International Arbitration

With extensive experience in international arbitration cases around the world, AFFAKI represents a high-profile, international client base in arbitral proceedings across five continents in Arabic, English, and French.

The Firm’s successes are internationally recognised. AFFAKI has been listed by Chambers and Partners in the Dispute Resolution category, and Georges Affaki is listed amongst the Most in Demand Arbitrators. The Firm is also consistently ranked in the Euromoney Guide to the World’s Leading Experts in Commercial Arbitration, the leading guide to the top practitioners in commercial arbitration.

AFFAKI’s experience is broad and deep. The Firm acts in both international treaty and contract-based arbitrations and has dealt with a diversity of matters. Cases taken on by AFFAKI have included those involving investment treaty cases, long-term energy supply contracts, construction projects, property development, financial services, telecom services, transportation, defence and military procurement, humanitarian relief, distribution and franchising agreements, commodity trading, and joint ventures. The Firm has acted in arbitrations under a broad variety of applicable laws, at a diversity of seats, and administered under a large range of institutional and ad hoc rules.

Georges Affaki is a Chartered Arbitrator, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration, a member of the Panels of Arbitrators and Conciliators of ICSID, and a member of the Practice & Procedures Board of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA). He has served as a member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration for two terms.

Professor Affaki has served as chairman, panel member, and sole arbitrator in investment and international commercial arbitral proceedings under the rules of the leading institutions at which he is empanelled. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and a Fellow of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA).

Georges Affaki’s full arbitrator’s resume can be downloaded here.

Visit our Blog Arbitration in Banking and Financial Matters on .

Some of the international arbitral institutions where Georges Affaki is empanelled as an arbitrator

ADGM Arbitration Center;
Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA);
Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC);
Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA);
Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR-AAA);
Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA);
China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC);
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb);
Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC);
Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC);
International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR);
International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID);
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC);
Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA);
Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB);
Lebanese Arbitration and Mediation Center (LAMC);
London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA);
Mauritius International Arbitration Centre (MIAC);
Nederlands Arbitration Institute (NAI);
Oman Commercial Arbitration Center (OAC);
Pacific International Arbitration Centre (PIAC);
Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA);
P.R.I.M.E. Finance;
Russian Arbitration Association (RAA);
Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA);
Shanghai Arbitration Commission (SHAC);
Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC);
The Stockholm Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Institute (SCC).
Tehran Regional Arbitration Centre (TRAC);
Thailand Arbitration Centre (THAC);
Vienna International Arbitration Centre (VIAC); and
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
(Full list of institutions where Georges Affaki is empanelled as an arbitrator is available on request).

Representative Arbitral Appointments

Construction and Projects

President of the arbitral tribunal in an ICC case in relation to a major water desalination project (applicable law: UAE, seat: Dubai).
President of the arbitral tribunal in an ICC case in relation to an iconic infrastructure project dispute in the tourism sector (applicable law: UAE, seat: Dubai).
President of the arbitral tribunal in a in a bilingual (Arabic-English) DIAC case in relation to a dispute relating to a series of property development and construction agreements (applicable law: UAE, seat: Dubai).
President of the arbitral tribunal in a DIAC case in relation to a series of construction disputes in relation to a landmark infrastructure project in Dubai (applicable law: UAE, seat: Dubai).
President of the arbitral tribunal in ad hoc arbitral proceedings in relation to the construction of a dam in France (applicable law: France, seat: Paris).
President of the arbitral tribunal in a LAMC case in relation to a construction dispute arising out of a project in Iraq (applicable law: Lebanon, seat: Beirut).
Sole arbitrator in an ad hoc international arbitration case in relation to a dispute between a contractor and an international relief agency operating in the Middle East (applicable law: general principles of international law, seat: London).
Sole arbitrator in an ICC case in relation to a dispute arising out of a series of contracts for the design, construction, expansion, and development of terminals in an international airport (applicable law: Saudi Arabia, seat: Dubai).
Sole arbitrator in an ICC case in relation to a dispute arising out of a shipbuilding agreement (applicable law: Bahraini, seat: Manama).
Sole arbitrator in an ICC case in relation to a dispute arising from the construction of a ship docking terminal and grain warehouse construction and operation project (applicable law: Iran, seat: Paris).
Party-appointed arbitrator in PCA-administered Case Nº AA695 under the UNCITRAL rules in relation to a dispute in the construction sector (applicable law: Moldova, seat: The Hague).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an ICC case concerning the construction of the Doha metro (applicable law: Qatar, seat: Doha).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an ICC case concerning a dispute under a settlement agreement related to a large construction project (applicable law: England, seat: London).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an ICC case concerning a dispute under a complex FIDIC-type industrial dismantling, transfer, and construction series of agreements (applicable law: France, seat: Paris).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an ICC case concerning a shipbuilding contract in the oil and gas sector (applicable law: Libya, seat: to be determined).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an ad hoc case concerning a dispute under a major hospital construction project (applicable law: Saudi, seat: Riyadh).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an ad hoc case concerning a dispute under a joint venture agreement in relation to a real estate investment (applicable law: France, seat: Paris)

