Robert Davidson

Arbitration ~ Over 200 arbitrations as arbitrator; over 100 arbitrations as counsel
Mediation ~ Over 100 mediations

Experience

Arbitration ~ Over 200 arbitrations as arbitrator; over 100 arbitrations as counsel
Mediation ~ Over 100 mediations

Significant experience in insurance, including primary and excess insurance coverage and reinsurance disputes, construction, complex commercial and IP cases, (patents and trademarks), energy and construction related arbitration, drilling contracts, pipeline construction, infrastructure projects and power generation., joint venture and sales contracts, trademark, patent and related licensing disputes, accounting issues involving post-closing adjustments and tax issues.

Work History

Retired Partner, Baker & McKenzie, (Partner 1979-2003; Associate 1972-1979), former co-chair of the litigation department in New York

Cases

While in practice, litigated numerous cases which have resulted in approximately 30 reported opinions dealing with such topics as common law fraud; securities fraud; RICO claims in the context of employment disputes and otherwise; confirmation of arbitration awards providing for provisional remedies; confirmation of arbitral awards under the New York Convention; acquisition of jurisdiction under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976; the validity of forum-selection clauses in commercial contracts; jurisdiction of international arbitrators to determine existence of underlying contract; as well as other cases dealing with various commercial topics

Training

Four days of intensive JAMS mediator training, 2003; numerous AAA Arbitrator trainings; faculty member for the 2006 and 2007 Arbitration Training Institute sponsored by the ABA’s Dispute Resolution Section.

License(s)

Admitted to the Bar of the State of New York in January of 1973; although not actively practicing law since 2003, currently a member of the Bars of the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the United States Tax Court, and various of the United States Courts of Appeal including the Second, Third, D.C. and Federal Circuits (in all of which Mr. Davidson has argued appeals), Member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Education

J.D., Columbia School of Law, 1972 (Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar)
B.S., cum laude, The Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, University of Pennsylvania

Publications

Published articles have appeared in legal publications throughout the country including, among others, the New York Law Journal, The National Law Journal, Mealey’s International Arbitration Report; Middle East Executive Reports, Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, World Arbitration and Mediation Report, and The American Review of International Arbitration

Contributing author to International Arbitration Checklists, (Juris Pub. 2003) and the College of Commercial Arbitrators’ Guide to Best Practices in Commercial Arbitration (Juris Pub. 2006); Author of the chapters on International Mediation in the Practitioners Handbook on International Arbitration and Mediation (2d ed. 2007).

Frequent lecturer to bar associations and CLE programs on arbitration topics. Guest lecturer on international legal topics at Fordham Law School, Columbia Law School, Cardozo Law School; Yale Law School, New York Law School, and Tulane University

Awards

Listed as one of the world’s Leading International Arbitrators since 2010 by Chambers-USA-America’s Leading Lawyers for Business:

• 2020—Robert Davidson is an experienced arbitrator with particular expertise handling commercial disputes under a broad range of institutional rules, including those of the ICC, LCIA and ICDR. ’I have great respect for his judgement and experience,’ states a source. ’He has many years of experience as counsel, which is invaluable to being an effective arbitrator.’
• 2019—Drawing praise for his extensive experience sitting as an arbitrator. “Bob is great,” says an interviewee, explaining that “he’s even-keeled, smart, unflappable, and has a deft touch”
• 2018—Mr. Davidson impressed interviewees with his “common-sense approach to technical issues” and his “calm and sage demeanor”
• 2017—“Smart and very capable” and “one of the go-to guys in New York” for arbitration matters in areas such as aviation, energy, intellectual property and real estate
• 2016—“Superb” and “a dynamic guy who really knows the business”
• 2015—“An excellent and incredibly efficient” individual who “really has an instinct for arbitration”
• 2014—An arbitrator who “can really cut through the smoke and mirrors effectively,” with a significant amount of experience as both a sole arbitrator and a panel member
• 2013—A “fountain of knowledge and always at the forefront of cutting-edge arbitration issues,” and “a preeminent figure in the market...noted for his strong technical capabilities”
• 2012—A “preeminent figure in the market” and praised “for his expert practice as both an arbitrator and mediator.” He was particularly noted for his strong technical capabilities with an increasing focus on European cases to complement his strong expertise in Asia
• 2011—“Easy to work with and fantastically knowledgeable”

Panels

JAMS panel; HKIAC (Hong Kong Int’l Arb. Centre) panel of arbitrators and panel of mediators; CIETAC panel of arbitrators; CPR International and Insurance panels; ICC arbitrator panel; FINRA arbitrator and mediator panels for the resolution of securities disputes.

Associations

Fellow and Board Member, College of Commercial Arbitrators;
Fellow, American Bar Foundation;
Immediate Past Chair of the Committee on Arbitration of the New York City Bar Association;
Member, N.Y. City Bar Assn. International Law and International Commercial Disputes Committees;
Member: American Bar Association and its Sections on Dispute Resolution and International Law ;
Editor for Arbitration Law and Practice, World Arbitration and Mediation Report (WAMR) ;
Member, ICC Task Force on Reducing Time and Cost in International Arbitration ;
Member, Maritime Law Association of the United States.

Miscellaneous

Peace Corps Volunteer (Philippines), 1968-1970