
International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
Liedekerke’s International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution (IADR) Practice focuses on high-stakes international arbitration proceedings and litigations in commercial and investment disputes, in Belgium and abroad, and also assists clients in the organisation and coordination of multi-jurisdiction claims and defense strategies.
Our team is particularly active in international disputes related to distribution, mining, engineering and construction, corporate/M&A, and banking disputes. We represent national, foreign and multinational companies or State-owned entities active in these sectors, especially in Europe, the Middle East and francophone Africa, in international arbitration proceedings governed by a wide range of applicable laws – from both the civil and the common law traditions – and before State courts. The team also represents States or investors in international investment arbitrations and before State courts.
Liedekerke is one of the only two Belgian law firms to be recognised in the leading GAR100, the Global Arbitration Review’s ranking of law firms specialised in international arbitration.
The IADR Practice is also a leader on the Belgian market for setting-aside proceedings, and enforcement proceedings of arbitral awards (for both investment and commercial arbitrations), and Liedekerke has been involved in some of the largest multi-jurisdictional enforcement proceedings in Europe over the past few years.
Liedekerke also counts with one of only a handful lawyers admitted to the Bar of Cassation among its Partners, allowing us to represent clients before all courts in Belgium.

Our team has extensive experience of handling disputes for clients in the following sectors: automotive, aeronautical (manufacturing and airlines), commodities, consumer goods and food, banking and finance, mining, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, construction, cinema. We have an excellent track record of dealing with highly complex, high-stake international disputes in the context of financial and share deals.
We have recently been involved in:
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Assisting a US hedge fund in an unprecedented garnishment order against a sovereign state in the hands of 145 financial institutions.
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Assisting one of the Middle East’s largest constructing and oil companies in handling a high profile oil dispute involving enforcement and other proceedings in more than 10 countries.
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Assisting the seller in post-acquisition arbitration regarding representations and warranties in relation to the sale of five manufacturing sites of a large US industrial group to its Japanese competitor.
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Acting as lead counsel for the largest state mining company in the Democratic Republic of Congo in a case against a State creditor seeking to enforce its debts against the company’s assets. In a landmark decision, the Privy Council has ruled in favour of Liedekerke’s client.
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Representing an African State in ICSID (International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, World Bank Group) arbitration proceedings relating to the alleged violation of international treaty standards of investment protection.
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Representing one of the world largest contractors in an ICC arbitration in relation to a USD 1.6 billion infrastructure-project in Qatar.
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Assisting an Asian hedge fund to enforce, in less than five weeks, an ICC arbitral award by (i) obtaining an ex parte Order appointing a custodian to manage the award debtor’s assets and (ii) forcing the award debtor to repatriate its foreign funds to Belgium for collection under the award.
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Assisting one of the world’s leading concession and construction groups with the successful enforcement of an ICC Arbitral Award against a sovereign state by means of an unprecedented garnishment order served on the Central Bank of that sovereign state.
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Assisting US plaintiffs in obtaining evidence in Europe ("US style" witness depositions).
Our IADR team is one of the largest team of lawyers dedicated to counsel work in international arbitration on the Belgian market. Our lawyers work in French, English and Dutch, and are versed in foreign laws that to having been (partly) educated abroad.
- Georges ALBOUSTANY, Associate
- Charlotte BASTIN, Associate
- Anne BRIGOT-LAPERROUSAZ, Associate
- Aimery DE SCHOUTHEETE, Partner
- Julien DEGROOFF, Associate
- Gatien DELLA FAILLE, Associate
- Roel FRANSIS, Partner
- Bruno HARDY, Senior Associate
- Louis HOLLANDERS, Associate
- Michaël HOUBBEN, Senior Associate
- Esther LANOTTE, Senior Associate
- Coline MINGUET, Associate
- Arnaud NUYTS, Partner
- Gabriele RUSCALLA, Senior Associate
- Beatrice VAN TORNOUT, Senior Associate
- GAR EAR – Construction Disputes
- La Cour de cassation, juge et partie dans une action en responsabilité contre l’État
- Jurisprudence belge relative au droit international public (2012-2017)
- Arrêt "Achmea" : une décision de principe ?
