Dr. Markus Burianski
Biography
Overview
Head of White & Case's German arbitration practice, Markus' work focuses on national and international dispute resolution. He represents German domestic and multinational clients in a variety of court and arbitration proceedings, including those conducted under the ICC, DIS, UNCITRAL, SIAC, ICDR, ICSID, VIAC and Swiss rules. In addition, Markus regularly acts as a sole arbitrator, chair and co-arbitrator as well as a German-law "expert" in national and international arbitration proceedings. Markus co-chairs the Firm's energy disputes group.
At ease with the multijurisdictional intricacies of international arbitration matters, he has significant experience of supporting clients with complex disputes relating to supply contracts, energy law, post-M&A matters, and liability issues (including managing directors' liability). Markus also regularly advises clients on issues relating to private international law and cross-border litigation (jurisdiction, service, taking of evidence and enforcement).
Clients that have benefited from his knowledge and experience come primarily from the automotive, energy (including renewable energy), electronics, and financial services sectors.
Prior to joining White & Case, Markus worked in Brussels for a renowned US law firm, with a particular focus on litigation relating to competition and international trade law before the courts of the EU.
Markus is a prolific author on arbitration law and is an active member of several professional associations, including the German Lawyers' Association (DAV), the German Institution of Arbitration (DIS), the ICC Commission on Arbitration, the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), the Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht e.V. (an association with a special interest in antitrust law) and the ASA Below-40 (Association Suisse de L'Arbitrage).
Markus teaches international arbitration at the Institute for Law and Finance of the Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main and is an active member of White & Case's award-winning International Arbitration Practice, which is ranked No. 1 in the world by Global Arbitration Review for the fifth time in a row and has been described by Chambers Europe 2018 as the "Leading international arbitration outfit".
Experience
Oil & Gas Consortia
Successful representation of an oil & gas consortium in an ICC arbitration against an Arab state arising from the political turmoil of the Arab spring.
EPC Contractor
Successful representation of an Indian EPC Contractor in two independent arbitrations (ICC and ad hoc, seated in Cairo and Amman) against an Arab state arising from a civil war. The proceedings concerned the construction of overhead power lines. Applicable law was that of the Arab state.
Car Manufacturer
Ongoing representation of a major German car manufacturer with regard to Force Majeure and Hardship-claims brought by numerous suppliers arising from the global semiconductor shortage, the Ukraine war, soaring raw material and energy costs, etc.
Taiwanese Photovoltaic Company
Representation of a Taiwanese manufacturer of photovoltaic components in a EUR 130-million ICC arbitration against a German supplier about the termination of a long-term supply agreement for economic hardship.
Foreign Energy Producer
Advice to a foreign energy producer regarding potential ECT claims against Germany arising out of changes to the regulatory framework.
Japanese Renewable Investor
Representation of a Japanese renewable investor in an ICSID ECT arbitration against Spain related to feed-in-tariffs.
"Claims against states as a way to expand the estate under insolvency administration", Webinar 4 March 2021
M&A Sessions: "What impact does the current crisis have on post-M&A disputes?", Webinar, 26 August 2020
"COVID-19 - Crisis management also required in many legal areas", Webinar, Frankfurt, 24 March 2020
8th Conference "Universities, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa", Presentation on "Effective legal protection through arbitration – a success factor for SMEs", 20 February 2020, Sankt Augustin
Panelist at "GDPR-International arbitration meets data protection: practical guidance for compliance", November 2018: Fordham International Arbitration and Mediation Conference, Fordham University, New York
"Disclosure Obligations Pursuant to the Amended German Competition Act – a German "Discovery"?", 2018 Litigation Summit, Berlin
"Why The EU Investment Court System Is Destined To Fail Foreign Investors And Host States Alike?", EFILA Annual Conference 2018, London
"Taking of Evidence in International Disputes", workshop in the context of the Master Program "International Dispute Resolution" at HU Berlin, 2018, 2019, 2020
"The Impact of Digitalization on International Arbitration", 2017 DAJV conference; Frankfurt
"Upstream Force Majeure", ICC YAF 3/2017, Düsseldorf
"Costs in international arbitration - tactical aspects of advance on cost", 2015 IBA Regional Day, Munich
"Free trade and democracy", Young Public Law Academics, Berlin, 2015
"Managing political and commercial risks by means of arbitration", 4th Managing Risk in Africa, Munich, 2015