Investment

President of the arbitral tribunal in PCA Case No. 2023-13, under the Swiss-Tanzanian bilateral treaty and the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules.
President of the arbitral tribunal in ICSID Case No. ARB/20/47, Mitsui & Co., Ltd. v. Kingdom of Spain.
President of the arbitral tribunal in ICSID Case No. ARB/16/16, Global Telecom Holding S.A.E. v. Canada.
Party-appointed arbitrator in multiple Treaty, UNCITRAL arbitral proceedings, or under the Organisation of the Islamic Conference Investment Guarantee Agreement (applicable law: international law, seat: The Hague, London, Geneva, and others).
Instructed as counsel or expert in multiple investment arbitrations conducted under UNCITRAL and ICC Rules.

Banking and Finance

President of the arbitral tribunal in an LCIA case in relation to the issue of securities (applicable law: English, seat: London).
President of the arbitral tribunal in case administered by the Qatar International Center for Conciliation & Arbitration (QICCA) in relation to banking service agreements (applicable law: Qatar, seat: Doha).
Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in a HKIAC consolidated cases in relation to a series of multiparty, multi-contract disputes arising under a private equity investment in the energy sector of the PRC (applicable law: Hong Kong, seat: Hong Kong).
Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in an ICC case in relation to a series of multiparty, multi-contract disputes arising under a private equity investment in the education sector in Morocco (applicable law: France, seat: Paris).
President of the arbitral tribunal in a DIAC case in relation to a trade refinancing involving a supranational entity and State-owned entities (applicable law: Sudanese, seat: Dubai).
Party-appointed arbitrator under the Rules of Arbitration of SIX Group in relation to a complaint against a decision of the Sanctions Commission (applicable law: Swiss, seat: Zurich).
Arbitrator nominated by a State-owned entity in an ICC case concerning a dispute under financing agreements in the context of a bank resolution scheme pursuant to the EU Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD) (applicable law: France, seat: Paris).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an LCIA case concerning the bank financing and issue of guarantees in relation to one of the biggest airport development projects in the world (applicable law: Abu Dhabi, seat: Abu Dhabi).
Party-appointed arbitrator in a DIAC case concerning a shareholders’ dispute in relation to the acquisition of a financial institution (applicable law: Saudi Arabia, seat: Dubai).
Party-appointed arbitrator in a DIAC case concerning a shareholders’ dispute in relation to a private equity investment in the education sector in Saudi Arabia (applicable law: England, seat: Dubai).
Sole arbitrator in a BCDR-AAA case in relation to a dispute relating to the building and operation of an electronic securities trading system (applicable law: Bahrain, seat: Manama).
Sole arbitrator in an ad hoc case in relation to a dispute under a banking service agreement (applicable law: France and international standard banking practice, seat: Paris).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an ADCCAC case concerning a dispute under an Islamic banking service agreement (applicable law: UAE, seat: Abu Dhabi).
Instructed as counsel or expert in multiple banking and finance-related arbitrations conducted under UNCITRAL and ICC Rules as well as in ad hoc proceedings.
Chair (and in one instance co-Chair) or member and rapporteur of several international working groups researching and drafting reports on commercial and investment arbitration in banking and finance.

