Recognised for its ‘excellent practice in international arbitration‘ and ‘depth of expertise,‘ Ashurst has a handle on three core areas of arbitration. In international arbitration, the firm’s strengths in global energy and resources, infrastructure and construction play a role in the practice, with Georgia Quick heading the Australian International Arbitration practice and has conducted high-value and complex international arbitrations under the ICC, LCIA, HKIAC, UNCITRAL and ACICA Rules. In infrastructure disputes, the team provides an ‘end-to-end' project solution for clients across all stages, from procurement to arbitration and litigation. Bill Smith and Jeremy Chenoweth are noted for their extensive experience in infrastructure disputes, with Smith regularly handling matters both in London and Dubai. Within energy and resource disputes, Adam Firth continues to act on disputes arising in the oil, gas, mining and power sectors, advising government and industry clients through the full project delivery lifecycle. Further names to note include Luke Carbon who was promoted to Partner earlier this year, and Erin Eckhoff who recently joined from King & Wood Mallesons.

Clifford Chance is recognised as a strong force in the international arbitration practice, both in Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region, with the firm having a dedicated investor-state arbitration practice, as well as experience in international commercial arbitration. The team is regularly involved in elements of international arbitrations that are originated by other offices within the firm’s networks. Kate Apostolova joined as an international partner in 2024 from Mayer Brown, with expertise in cross-border commercial arbitration and international litigation matters, and has an established reputation in Singapore and Hong Kong. Cameron Hassall is active in commercial cross-border litigation and arbitration, while Spencer Flay has helped mediate, arbitrate and litigate disputes across the globe. Julia Dreosti and Robert Tang were both promoted to partner in May 2024, with Tang being a specialist in arbitration and litigation in construction and infrastructure as well as TMT sectors, while Dreosti’s experience extends to contentious matters across the aerospace and defence sectors. Joshua Banks, based in Perth, is recommended for arbitration proceedings under ICSID, ICC, SIAC, UNCITRAL and LCIA.

The arbitration practice at Corrs Chambers Westgarth is regularly engaged in high-value international and domestic arbitrations, with lawyers having experience and understanding across a range of arbitral institutions and governing rules, including the ICC, SIAC, HKIAC, CIETAC, ACICA and UNCITRAL. The team acts for a range of Australian and foreign resident clients in arbitrations across a range of commercial sectors with notable strength in major resources, energy and infrastructure projects. It also advises on investor-state arbitration. Joshua Paffey is involved in commercial arbitration matters across multiple jurisdictions, including Singapore and South Africa. Andrew Stephenson is experienced in contentious and non-contentious matters relating to major projects, and Nastasja Suhadolnik specialises in domestic and international commercial arbitration. Kala Campbell is noted for her involvement in domestic and international arbitration for clients on high-value onshore and offshore construction projects.

DLA Piper‘s team handles a broad range of high-value and high-profile domestic and international arbitrations. Sydney-based Gitanjali Bajaj and Cameron Scholes are experienced in handling arbitrations for leading industry sectors, including oil and gas, renewables, construction and transport. Liam Prescott, based in Brisbane, is particularly active in the energy, transport, technology, mining , and resources sectors. Melbourne-based Gowri Kangeson is qualified in Malaysia, England, Wales and Australia. In Perth, Richard Edwards is noted for his expertise in representing clients in alternative forms of dispute resolution, from arbitration to mediation.

King & Wood Mallesons is active in cross-border disputes across jurisdictions including China, Hong Kong and New Zealand. The team has a strong grasp of investment treaty arbitration, having recently acted for an Australian claimant in the first successful investment treaty case against India. It represents both investors and governments in treaty disputes; Domenico Cucinotta and Ruimin Gao are the names to note. The team is led by Peter Pether and is supported by Juliana Jorissen who excels in construction disputes. James Wang's recent caseload includes handling joint venture, contractual and gas supply disputes.

A&O Shearman benefits from its broad footprint across Asia Pacific with offices in Perth, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo and Singapore. It represents clients in the energy, mining and resources sectors and its recent caseload includes handling a project and construction dispute relating to an LNG plant. Mark Van Brakel heads the practice and regularly acts in corporate, director, and shareholder disputes. David Jenaway focuses on the oil and gas, construction and energy sectors. Karina Travaglione is also recommended.

Jointly led by Perth-based Jeremy Quan-Sing and Melbourne-based Nick Rudge, the disputes and investigations practice at Allens handles a broad range of commercial arbitration and is active in energy and resources, mining and construction sectors. It is also regularly instructed on disputes arising from M&A transactions. The team benefits from its alliance with Linklaters. Brisbane-based Nikki O’Leary advises clients on major projects and infrastructure arbitration and disputes in Australia and Asia, while Melbourne-based Julian Berenholtz focuses on infrastructure and energy disputes, including LNG and renewables.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP‘ international arbitration practice benefits from its integration in their global arbitration practice, with last year seeing the launch of their Asia Arbitration Hub which supports clients along the Asia-Australia corridor in cross-border disputes. The group, led by Chad Catterwell and James Allsop in Melbourne, work alongside a group of core arbitrators and five dispute partners and are skilled in acting in matters relating to cross-border construction and infrastructure disputes. Elizabeth Macknay specialises in advising domestic and international clients in the mining and resource sectors, alongside having experience in all forms of dispute resolution. Elizabeth Poulos heads the disputes practice in Brisbane, and has acted in international arbitrations before the ICC, HKIAC and CIETAC, while Leon Chung‘s practice covers a range of areas, including international arbitration, commercial disputes, regulatory investigations and inquiries.

HFW ‘s arbitration team works across a diverse range of sectors, from construction to insurance and shipping, and the team is regularly instructed on arbitrations across multiple jurisdictions. Practice head Nick Longley is is recommended in construction disputes in the energy, renewables, transport and heavy engineering sectors. Jo Delaney handles cross-border commercial and investment disputes. Ken Hickman and Peter Sadler are further names to note.

Norton Rose Fulbright handles domestic and international commercial arbitrations, as well as investor-state disputes and arbitration-related litigation. Brisbane-based Dylan McKimmie has expertise in handling disputes within the energy sector, particularly within oil and gas, while Sydney-based Tamlyn Mills acts as counsel to a range of clients in foreign arbitrations, both under major arbitral rules as well as in domestic arbitrations. Glen Warwick joined the Sydney team from Clyde & Co LLP in 2023.

The international arbitration practice at Squire Patton Boggs covers a range of services, from commercial arbitrations, to investment-treaty arbitrations and State-to-State matters.  It is regularly instructed on disputes arising from the construction, energy and mining sectors. Perth-based Hazel Brewer is recommended for shipping disputes, while Sydney-based practice head Cris Cureton‘s practice spans government and corporate disputes. Greg Steinepreis is recommended for handling disputes in the gas and natural resources sectors.