in matters involving economic sanctions include:
  • acting as counsel in arbitration proceedings related to a dispute involving sanctions against Iran
  • acting as counsel in arbitration proceedings related to a dispute involving sanctions against Russia
  • advising corporate entities on their dealings in the medical sector
  • acting as legal expert on economic sanctions in commercial arbitration proceedings
  • advising a multinational corporation on US, EU and Swiss sanctions against Russia
  • advising an East Asian company on the status of US, EU and Swiss sanctions against Iran and the impact of such sanctions on the company’s contractual dealings
  • offering pre-litigation advice to individuals and corporate entities on transactions affected by several economic sanctions programs

International Commercial Transactions

AZHA advises its clients on all types of commercial contracts and arrangements, including distribution, licensing, product development, manufacturing, logistics, supply and service agreements. AZHA attorneys combine sector and technical knowledge and expertise.

AZHA also regularly advises clients on non-contractual commercial issues such as e-commerce, data protection and document retention policies.

In addition, AZHA counsels investors and entrepreneurs on the structuring, negotiating and drafting of complex commercial transactions. AZHA attorneys have extensive experience in international mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, commercial partnerships and corporate restructurings, as well as in corporate governance-related matters.

AZHA attorneys have advised:
  • a major European Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) company on a wide variety of commercial transactions (including international distribution, license and global service and manufacturing agreements), as well as on corporate governance, intellectual property, antitrust- and data privacy-related matters
  • a European consortium on the structuring, funding and development of a wind power project in Africa
  • a European carmaker on the structuring of and investment in a start-up developing autonomous driving technology
  • a worldwide provider of storage services for crude oil and refined petroleum products on a variety of commercial transactions and contracts
  • a consortium of European and Asian investors on the joint acquisition of a landmark hotel
  • a Scandinavian energy consortium on the sale of a paper mill to an investment company
  • a European industrial group on the acquisition of a supplier of data centre services