
Arbitration
Overview
Arbitration is generally confidential, so we’re limited in our ability to discuss much of the Firm’s work in detail.
However, the Firm’s arbitration practice is significant, and our depth is exceptional for a firm of our size: we have handled hundreds of arbitrations through the years, and have covered everything from local disputes between individuals/businesses to complex international disputes between some of the largest companies on the planet.
The scope of our subject matter breadth is also substantial: while our primary focus has been in oil & gas and healthcare, the Firm has also arbitrated numerous matters in fields like intellectual property, transportation, insurance, and employment. Given their extensive trial experience, SKV’s lawyers are able to develop personalized strategies to win arbitrations at the final hearing, and sometimes, even earlier, given the Firm’s reputation as a formidable opponent. Among many victories, SKV has obtained successful results in massive confidential arbitration proceedings for the nation’s largest railway operator, one of the world’s major oil and gas producers, and the operator of the nation’s largest LNG storage and export terminal.
SKV’s boutique size and entrepreneurial spirit give clients numerous advantages. First, we are not a distinctly defense or plaintiff-side firm; while the majority of our work is on the defense side for businesses, we routinely handle arbitrations on the plaintiff side, including for individuals and small/medium-sized businesses involved with disputes with larger companies. Second, because we are a trial firm, nearly all of our team, from senior partners to paralegals and secretaries, has significant experience in arbitrations.
Third, we staff matters leanly, which means that as a client, you will receive a dedicated and appropriately-sized team that learns your case thoroughly and is available to address your needs. And finally, we have never been wedded to the billable hour and are always willing to discuss alternative fee arrangements with clients.
At SKV, we use a straightforward approach to evaluating your case and your needs, making sure we never lose sight of your goals.
Representative Matters
- Craig Smyser, Justin Waggoner, and Razvan Ungureanu successfully defended a prominent energy company in a confidential arbitration in a breach of contract suit, securing a take nothing award on the adverse party’s claim and a full recovery of their client’s attorney’s fees.
- Justin Waggoner and Craig Smyser successfully defended a prominent local attorney in defending an arbitration against the attorney’s former clients in a toxic tort action, securing a summary judgment in their client’s favor from the arbitrator.
- Craig Smyser, Justin Waggoner, Alex Wolf, and Samantha Jarvis represented the nation’s largest railroad in a series of arbitrations against one of the country’s largest electric power generation corporations. The parties reached a favorable global settlement on the first day of the first arbitration hearing.