Dr. Ragnar Harbst LL.M.

Partner

Baker McKenzie Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH von Rechtsanwälten und Steuerberatern

Frankfurt

T + 49 69 2 99 08 231

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Biography

Dr. Ragnar Harbst is a member of Baker McKenzie’s Dispute Resolution team. He is qualified both as Rechtsanwalt and as a Solicitor of England & Wales. Ragnar focuses on international arbitration and litigation proceedings in the area of infrastructure projects, in particular energy transport and general commercial disputes and has represented clients in more than 40 arbitration proceedings. Ragnar was a co-chair of the current ICC Task Force on Maximizing the Probative Value of Witness Evidence, which deals with psychological influences on witness evidence in arbitration. Ragnar published widely on aspects of international arbitration with a focus on witness examination and the psychology of decision making. The German JUVE Handbook and Who is Who Legal recommend Ragnar as an arbitration practitioner in Germany. He also lectures on legal writing at the University of Frankfurt and regularly teaches legal writing to clients and students.

Practice Focus

Ragnar's practice is devoted to international arbitration and litigation proceedings, particularly in large infrastructure and construction projects, with a special focus on the railway industry. Ragnar also frequently acts as arbitrator in ICC and DIS arbitrations in construction and commercial matters.

Representative Legal Matters

Defended client in ICC arbitration concerning implementation railway project in Asia related to public bidding law and final accounting (amount in dispute of USD 300 million).
Represented client in arbitration proceedings concerning tunneling construction project in South-East Asia (amount in dispute over USD 100 million).
Represented an international engineering company in dispute concerning construction of nuclear power plant (amount in dispute over EUR 2 billion).
Sole arbitrator in an international ICC arbitration concerning competition law.
Advises a client on a dispute, worth over USD 500 million, concerning a large railway project in the Middle East.
Represented a multinational company in parallel arbitration proceedings concerning intra-joint venture disputes in the energy sector.
Represented manufacturer of rolling stock on dispute about allegedly defective components for bogies (amount in dispute EUR 300 million).
Sole arbitrator in ICC arbitration concerning on commercial dispute about allocation of costs for TV advertising.

Professional Honors

National Leader Arbitration 2020, Who's Who Legal, 2020
The Best Lawyers in Germany 2022 edition for Arbitration and Mediation, Construction Law and International Arbitration

Professional Associations and Memberships

ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR Germany - Member
German Institution of Arbitration (DIS) - Member

Admissions

England & Wales~United Kingdom (2005)
Germany (2003)

Education

University of Cologne (Ph.D. International Commercial Arbitration) (2003)
University of Hamburg (Second State Exam) (2002)
University of London (LL.M. International Arbitration) (1998)
University of Muenster (Assessor Exam) (1998)

Languages

English
German

Publications

Author, "The (In) accuracy of Witness Memory," in "Tahkim Duruşmasının Psikolojisi / The Psychology of Arbitration Hearing," editors Ziya Akinci, Umuf Tuga und Seref Can Arat - Istanbul Arbitration Centre (ISTAC) Publications, 25. 2. 2022
Author, "Adjudication in Germany, Chapter 9 in Burr (ed.), International Contractual and Statutory Adjudication, " Routledge, 2017
Author, "A Counsel’s Guide to Examining and Preparing Witnesses in International Arbitration," WoltersKluwer, 2015
Co-author, "The Complete (but Unofficial) Guide to the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot," October 2013
Co-author, "Baker & McKenzie International Arbitration Yearbook 2011-2012: Germany," 5th Edition, March 2012
Author, "Writing Clearly – An Essential Skill for any Lawyer," JuS 10/2012

Co-author, International Arbitration Yearbook, 2008-present
Author, "Adjudication in England – Das erste Jahrzehnt," BauR, 2007
Author, "Korruption und andere ordre public Verstöße als Einwände im Schiedsverfahren," SchiedsVZ, 2007
Author, "Offers to settle – Ein Modell für das deutsche Zivilprozessrecht," ZZP, 2007
Co-author, "Die Höhe von Verzugs- und Prozesszinsen," AnwBI, 2007
Author, "Adjudication und Dispute Review Boards nach den neuen ICC Regeln," SchiedsVZ, 2005
Author, "Adjudication – Rough Justice in 28 days," SchiedsVZ, 2003
Author, "Die Rolle der staatlichen Gerichte im Schiedsverfahren," (Diss.) Verlag Recht und Wirtschaft, Heidelberg, 2002
Author, "Arbitrating in Germany," Arbitration Vol. 70 No. 7
Author, "ICC Dispute Board Rules – the Civil Lawyer’s Perspective," Arbitration Vol. 72 No. 4

Presentations

Speaker, "Vienna Arbitration Days 2018 on the probative value of Witness Evidence in International Arbitration," 19 January 2018
Speaker, "IBA Annual Conference in Sydney on the usefulness and reliability of witness evidence in arbitration," 11 October 2017
Speaker, "The current status of the ICC Task Force on Maximizing the Probative Value of Witness Evidence in International Arbitration on occasion of the ICC Commission Meeting," Sydney, 6 October 2017
Speaker, Baker & McKenzie Soft Skill Training, Munich, 26 September 2017
Speaker, "The current status of the ICC Task Force on Maximizing the Probative Value of Witness Evidence in International Arbitration on Occasion of the ICC Commission Meeting," Paris, 17 September 2016 and 25 April 2017
Speaker, "Dutch Arbitration Day 2017 in Amsterdam on the topic of the value of Witness Evidence in International Arbitration and 'Tricks of the Mind', " 14 September 2017
Speaker, "The Efficiency of Dispute Resolution in Construction Arbitration," Beijing Arbitration Summit, Frankfurt/Main, 22 June 2016
Speaker, "Adjudication and Dispute Boards," DIS Spring Conference, Hamburg, 27 April 2016
Presenter, "Adjudication in Germany," Annual European Society of Construction Law Conference, London, October 2015
Presenter, "Everything According to the Law – How Psychology influences Decision Making," Baker & McKenzie Conference on Psychology and Decision Making, Munich, September 2015
Presenter, "International Arbitration on Choosing the Right Arbitrator," ICC IWIS Seminar, June 2011
Panelist, "Modern Conflict Management," DIS 40 Conference I, April 2011
Speaker, "Multi Tier Dispute Clauses," 5th Mediation Day, 2010

Lectures

Lecturer, "Legal Writing," University of Frankfurt, 2009-present

Geschäftsführer: Dr. Alexander Wolff, Dr. Oliver Socher, Dr. Christian Vocke
Baker McKenzie Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH von Rechtsanwälten und Steuerberatern is registered with the Local Court of Frankfurt/Main (registered seat) HRB 123975. It is associated with Baker & McKenzie International, a Verein organized under the laws of Switzerland.