"Umbrella clauses in the context of future treaty making", EFILA inaugural conference, London, 2015
"John Deere: International Arbitration", Mannheim, 2014
"Managing political and commercial risks by means of arbitration", 2nd Managing Risk in Africa, Frankfurt, 2013
"Preparing your company to deal with Risk in Africa, 1st. Managing Risk in Africa", Frankfurt, 2012
"Climate protection lawsuits against companies won't stay away in the future" ("Klimaschutzklagen gegen Unternehmen bleiben künftig nicht aus") guest commentary in: energate messenger, July 02, 2021 (with Sonja Hoffmann and Federico Parise Kuhnle)
"The German Federal Constitutional Court on the German Climate Change Act", Environmental Law & Management, Lawtext, 2021 (with Sonja Hoffmann and Federico Parise Kuhnle)
"How should the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak be managed on projects under FIDIC and NEC? ", March 2020 (with Rebecca Shorter, Charles Nairac, Dimitar Kondev and Yasmine El Achkar)
"Germany": Energy Disputes 2020, Getting the Deal Through, March 2020 (with Thomas Burmeister)
"Suspending contractual performance in response to the coronavirus outbreak", February 2020 (with Mark Clarke, Maximilian Clasmeier and James Hart)
"Damages for breach of an exclusive jurisdiction clause", January 2020
"War Clauses: Friend (not Foe) of Force Majeure", August 2019 (with Christian Theissen)
"German Federal Court of Justice Prohibits Third-Party Funding in Actions for 'Confiscation of Profits'", February 2019
"Germany"; Energy Disputes, Getting The Deal Through. Ed. Wood/Miller/Brogdon/Stebbing/Varnado/Ibrahimov. London, 2019, Pages 55-59 (with Thomas Burmeister)
"Dispute Resolution in Africa Mining Assets: Exploring the Arbitration Route", Into Africa 2018, Pages 37-39 (with Federico Parise Kuhnle)
"Germany"; Energy Disputes, Getting The Deal Through. Ed. Wood/Miller/Brogdon/Stebbing/Varnado/Ibrahimov. London, 2018, Pages 35-39 (with Thomas Burmeister)
"Challenges" to Party-Appointed Experts, SchiedsVZ 2017, Issue 6, Pages 269-277 (with Alexander C. Lang)
"Taking Depositions in Germany for Use in US Courts", 2017 (with Sonja Dünnwald)
"Arbitration in Africa – Managing Risks in a Growing Market", Into Africa, April 2017, Pages 12-13 (with Federico Parise Kuhnle)
"A commentary on the Pechstein decision of the BGH", LMK 2016, 381217 (with Gero Pogrzeba)
"The end of inter-EU disputes? It's in the hand of the ECJ", Dispute Resolution Online 2016, Vol. 2, p. 6-8
"Navigating India: lessons for foreign investors", Business Law Magazine, September 3, 2015 (with Nandan Nelivigi)
"New York, Brussels – or both? In focus: practical consequences of the ECJ's „Gazprom“
decision (New York, Brüssel – oder beide? Im Blickpunkt: Praxisfolgen der „Gazprom“-Entscheidung des EuGH)", Dispute Resolution Online 2015, Issue 2, Pages 6-9 (with Daniel Eckstein)
"Safeguard for foreign investors: A practical approach: investment protection and TTIP", Business Law Magazine 2014, Issue 3, Pages 12-15 (with Hansel T. Pham and Sonja Dünnwald)
"Third Party Funding in International Arbitration – an overview (Neue Chancen, neue Fragen: Prozessfinanzierung in internationalen Schiedsverfahren – ein Überblick)", Dispute Resolution Online 2014, Issue 2, Pages 10–13 (with Alexander C. Lang)
"A Mountain Too High: The Challenge of Setting Aside an Arbitral Award on the Basis of Fraud in Different Jurisdictions (Kaum zu überwinden: Die Herausforderung der Anfechtung eines Schiedsspruchs wegen Betrugs in verschiedenen Rechtsordnungen)", SchiedsVZ 2013, Issue 1, Pages 20-31 (with Aloke Ray et al.)
"German data protection law in international arbitration – Applicability, conflicts and possible solutions (Deutsches Datenschutzrecht in internationalen Schiedsverfahren – Anwendbarkeit, Konflikte und Lösungshinweise)", RDV 2011, Issue 5, Pages 214-221 (with Martin Reindl)
"The German General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) in arbitration proceedings – a question of faith? (AGG in Schiedsverfahren – eine Glaubensfrage?)", NJW Editorial, Issue 25, 2011
"Paradigm shift in the preclusion of complaints. BB-Commentary on BGH, decision of 16 December 2010 – III ZB 100/09 (Paradigmenwechsel bei der Rügepräklusion. BB-Kommentar zu BGH, Beschluss vom 16.12.10 – III ZB 100/09)", Betriebsberater 2011, Issue 6, Pages 336-339 (with Jan Skibelski)
Best Lawyer Germany in Arbitration and Mediation, International Arbitration, Litigation, Handelsblatt 2017-2023
"Markus Burianski excels in legal strategy for international and complex arbitrations; very proactive and he works out the desired results through consistent efforts with a client-centric approach"
The Lawdragon Litigation Global 500, International Arbitration, 2021
"Thought Leader: Arbitration" 2022 Who's Who Legal
Dispute Resolution Star – International Arbitration; Benchmark Litigation Europe 2020
Dispute Resolution, Arbitration Counsel, Chambers Germany 2019
Highly Recommended Lawyer:
Dispute Resolution, JUVE 2020/2021
Dispute Resolution – Germany, The Legal 500 Germany, 2022
Dispute Resolution Expert: P.R.I.M.E. Finance
