New ICC Appointments Confirm Strength of Baker & McKenzie’s International Arbitration Practice

Global, 31 July 2012 – The head of the Firm’s CIS Dispute Resolution practice group, Vladimir Khvalei, was recently reappointed as a vice president of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, one of the world’s most experienced and renowned international arbitration institutions with more than 100 members from about 90 countries. In addition, New York partner and co-head of Baker & McKenzie’s International Arbitration Group, Grant Hanessian, was recently appointed Vice Chairman of the Arbitration & ADR Committee of the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), the US national committee of the ICC.

Initially appointed in 2009, Mr. Khvalei starts a new three year term from 1 July 2012 until 30 June 2015. He will continue to play a major role in the functioning of the court through participation in its weekly committee sessions and monthly plenary sessions, where most of the decisions to be made by the court under ICC rules are taken; as well as through his membership of the court’s bureau, which formulates recommendations on policy that are then submitted for discussion to the court as a whole.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Khvalei said, “I am delighted to have an opportunity to continue my work at the court. Over the last three years I have been involved in high-profile and challenging matters and I’m really excited to start a fresh term.” While serving on the court, Mr. Khvalei will continue to practice law with Baker & McKenzie.

Additionally, Grant Hanessian was recently appointed vice chairman of the USCIB’s Arbitration & ADR Committee which serves as the contact point for the International Court of Arbitration and its multi-faceted dispute resolution services. The committee, through the stewardship of Josefa Sicard-Mirabal, Director of Arbitration & ADR for North America for the ICC International Court of Arbitration, provides assistance in the nomination of US arbitrators, makes referrals to parties seeking attorneys, organizes seminars and corporate roundtables, and answers questions regarding the arbitration process and other ICC dispute resolution services.

“As the ICC’s International Court of Arbitration prepares to open an office of its Secretariat in New York, this is a particularly important time for the ICC in the US. I am honored by this appointment and am looking forward to working with Josefa and Mark Beckett, chair of the committee, to advance the use of the ICC’s dispute resolution services,” said Mr. Hanessian.

With more than 200 high-profile international arbitration advisers in more than 30 jurisdictions, Baker & McKenzie has one of the largest and most recommended dispute resolution practices in the world. Located in all major arbitration centers, the Firm successfully represents its clients in high-stake cases involving infrastructure, energy, commercial and post-M&A disputes.

Lawyer Profiles

Vladimir Khvalei
Moscow partner Vladimir Khvalei heads Baker & McKenzie’s CIS Dispute Resolution practice group. He has extensive experience in litigation in Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Ukraine, as well as in international arbitration cases in accordance with the arbitration rules of the ICAC, UNCITRAL, ICC, SCC and other arbitration institutions. He is the vice-president of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, Chairman of the Arbitration Commission of the Russian National Committee of the ICC, and a member of the Board of the International Arbitration Court at the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Ranked as a leading dispute resolution lawyer in Russia by Chambers, Legal 500 and PLC Which lawyer?, he is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the Polish Arbitration Association and the Austrian Arbitration Association.

Grant Hanessian
Grant Hanessian serves as co-chair of Baker & McKenzie's International Arbitration practice group and heads the Litigation/Dispute Resolution department of the Firm’s New York office. Mr. Hanessian is a member of the Commission on Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce and the ICC Task Force on Arbitration Involving States or State Entities. With more than 25 years of experience, he serves as counsel and arbitrator in disputes concerning contract, energy, construction, commodities, financial services, insurance, intellectual property and other matters. Recommended by Chambers and Legal 500 in the field of international abitration, Mr. Hanessian has recently been appointed vice chairman of the USCIB’s Arbitration & ADR Committee.