Our dedicated team of International Arbitration practitioners

are fully equipped to help you navigate the complexities of international arbitration in Africa and to guide you through the entire process in a pragmatic and commercially driven manner.

International Arbitration

Navigating the complexities of international arbitration in Africa requires expert guidance through the various factors specific to each jurisdiction on the continent.

Our dedicated team of international arbitration practitioners are fully equipped to help you answer those questions and to guide you through the entire process in a pragmatic and commercially driven manner - from negotiating the arbitration clause, the governing law for the agreement, choosing the appropriate seat and/or location for the arbitration hearing, selecting the most appropriate procedural rules to govern the procedure, choosing the appropriate arbitrator right through to ultimately enforcement of the award, including risk advisory services relating to bilateral and multilateral investment treaties.

Our services include:

  • The drafting of arbitration clauses and agreements.
  • Choice of governing law.
  • Appropriateness of institutional or ad-hoc arbitration, particularly in Africa.
  • International investment arbitrations.
  • Investment law aspects of treaty-based arbitrations.
  • Risk advisory services relating bilateral and multilateral investment treaties.
  • Aspects relating to the rules published by various arbitration institutions.
  • The choice of arbitrator.
  • Interim relief.
  • Procedural aspects of international arbitrations.
  • Challenges to the appointment of arbitrators.
  • Challenges to arbitral awards.
  • Enforcement of arbitral awards.

Ranked Practitioners

  • Tim Fletcher is the National Practice Head for the Dispute Resolution team. Chambers Global 2022 ranked Tim in Band 2 for dispute resolution. From 2019-2021 he was ranked in Band 3 for dispute resolution. Chambers Global 2015–2018 ranked Tim in Band 4 for dispute resolution. The Legal 500 EMEA 2016–2020 recommended him as a leading individual for dispute resolution and recommended him from 2013–2016. The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers 2015 identified Tim as being among the world’s leading asset recovery lawyers. He was named as the exclusive South African winner of the ILO Client Choice Awards 2017–2018 in the litigation category. Who’s Who Legal 2015–2019 identified Tim as one of the world’s leading Insurance & Reinsurance lawyers.

  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2018-2020 recommended Timothy Baker for construction.

  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2016–2020 recommended Rishaban Moodley for dispute resolution. Rishaban was named as the exclusive South African winner of the ILO Client Choice Awards 2015-2016 for litigation.

  • Chambers Global 2022 ranked Jonathan as Senior Statesperson. In 2021 Jonathan Witts-Hewinson was ranked in Band 3 for dispute resolution and from 2017–2020 he was ranked in Band 2. Chambers Global 2014–2016 ranked Jonathan in Band 3 for dispute resolution. The Legal 500 EMEA 2012–2020 recommended him for dispute resolution. He was identified as a leading lawyer by Who’s Who Legal: Litigation for 2017. The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers 2015 identified him as being among the world’s leading asset recovery lawyers. Practical Law Company PLC Which Lawyer? 2006–2012 endorsed Jonathan for his expertise in dispute resolution, restructuring and insolvency, and construction. Expert Guides: Guide to the World’s Leading Lawyers 2009–2011 listed him among South Africa’s pre-eminent litigation lawyers in litigation and emerging markets.