With many of the world’s largest corporations headquartered in Atlanta, the local bar is experienced in handling some of the world’s most complex transactions and disputes. That expertise extends to all forms of cross border dispute resolutions, including international arbitration. Parties may also be represented in international arbitration proceedings in this state by non-Georgia lawyers, including not only lawyers from other states, but also those not licensed in any U.S. jurisdiction.

Skilled Local Advocates and Neutrals

Atlanta Lawyers have acted as counsel or neutrals in proceedings all over the world, including cases administered by the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), The International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), the International Centre for the Settlement of investment Disputes (ICSID), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Commercial Arbitration Court (MKAS) in Moscow, JAMS, the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), and the Vienna International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), as well as cases under the Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). Whether working in large, international law firms, mid-sized regional firms, or specialized boutiques, Georgia lawyers are skilled in every aspect of cross-border dispute resolution.

A Welcoming Environment

Residents within Georgia are numerous foreign-qualified lawyers from across the globe. Most major law firms and many smaller ones have foreign-trained lawyers within their ranks. No other jurisdiction in the United States is ore open to non-U.S. licensed lawyers, including those serving as arbitrators or counsel in arbitration proceedings. Indeed, the State of Georgia has been held out by the American Bar Association (ABA) Task Force on International Trade in Legal Services as a singular model for other states in addressing issues arising from the globalization of the legal profession, cross-border practice and lawyer mobility. Indeed, a 2018 fifty-state survey indicates that Georgia is one of only five U.S. states to tick the box with respect to the five potentially permissible methods of foreign lawyer practice (i.e. bar rules allowing foreign legal consultants, pro hac vice admission for foreign lawyer in state courts, foreign in house counsel, and temporary practice by foreign lawyers, also known as “FIFO” or “fly in/fly out”, plus having had foreign-educated applicants sit for a bar exam since 2010)

Globally-Minded in House Counsel

Atlanta is host to a vibrant and engaged in-house bar, whose clients include not only some of the globe’s largest multinational corporations, but also scores of small and mid sized businesses engaged in inbound and outbound cross-border trade and investment. This group of stakeholders is seasoned in multiple jurisdictions and legal traditions, including the civil law.