Education

  • University of Michigan, B.A. (1970) with high distinction and honors, Phi Beta Kappa
  • University of Michigan Law School, J.D. (1973) magna cum laude, Order of the Coif

Admissions

  • California
  • District of Columbia
  • U.S. Supreme Court

George D. Ruttinger

Partner
gruttinger@crowell.com
+1.202.624.2670

When clients, whether domestic or international, face bet-the-company disputes in U.S. courts or international arbitration forums, they rely on the steady hand and deep litigation experience of George Ruttinger. The National Law Journal named George to its list of "ADR Champions," who were described as demonstrating "a deep passion and perseverance in pursuit of their mission, having achieved remarkable successes along the way."

Beyond his successes in government contracts and international arbitration disputes, George is a versatile litigator and trial lawyer who has successfully represented clients in complex antitrust litigation, construction, and mass torts cases. He won summary judgment for Caterpillar in the Welding Fumes litigation, resulting in the dismissal of over 3,000 cases that had been centralized in the Eastern District of Ohio.

George is a partner in the firm’s Government Contracts and International Dispute Resolution groups and serves as deputy general counsel of the firm. His pro bono work includes serving on the board of directors of the Equal Rights Center, the leading civil rights enforcement agency in D.C., and on the Executive Committee of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. In 2011, the Lawyers’ Committee presented George with the Wiley A. Branton Award in recognition of his "commitment to civil rights leadership and service," and the National Law Journal named him a "Champion" who has "upheld the profession’s core values through public service, pro bono efforts and advocacy for civil liberties."


Affiliations

Professional Activities and Memberships

  • U.S. Courts of Appeals for the District of Columbia, First, Third, Fourth, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, and Federal Circuits
  • U.S. District Courts for the Districts of Central California, Eastern California, Northern California, District of Columbia, Northern Indiana, Maryland, and Eastern Michigan
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Representative Matters

  • Representing a Russian national in a $100 million UNCITRAL arbitration against the State of Kuwait. (Lazareva v. Kuwait)
  • Representing American manufacturer in a NAFTA dispute with Central American nation before the International Centre for Resolution of Investment Disputes.
  • Represented a software developer in the arbitration of claims against a D.C.-based transportation agency arising from the termination of a contract to design, build, and operate an electronic fare payment system (2019).
  • Represented Kuwaiti-led consortium in an arbitration hearing before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Cairo against an Egyptian port authority involving claims arising out of the termination of a contract to build, operate, and transfer (BOT) a new container shipping terminal on the Mediterranean (2018). In 2020, the ICC issued its award ruling that the termination was unlawful, denying the port authority’s $500 million counterclaim, and awarding our client nearly $500 million in damages and interest.
  • Represented the same consortium in an ICC hearing in Paris on claims by a manufacturer seeking compensation for equipment ordered but never delivered to the container shipping terminal (2017).
  • Represented an American mining company in an investment treaty arbitration against the Republic of El Salvador based on the unlawful deprivation of a valuable gold mining concession. (Pac Rim Cayman LLC v. Republic of El Salvador, ICSID Case No. ARB/09/12).
  • Represented an American manufacturer of products for the nuclear industry in an arbitration convened by the International Chamber of Commerce in London to resolve disputes with an Australian firm relating to its sale of intellectual property to a client under an asset purchase agreement and the alleged breach of its covenant not to compete (2011).
  • Represented a small, woman-owned business in a classified appeal of termination for a default decision, resulting in converting the termination to one for convenience of the government and in the payment to the contractor of substantial performance and termination costs (2010).
  • Represented an airport authority in defending an action to enjoin the leasing of restaurant space at Reagan National Airport based on alleged violations of statutory requirements for competition; defeated a motion for preliminary injunction, resulting in the plaintiff’s dismissal of action five days before the start of a new restaurant lease. (Legal Sea Foods v. Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority, Case No. 1:09cv711 AJT (2009)).
  • Represented a Chinese firm in an arbitration hearing convened by the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce in which a European company asserted claims against our client under a technology licensing agreement (2008).
  • Obtained dismissal of a qui tam False Claims Act action for failure to prosecute after disqualifying the relator’s counsel for reviewing the client’s improperly obtained privileged documents. (Peoples ex rel. U.S. v. Eagle-Picher Indus., Inc. (W.D. Mo. 2003)).
  • Represented a major transportation corporation in an international arbitration with a Dutch port operator regarding the alleged breach of a long-term contract for use of a deep-sea container handling terminal in Rotterdam. (Europe Container Terminus B.V. v. Sea-Land Serv., Inc., NAI Arbitration No. 2541).
  • Obtained the dismissal of a False Claims Act suit brought against a client’s former subsidiary. (US ex. rel Bumgardner v. Datatape, Inc., No. 99-682-A (E.D. Va. 1999)).
  • Represented an aerospace company in a suit to enjoin its competitor’s use of misappropriated trade secrets, resulting in a permanent injunction and the award of attorneys’ fees. (Raytheon Co. v. GTE Gov’t Sys. Corp., No. 96-5983 A (Super. Ct., Mass. 1997)).
  • Defended a manufacturer of medical supplies against price fixing conspiracy suits in federal and state courts (In re Medical X-Ray Antitrust Litig., No. 93-5904 (E.D.N.Y. 1997)).
  • In a federal court subcontracting dispute, represented a prime contractor in defending against a $300 million contract claim arising out of the termination of a subcontract for testing of F-18 avionics; settled claims for zero dollars after seven weeks of the jury trial. (AAI Corp. v. Harris Corp., No. 85-3021 (D. Md. 1989)).
  • Represented a construction contractor in an alternative dispute resolution proceeding to resolve a $55 million differing site conditions claim arising out of the construction of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway for the Corps of Engineers. (Tenn Tom Constructors (ENGBCA 1986)).