Energy

Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in an Arabic-language CRCICA case in relation to a dispute relating to an Egyptian law-governed operation license and gas distribution agreement between the State and a foreign-controlled distributor (applicable law: Egypt, seat: Cairo).
President of the arbitral tribunal in ICSID Case No. ARB/20/47 involving an investment in a concentrated solar power plant in the renewable energy sector.
Sole arbitrator in a DIFC-LCIA case in relation to a dispute arising out of a solar power project (applicable law: Egypt, seat: Dubai).
Arbitrator nominated by a national oil company in an ICC case concerning a price determination dispute under a long-term gas supply contract (applicable law: Algerian, seat: Geneva).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an ICC case concerning a dispute under a series of consulting agreements in the power sector involving allegations of the corruption of a national oil company (applicable law: Switzerland, seat: Geneva).
Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in a HKIAC consolidated cases in relation to a series of multiparty, multi-contract disputes arising under a private equity investment in the energy sector of the PRC (applicable law: Hong Kong, seat: Hong Kong).
Instructed as counsel or expert in multiple investment arbitrations in the energy sector conducted under UNCITRAL and ICC Rules.

Other sectors

Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in an AAA-ICDR case in relation to a dispute relating to an Italian law-governed distribution agreement (applicable law: Italy, seat: Milan).
Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in an SCC case arising out of a sale of metals contract, involving the application of economic sanctions (applicable law: English law, seat: Stockhom).
Sole arbitrator in a DIAC case in relation to a dispute arising out of military procurement agreements performed in a war zone (applicable law: Dubai, seat: Dubai).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an ICC case concerning a shareholder dispute in relation to a sensitive military procurement (applicable law: Saudi, seat: Zurich).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an LCIA case concerning a multiparty, multicontract shareholder dispute in the military logistical services sector (applicable law: Saudi, seat: London).
Sole arbitrator in an ICC case in relation to a dispute arising out of a settlement in relation to a distribution agreement involving the interpretation of a bilateral tax treaty (applicable law: Brazil, seat: Paris).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an LCIA case concerning a commodities contract involving allegations of bribery (applicable law: French, seat: London).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an HKIAC case concerning a dispute under a distribution agreement (applicable law: Hong Kong, seat: Hong Kong).

Other Alternative Dispute Resolution

Chairman or member of ICC adjudicatory panels in international banking dispute resolution mechanism DOCDEX in cases No. 205, 207, 214, 219, 226, 236, 240, 246, 257, 261, 266, 272, 280 and 315 (applicable law: ICC rules and international standard banking practice).
Mediator in a multiparty dispute between banks acting as counter-guarantors or guarantors and the partners of a consortium acting as applicant in relation to the payment of a chain of international bank guarantees

Show All

Construction

Mediator in the world’s largest metro project (applicable law: Saudi Arabia, seat: Riyadh)
Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in an ICC case in relation to an iconic infrastructure project dispute in the tourism sector (applicable law: UAE, seat: Dubai).
Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in a in a bilingual (Arabic-English) DIAC case in relation to a dispute relating to a series of property development and construction agreements (applicable law: UAE, seat: Dubai).
Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in a DIAC case in relation to a series of construction disputes in relation to a landmark infrastructure project in Dubai (applicable law: UAE, seat: Dubai).
Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in ad hoc arbitral proceedings in relation to the construction of a dam in France (applicable law: France, seat: Paris).
Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in a LAMC case in relation to a construction dispute arising out of a project in Iraq (applicable law: Lebanon, seat: Beirut).
Sole arbitrator in an ad hoc international arbitration case in relation to a dispute between a contractor and an international relief agency operating in the Middle East (applicable law: general principles of international law, seat: London).
Sole arbitrator in an ICC case in relation to a dispute arising out of a series of contracts for the design, construction, expansion, and development of terminals in an international airport (applicable law: Saudi Arabia, seat: Dubai).
Sole arbitrator in an ICC case in relation to a dispute arising from the construction of a ship docking terminal and grain warehouse construction and operation project (applicable law: Iran, seat: Paris).
Party-appointed arbitrator in PCA-administered Case Nº AA695 under the UNCITRAL rules in relation to a dispute in the construction sector (applicable law: Moldova, seat: The Hague).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an ICC case concerning a dispute under a settlement agreement related to a large construction project (applicable law: England, seat: London).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an ICC case concerning a dispute under a complex FIDIC-type industrial dismantling, transfer, and construction series of agreements (applicable law: France, seat: Paris).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an ICC case concerning a shipbuilding contract in the oil and gas sector (applicable law: Libya, seat: to be determined).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an ad hoc case concerning a dispute under a joint venture agreement in relation to a real estate investment (applicable law: France, seat: Paris)

Investment

Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in ICSID Case No. ARB/16/16, Global Telecom Holding S.A.E. v. Canada.
Party-appointed arbitrator in UNCITRAL arbitral proceedings under the Organisation of the Islamic Conference Investment Guarantee Agreement and a bilateral investment treaty (applicable law: international law, seat: The Hague).
Instructed as counsel or expert in multiple investment arbitrations conducted under UNCITRAL and ICC Rules.