- Congo - D.R. - International Arbitration 2nd Edition
- Cross-Border Class Actions : The European Way
- Headline Litigation, Corporate & Finance: Proposed rules on collective actions under Belgian law
- Droit international des affaires
- International Franchise Sales Law (Belgium chapter)
- International Litigation in Intellectual Property and Information Technology
- The Enforcement of Jurisdiction Agreements
- Le règlement communautaire sur l'obtention des preuves
- The immunity of International Organizations Confronted with Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights
- Obtaining Evidence in Belgium
- Taking of Evidence in the European Union under EC Regulation 1206/2001
- The Doctrine of Forum Non Conveniens
Seminars
- IBJ-IJE Seminar "Internationale contracten en conflicten"
- IBJ-IJE Seminar "Contrats et litiges internationaux" - "Internationale contracten en conflicten"
News
- Liedekerke promotes arbitration expert Bruno Hardy to Counsel
- Liedekerke strengthens its leading position in the Chambers Europe 2022 rankings
- Liedekerke's Expertise Recognised by Leaders League 2022 rankings
- Liedekerke successfully represented the Republic of Poland before the Belgian Courts
- Liedekerke's expertise recognised by Chambers Global 2022
- Our International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution experts - meet Arnaud Nuyts
- Our International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution experts - meet Gabriele Ruscalla
- Liedekerke contributes to GAR's European Arbitration Review 2022 with the Country Chapter for Belgium
- Liedekerke's Expertise Recognised by Leaders League 2022 rankings
- Liedekerke contributes to the European Arbitration Review 2022 Guide
- Arnaud Nuyts at the Paris Arbitration Week (PAW) 2021
- Gabriele Ruscalla speaks at the ICC Institute's advanced e-PIDA Training for in-house counsel on 14 September (online event)
- Liedekerke contributes to the latest 2021 Global Construction Disputes Report of Arcadis
- Liedekerke contributes to the 12th edition of the International Arbitration Review
- The GAR100 2021 recognises Liedekerke's International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution practice
- New high-profile hire confirms Liedekerke’s leading position in international arbitration
- Liedekerke recognised by Best Lawyers 2021 edition
- Liedekerke announces the appointment of seven newly promoted Senior Associates
- Liedekerke recognized by The Legal 500 EMEA in the 2021 Rankings
- Liedekerke strengthens its leading position in the Chambers Europe 2021 rankings
- Liedekerke recognized in the 2021 Chambers Global Rankings
- Lucy Stewardson speaker at 28th World Forum of Mediation Centres
- Lucy Stewardson speaker at 28th World Forum of Mediation Centres
- Liedekerke is delighted to announce the promotion of Bruno Hardy and Davy Vandenbussche to Senior Attorney
- Liedekerke recognized in the 13th edition of GAR 100
- Liedekerke achieves top rankings in Legal 500 EMEA 2020
- Liedekerke assisting with ground-breaking Virtual Court Trial
- Liedekerke COVID-19 Resource Center
- Liedekerke recognized by Chambers Europe in the 2020 Rankings
- Liedekerke authors the Chapter on Construction Arbitration in Europe in the GAR European Arbitration Review 2020
- Liedekerke successfully assists Reynders Etiketten N.V on an application by Reckitt Benckiser (India) for appointment of an arbitrator on behalf of Reynders Etiketten
- 9 partners at Liedekerke recommended in Best Lawyers in Belgium 10th edition
- Liedekerke achieves excellent rankings in the Legal 500 2019
- Liedekerke recognized in the 12th edition of GAR 100
- Liedekerke recognized by Chambers Europe in the 2019 Rankings
- Arnaud Nuyts speaks at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL)
- Liedekerke proud sponsor of the Young ICCA-CEPANI40 Skills Training Workshop
- Arnaud Nuyts speaker at the Jura Falconis Conference 2018
- Les Codes Thématiques
- Arnaud Nuyts, Speaker at ICC Conference in Paris on 23 May 2014
- Liedekerke voted best Litigation and Arbitration Law Firm of the Year
- Liedekerke honoured "Litigation and Arbitration Law Firm of the Year" at the Belgian Legal Awards
- Corporate Intl Magazine 2011 Global Awards: Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year in Belgium
‘Expert knowledge of the Belgian legal disputes system‘.
‘In international arbitration, Arnaud Nuyts and his team impress both as real fighters and as highly knowledgeable, competent international lawyers. Clearly, judges and arbitrators listen to Nuyts with respect‘.
‘The team is efficient, dedicated and always gives prompt, proactive, accurate, comprehensive and to the point advice‘.
‘Olivier Vanden Berghe is a skilled and experienced lawyer, he is very commercially oriented and finds the best solution for the client‘.
