International Arbitration Forum

[Anonymous User]

What is the typical path to pursuing international arbitration? SA at a BL firm that has a strong international arbitration group and hope to get placed in it?

Which schools tend to do well? Columbia? Do you need a specific background (ie language skills or time abroad?)

Thanks!

[jotarokujo]

What is the typical path to pursuing international arbitration? SA at a BL firm that has a strong international arbitration group and hope to get placed in it?

Not hope, you tell the firm your preference. Then you do that work during your summer

[Anonymous User]

Got it! Does one need to be able to speak a second language to make it far in this field?

[kjdsalinger]

Got it! Does one need to be able to speak a second language to make it far in this field?

There are many Int Arbitration partners that only speak English. A good amount if not the majority of arbitrations cases are conducted in English. the ones that a US law firm handles will almost assuredly be in english. If need be for a second language firms sometimes work with local counsel that speaks that language. Speaking a second language is more of a plus and could be beneficial but not mandatory

[Anonymous User]

Got it, makes sense! What does a long term career look like in the practice? What are the chances of making partner / exits if not?

[Anonymous User]

Exits for junior/mid-level associates? In house positions are rare because it’s so specialized (although some businesses have sophisticated in-house arbitration counsel). There are IOs, and government positions, and third-party funders too. Some people want to do a couple years in Big Law and go to academia. But the arbitration associate angling for a sweet in-house gig is a pretty rare thing, in my experience. People who do arbitration are often in it for the long haul.

As you get more senior, options change. Of course the big difference between arbitration and a domestic litigation practice is the option of transitioning from counsel to arbitrator. Generally a late-career move—but there are more than a few people who make the move as a senior associate or counsel. (I’ve known people to get passed over for partnership only to be appointed by their old firm a few years later.) Aside from that, you’re really looking at lateraling to a smaller firm, opening your own shop—usual lit things. I’ve also known some people to transition from an arbitration practice to a more general investment practice, especially when they have developed a particular expertise (mega-projects, or mining, or regional expertise, or what have you).

Chances of making partner varies enormously by firm (although it’s a mugs game to guess what this will look like in ten years at any particular firm). Some firms make a lot of partners. Others are hugely leveraged and rarely do.

Big thing to know about international arbitration in the US right now is that it’s insanely competitive. Cost pressures are intense, because US and European counsel are fungible in a lot of cases but US lawyers are (literally) twice as expensive. Not a practice group to go to if you want to bill easy hours, eat dinner on client’s dime, and get a cab home every night.