Domestic & International Arbitration
Benesch’s Domestic & International Arbitration team resolves complex disputes for global companies, investors and institutions efficiently and strategically, whether across the table or around the world. Our experience spans a wide range of sectors, including construction, consumer products, energy, financial services, healthcare, technology and transportation.
Overview
Superior Representation In Leading Institutions
Our team includes international arbitrators and mediators, a member of the Institute of Arbitrators in the UK, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb), a Saudi Center of Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) arbitrator and a member of the AAA and the National Roster of Neutrals (Arbitrator and Mediator). We are admitted to arbitrate in the UAE and the UK, credentialed to arbitrate in Canada and other venues, and well-versed in the rules and procedures of the major arbitral institutions in the U.S.
We have successfully advocated for clients before most leading arbitral institutions including the AAA, JAMS, the International Court of Arbitration (ICC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) and the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), among others. We have handled and administered ad hoc matters with rules ranging from those listed above to others promulgated by the ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC) and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
With that knowledge and experience, we bring an uncommon perspective, advising clients throughout the dispute resolution process, from discovery and early neutral evaluation through the arbitration proceedings.
Key Services:
- Arbitration award enforcement and collection
- Arbitrator and mediator service in complex commercial matters
- Arbitration clause drafting and risk mitigation
- Cross-border contract disputes
- Domestic and international commercial arbitration
- Enforcement of arbitral awards
- Investment and post-acquisition disputes
- Joint venture, partnership and shareholder disputes
- Mass arbitration strategy and defense
Mass Arbitration Defense: Scalable, Proven, Strategic
Benesch is a national leader in the fast-growing field of mass arbitration. Our team defends companies facing thousands of simultaneous claims filed as a litigation alternative. These mass filings, often used by plaintiffs’ firms to gain settlement leverage, require arbitration counsel with deep procedural knowledge and the ability to develop creative, scalable solutions.
We were among the first firms in the country to operate under the American Arbitration Association’s (AAA) Mass Arbitration Supplementary Rules, which became effective in August 2023. In these cases, we’ve successfully secured procedural limits, reduced or stayed global discovery, and implemented bellwether processes that prevent costs from spiraling and restore leverage to the defense side.
We also help clients proactively reduce future mass arbitration risk by drafting and updating arbitration agreements with enforceable provisions, such as pre-arbitration resolution clauses, nondelegation and venue terms and carefully crafted cost- and fee-shifting language.
Related Practices
Our work in action
Representative Examples
Representing a public company
facing over 20,000 arbitration demands filed with the AAA and JAMS.
Defending 2,000+ consumer arbitration filings
filed by Morgan & Morgan under AAA’s new Mass Arbitration Supplementary Rules—successfully limiting discovery and staying all but 12 bellwether claims.
Obtained and collected on behalf of Fortune 500 energy company
a multi-million-dollar arbitration award for breach of contract following a hearing before a three-member arbitration panel. The arbitration panel also awarded attorneys’ fees, which the Sixth Circuit affirmed.
Preventing a major plaintiffs’ firm
from filing over 2,500 threatened arbitration demands through early strategy engagement.
Successfully defended major financial institution
in arbitration against eight-figure breach of contract claims.
Represented and obtained a favorable settlement
for a global technology company in an arbitration with one of its customers, a consumer product company, over an unsuccessful software integration.
Representing a major food delivery technology platform
in disputes and arbitrations with merchants, consumers, contractors and partners.
Key Contacts

Nicholas J. Secco
Chair, Trial Practice Group Chicago nsecco@beneschlaw.com
David A. Rammelt
Vice Chair, Litigation Practice Group; Co-Chair, Business Litigation Practice Group Chicago drammelt@beneschlaw.com
Rena Andoh
Partner New York randoh@beneschlaw.com
Thomas O. Crist
Chair, Global Infrastructure Team; Co-Chair, Construction Practice Group; Lead, Middle East Practice Cleveland tcrist@beneschlaw.com