‘Bruno Hardy is very responsive, smart and good at pleading. He works in an efficient and pragmatic manner‘.
‘Nuyts is a bright example of a stellar academic with a vast theoretical background and a really practice-oriented counsel. His theoretical depth and his practical insight in international commercial litigation and arbitration cases make him one of the strongest practitioners in continental Europe‘.
-- Legal 500 Dispute Resolution 2021
The firm acted in an arbitration concerning an IT infrastructure project the group had with a US multinational. While Brussels is “not necessarily the first place you would think of to find international arbitration practitioners,” she says her group has found a “gem” and the firm has “nothing to envy” about practices in more established arbitral hubs.
Nuyts is “absolutely outstanding with strategy” and both he and associate Bruno Hardy “go the extra-mile for their client.” Although the arbitral hearing was “David against Goliath,” with the opposing party’s counsel team three times the size, Nuyts and Hardy ensured that “the other side would be the paying party.”
Another client says that Nuyts commands “immense respect” with leading arbitrators who “clearly hold him in very high regard” and trust his legal analysis. “He very clearly dominated the battlefield; he is confident without being arrogant; bold but not reckless.”
A counsel at a Greek construction company says the firm is highly professional, prompt, conducts excellent work and has reasonable legal fees. Nuyts is an “outstanding scholar” and “highly dedicated professional.”
-- Global Arbitration Review, GAR100 (13th ed. (2020))
'"open-minded and able to comprehend complicated legal structures of a foreign legal system. They are always available, immediately answer our questions and are always open to discussing new issues emerging in the course of the proceedings.'.
'Aimery de Schoutheete represents commodity traders and engineering companies in international arbitration proceedings. He frequently advises clients on disputes involving Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A market source notes that de Schoutheete is "very courteous and handles the matter very well."'.
'Arnaud Nuyts is an experienced counsel who represents clients from both the public and private sector in international arbitrations, including regarding the enforcement of arbitral awards, contractual disputes and investment disputes. One client appreciates that Nuyts is "capable of planning ahead and thinking in a strategic way." Another source emphasises that Nuyts is "absolutely brilliant" in arbitration.'.
-- Chambers Europe & Chambers Global Dispute Resolution / Arbitration 2021
‘Arnaud Nuyts is a formidable advocate and excellent strategist. He enjoys enormous respect from very senior judges and arbitrators and is trusted and listened to when he discusses difficult points of law‘. ‘Bruno Hardy is extremely competent, thorough, well organized and a quick-thinker‘. ‘Bruno Hardy is a very promising up and coming lawyer, able to master highly complex disputes‘.
-- Legal 500 Dispute Resolution 2020
Clients commend the "excellent" team for its "great mix between thorough legal knowledge and skills, and practical mindset and commercial awareness."
Sources admire the "well-informed and very strong lawyers" for "providing prompt and succinct advice."
Aimery de Schoutheete represents multinational corporations and state-owned entities in commercial disputes and international arbitrations. He has particular expertise assisting clients with Congolese law matters. He is hailed by one client as "a very seasoned and sharp lawyer who combines thorough legal knowledge and skills with a very practical approach.“
Arnaud Nuyts specialises in international arbitration concerning contractual breaches and administrative law issues. Nuyts handles cross-border disputes in relation to the enforcement of arbitral awards. A client adds: "His legal reasoning was superb, the argument itself was superb," and also highlights his diplomatic approach.
-- Chambers Europe & Chambers Global Dispute Resolution / Arbitration 2020
Aimery de Schoutheete is described by one client as "very proactive and able to provide very accurate advice."
-- Chambers Global 2018
Senior figures include Arnaud Nuyts, who has "a great eye for detail", and Aimery de Schoutheete.
Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick is "the best in Belgium" and provides "unmatched responsiveness and quality of service"
-- Legal 500 - 2018
"Well-regarded practice with a strong reputation for international public law disputes and arbitrations and a particular focus internationally on matters involving Africa."
Clients appreciate the firm's advice, saying that it "answers very quickly. The quality of the opinion they give is excellent. They give you real guidance with a very clear analysis of the case law and the circumstances you are in as a client."
Aimery de Schoutheete is described by clients as an "expert in commercial law and litigation cases" and a "highly experienced professional"
-- Chambers Europe - 2017
“Obvious market leader”
-- Legal 500 Dispute Resolution 2016