Banking and Finance

Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in a HKIAC consolidated cases in relation to a series of multiparty, multi-contract disputes arising under a private equity investment in the energy sector of the PRC (applicable law: Hong Kong, seat: Hong Kong).
Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in an ICC case in relation to a series of multiparty, multi-contract disputes arising under a private equity investment in the education sector in Morocco (applicable law: France, seat: Paris).
Arbitrator nominated by a State-owned entity in an ICC case concerning a dispute under financing agreements in the context of a bank resolution scheme pursuant to the EU Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD) (applicable law: France, seat: Paris).
Party-appointed arbitrator in a DIAC case concerning a shareholders’ dispute in relation to the acquisition of a financial institution (applicable law: Saudi Arabia, seat: Dubai).
Party-appointed arbitrator in a DIAC case concerning a shareholders’ dispute in relation to a private equity investment in the education sector in Saudi Arabia (applicable law: England, seat: Dubai).
Sole arbitrator in a BCDR-AAA case in relation to a dispute relating to the building and operation of an electronic securities trading system (applicable law: Bahrain, seat: Manama).
Sole arbitrator in an ad hoc case in relation to a dispute under a banking service agreement (applicable law: France and international standard banking practice, seat: Paris).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an ADCCAC case concerning a dispute under an Islamic banking service agreement (applicable law: UAE, seat: Abu Dhabi).
Instructed as counsel or expert in multiple banking and finance-related arbitrations conducted under UNCITRAL and ICC Rules as well as in ad hoc proceedings.
Chair (and in one instance co-Chair) or member and rapporteur of several international working groups researching and drafting reports on commercial and investment arbitration in banking and finance.

Energy

Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in an Arabic-language CRCICA case in relation to a dispute relating to an Egyptian law-governed operation license and gas distribution agreement between the State and a foreign-controlled distributor (applicable law: Egypt, seat: Cairo).
Sole arbitrator in a DIFC-LCIA case in relation to a dispute arising out of a solar power project (applicable law: Egypt, seat: Dubai).
Arbitrator nominated by a national oil company in an ICC case concerning a price determination dispute under a long-term gas supply contract (applicable law: Algerian, seat: Geneva).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an ICC case concerning a dispute under a series of consulting agreements in the power sector involving allegations of the corruption of a national oil company (applicable law: Switzerland, seat: Geneva).
Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in a HKIAC consolidated cases in relation to a series of multiparty, multi-contract disputes arising under a private equity investment in the energy sector of the PRC (applicable law: Hong Kong, seat: Hong Kong).
Instructed as counsel or expert in multiple investment arbitrations in the energy sector conducted under UNCITRAL and ICC Rules.

Commercial

Chairman of the arbitral tribunal in an AAA-ICDR case in relation to a dispute relating to an Italian law-governed distribution agreement (applicable law: Italy, seat: Milan).
Sole arbitrator in a DIAC case in relation to a dispute arising out of military procurement agreements performed in a war zone (applicable law: Dubai, seat: Dubai).
Sole arbitrator in an ICC case in relation to a dispute arising out of a settlement in relation to a distribution agreement involving the interpretation of a bilateral tax treaty (applicable law: Brazil, seat: Paris).
Party-appointed arbitrator in an HKIAC case concerning a dispute under a distribution agreement (applicable law: Hong Kong, seat: Hong Kong).

Other Alternative Dispute Resolution

Chairman or member of ICC adjudicatory panels in international banking dispute resolution mechanism DOCDEX in cases No. 205, 207, 214, 219, 226, 236, 240, 246, 257, 261, 266, 272, 280 and 315 (applicable law: ICC rules and international standard banking practice).
Mediator in a multiparty dispute between banks acting as counter-guarantors or guarantors and the partners of a consortium acting as applicant in relation to the payment of a chain of international bank guarantees.