Insights

Speeches & Presentations


Publications

  • "International Investment Law and Arbitration: 2014 in Review," Chapter in Andrea Bjorklund, ed., Columbia Yearbook On International Investment Law & Policy 2014-2015, Oxford University Press (2016). Co-Authors: Ian A. Laird, George D. Ruttinger, and James J. Saulino.
  • "Using Experts in Arbitration – Chapter 31 – AAA Handbook on Arbitration Practice – Second Edition," AAA Handbook on Arbitration Practice – Second Edition (December 2015). Authors: George D. Ruttinger, Joseph L. Meadows, and April Ham.
  • "Where Common Law Litigation and Int'l Arbitration Divide," Law360 (December 7, 2015). Author: George D. Ruttinger.
  • "'Going Concern' as a Limiting Factor on Damages in Investor-State Arbitrations," The Journal of Damages in International Arbitration, Vol. 2, No. 1, Juris Publishing (2015). Authors: George D. Ruttinger and José Alberro.
  • "How to Take Advantage of International Investment Agreements to Open Markets and Protect Investments," Law360 (September 24, 2012). Co-Authors: Jonathan S. Kallmer, Ian A. Laird, and George D. Ruttinger.
  • "Government Contracts," Chapter 50A of Successful Partnering Between Inside and Outside Counsel, published by Thompson-West (2011). Co-Authors: George D. Ruttinger, Michael J. Denton and J. Catherine Kunz.
  • "Domestic Arbitration," Chapter 8 of Litigation Management, published by American Lawyer Media's Law Journal Press (2010). Co-Authors: George D. Ruttinger, Joseph L. Meadows and Luke van Houwelingen.
  • "Using Experts in Arbitration," Chapter 20: American Arbitration Association Handbook on Arbitration Practice (2010). Co-Authors: George D. Ruttinger and Joseph L. Meadows.
  • "Transparency and Accountability under the 2009 Stimulus Act," Executive Counsel (July/August 2009). Author: George D. Ruttinger.
  • "Using Experts in Arbitration," American Arbitration Association's Dispute Resolution Journal, Vol. 62, No. 1 (February 2007/April 2007). Co-Authors: George D. Ruttinger and Joseph L. Meadows.
  • "Big Risks, Big Rewards in Government Contracts: Dancing With the World's Biggest Customer," Executive Counsel (July/August 2005). Author: George D. Ruttinger.
  • "The $45 Million Mini-Trial at the Army Corps of Engineers," chapter in Containing Legal Costs: Adr Strategies For Corporations, Law Firms And Government, E. Fine and E. Plapinger, eds. (1988). Author: George D. Ruttinger.
  • "The Applicability of the Constitution to Employer-Employee Relations of Government Contractors," 15 Public Contract Law Journal 309 (1985). Author: George D. Ruttinger

Client Alerts & Newsletters


Press Coverage


Firm News & Announcements

November 23, 2021 Crowell & Moring International Dispute Resolution Lawyers Participate in Washington Arbitration Week 2021
July 20, 2021 Crowell & Moring Named to Global Arbitration Review’s 2021 “GAR 100” List
September 20, 2019 Super Lawyers Recognizes 82 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Across United States
May 6, 2019 Washington Lawyers' Committee’s 50th Anniversary Articles Symposium Features George D. Ruttinger
February 22, 2019 Law360 Names Crowell & Moring's Government Contracts Group a "Practice Group of the Year" for the Ninth Consecutive Year
October 15, 2018 Super Lawyers Recognizes 82 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Across United States
October 31, 2017 Super Lawyers Recognizes 79 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Across United States
May 5, 2017 Crowell & Moring Featured in Global Arbitration Review’s 10th Annual "GAR 100" List
October 14, 2016 Crowell & Moring Named a Top Firm for Serving Latin America by Latinvex
March 22, 2016 Crowell & Moring Featured in Global Arbitration Review’s 9th Edition “GAR 100” List
March 18, 2016 Litigation Note: Khan Resources Inc. Announces Settlement of Arbitration Award
March 9, 2016 Crowell & Moring's George Ruttinger Named to National Law Journal's ADR Champions List
January 11, 2016 Crowell & Moring Attorneys Named to Washingtonian's 2015 "Top Lawyers" List
October 16, 2015 Crowell & Moring Named a Top Arbitration Firm in Latin America by Latinvex
January 22, 2015 Crowell & Moring's Antitrust Group Featured in Global Competition Review's 15th Edition "GCR 100"
January 9, 2015 Crowell & Moring's Government Contracts Group Named to Law360's "Practice Groups of the Year" for Fifth Consecutive Year
September 4, 2014 Crowell & Moring Launches Israel Practice
June 24, 2013 Crowell & Moring Recognized by National Law Journal as Washington, D.C. "General Civil Litigation" Department of the Year
December 15, 2011 Seven Crowell & Moring Attorneys Included in Washingtonian’s 2011 “Top Lawyers” Issue
June 27, 2011 National Law Journal Names George Ruttinger a Pro Bono “Champion”
June 7, 2011 George Ruttinger Honored by Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights
August 3, 2010 The Best Lawyers in America 2011 Recognizes 44 Crowell & Moring Attorneys