John Willems specializes in international arbitration and commercial litigation, and has represented clients in a wide variety of disputes.

John is experienced in representing parties in international arbitration proceedings before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC), the American Arbitration Association (AAA/ICDR), the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and ad hoc tribunals including under UNCITRAL rules.

John's sector experience includes banking, construction, oil and gas and telecommunications.

Recent representations include:

Bilateral Investment Treaty arbitrations

• The State of Ukraine in the successful defense of the claims brought by Global Trading Resources and Globex International, both U.S. investors. The case represented the first occasion where a State was able to obtain a summary dismissal on the merits of an ICSID claim under ICSID Rule 41(5);
• The State of Ukraine in Lemire v. Ukraine, an ICSID arbitration brought by a US individual concerning the development of Ukraine's radio broadcasting sector;
• A German sugar-producing company in a US$ 200 million UNCITRAL arbitration brought under the Germany-Poland bilateral investment treaty. This case concerned a privatization dispute and involved sugar quotas in the European Union; and
• The State of Ukraine in the ICSID claim brought by Bosh International concerning a hotel development project.

Oil and Gas

• A State-owned gas company in a series of SCC arbitrations concerning gas transit and storage agreements;
• A State-owned oil company in defending an arbitration claim by a US contractor concerning one of the world's largest natural gas plants;
• A State-owned gas company in an SCC arbitration concerning a purported gas supply agreement; and
• The seller gas company in a "baseball arbitration" proceeding to adjust the price under a long-term supply contract with a US purchaser.

Other commercial arbitrations

• The National Environmental Investment Agency of Ukraine in an arbitration against a Cyprus company under the PCA Environmental Rules;
• A Romanian bank in an English-law arbitration governed by the UNCITRAL Rules against two Cyprus-based companies;
• A Korean electronics company in an ICC arbitration against a Turkish company arising out of the establishment of a manufacturing operation for color television sets;
• A Korean state agency in two ICC arbitrations arising from privatization of the banking sector, arising in the context of the workout of a leading Korean bank; and
• A Swedish mobile telephone manufacturer in two AAA/ICDR arbitrations against a U.S. satellite company arising out of the manufacture and design of mobile telephones.

Bars and Courts
US Court of Appeals for the Second and Federal Circuits
US District Courts for the Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of New York
New York State Bar

Education
JD, University of Virginia School of Law, Executive Editor of Virginia Journal of International Law, 1988
BA, History, Brown University, 1985

Languages
English
French
Latvian

Citizenship
United States