2018 Smit-Lowenfeld Prize for the best article in the field of international arbitration

DownloadSongs of Innocence and Experience: Ten Years of Emergency Arbitration

New York, January 25, 2018 – The International Arbitration Club of New York (IACNY) announced today that Grant Hanessian and E. Alexandra Dosman are the recipients of the 2018 Smit-Lowenfeld Prize for the best article in the field of international arbitration.

The prize is being awarded for the article, “Songs of Innocence and Experience: Ten Years of Emergency Arbitration,” which was published in The American Review of International Arbitration (Vol. 27,No. 2). The article addresses important questions relating to the increased use of emergency arbitration, including whether the practice fulfills its promise of swift relief, whether legal standards for granting relief are consistently applied, whether decisions by emergency arbitrators are enforceable and how emergency arbitration changes the strategic landscape for practitioners
and parties.

The article delves into key questions regarding the general practice and efficacy of emergency arbitration, a novel topic that is highly relevant for practitioners today. It is an important contribution to this field.


The prize was presented to Mr. Hanessian and Ms. Dosman on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, at a dinner and program held in their honor in New York City. The article was chosen by an IACNY selection committee chaired by Rory O. Millson, a retired partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. “Mr. Hanessian and Ms. Dosman have covered a critical topic that continues to evolve and impact the landscape for arbitration around the world,” said Mr. Millson. “We are delighted to welcome them to the ranks of Smit-Lowenfeld award recipients.” The selection committee for the prize also included James P. Duffy IV of Baker McKenzie, Martin F. Gusy of K&L Gates LLP, Fredrick E. Sherman of Jones Day and Richard F. Ziegler of Jenner & Block LLP.



Lawrence W. Newman, Presiding Member of the IACNY and Of Counsel at Baker McKenzie, said: “The article delves into key questions regarding the general practice and efficacy of emergency arbitration, a novel topic that is highly relevant for practitioners today. It is an important contribution to this field.”

Grant Hanessian, chair of Baker McKenzie’s International Arbitration Practice in North America, said: “I’m very honored to receive this recognition from colleagues in the New York international arbitration community. It is a particular pleasure to share this award with Alex, one of the leaders of the next generation of arbitration practitioners.”

Alexandra Dosman said: “I am deeply grateful to the IACNY for this honor. Professors Smit and Lowenfeld were brilliant international lawyers and academics, and to be awarded a prize in their name is one of the most meaningful moments in my career. I am grateful also to Grant for having
made the research and writing process so seamless.” This is the seventh year the IACNY has awarded this prize, selecting one article annually. Prior
honorees include Gary Born for his article “A New Generation of International Adjudication;”


Professor Charles H. Brower II for his article “Arbitration and Antitrust: Navigating the Contours of Mandatory Law;” Stephen Fietta and James Upcher for their article “Public International Law, Investment Treaties and Commercial Arbitration: An Emerging System of Complementarity?;” Catharine Titi for her article “Investment Arbitration in Latin America: The Uncertain Veracity of Preconceived Ideas;” Nicolas Ulmer for his article “The Cost Conundrum;” and Aloysius Llamzon and Anthony Sinclair for their article “Investor Wrongdoing in Investment Arbitration: Standards Governing Issues of Corruption, Fraud, Misrepresentation and Other Investor Misconduct.”

The annual Smit-Lowenfeld prize honors the late professors Hans Smit, former Stanley H. Fuld Professor Emeritus at Columbia Law School, and Andreas Lowenfeld, former Rubin Professor Emeritus at the New York University School of Law, for their distinguished careers in the field
of international arbitration, both as scholars and as arbitrators. Article selection is based on originality, quality, significance and scholarship, among other factors. Honorees are selected annually by the IACNY and are awarded an honorarium of $2,500.

The International Arbitration Club of New York
The International Arbitration Club of New York was formed on June 25, 2010 by 70 founding members as a not-for-profit association. The Club now comprises approximately 115 leading practitioners and scholars in the field of international arbitration who reside and/or work in the New York City area. The Club is governed by a steering committee that includes James H. Carter of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP; John Fellas of Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP; David Lindsey of Chaffetz Lindsey LLP; Lawrence W. Newman (Chair) of Baker McKenzie; David W. Rivkin of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP; and Robert H. Smit, formerly of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. The purpose of the Club is to promote best practices in
arbitration as a means of settling international commercial disputes, and the Club holds regular meetings to hear speakers from both within and outside of its membership.

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