John Laird is a solicitor-advocate and associate in Crowell & Moring's London office, where he is a member of the International Dispute Resolution and Antitrust Recovery groups. John represents clients in both commercial and investment arbitration. In addition, his practice involves a wide variety of commercial litigation in the English High Court, including the pursuit and defence of competition claims. John has worked from both the Washington, D.C. and London offices of Crowell & Moring, initially as a paralegal and later training for admission as a solicitor. He is the winner of the 2011 ICSID Review Student Writing Competition.
Examples of recent commercial arbitration experience include:
- Representing the U.K. subsidiary of a Swiss conglomerate against a US company in LCIA arbitration regarding breach of a pharmaceuticals licensing agreement.
- Representing an Egyptian consortium and Kuwaiti supply chain management company in an ICC arbitration brought by a South Korean supplier regarding a port construction subcontract.
- Representing a European company in CIArb arbitration against a South Asian government for breach of contract, securing a damages award, and defending related English High Court award challenge proceedings.
- Representing a South African mineral and mining company in an LCIA arbitration, securing damages of $190 million.
- Advising an American hospitality company in two arbitrations regarding management disputes at European and Middle East hotels.
Examples of recent investment arbitration and related experience include:
- Representing a Russian national in UNCITRAL arbitration against a Middle Eastern State claiming breaches of a bilateral investment treaty.
- Advising a claimant in relation to an application for annulment of an ICSID award.
- Advising a client regarding the recognition and enforcement in the English courts of a foreign arbitration award made under the Energy Charter Treaty and UNCITRAL Rules.
- Advising an international hotel developer as claimant in a $600 million dispute under ICSID Rules.
- Advising a European construction and development consortium as claimant in an investment dispute under ICSID Rules.
Examples of recent English commercial and competition litigation experience include:
- Representing a party to Part 20 proceedings regarding a follow-on claim in the English High Court for losses arising from anti-competitive behavior in the air cargo industry.
- Representing an AIM-listed transportation company in the English High Court in relation to the repudiation of an operating contract.
- Advising a British public company regarding a cartel follow-on claim in the English High Court.
- Advising a group of companies in a cartel follow-on claim in the English High Court seeking £20 million damages for illegal price fixing across Europe.
- Advising on the recognition and enforcement of a series of New Jersey Court judgments in England and Wales.
Affiliations
Admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales, Higher Rights of Audience
Professional Memberships
- LCIA Young International Arbitration Group
- Young ICCA
- Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Speeches & Presentations
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"Types of Awards and Dissenting Opinions," AIA Brussels Arbitration School, Brussels, Belgium
(October 20, 2016).
Presenter: John Laird.
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"Investment Arbitration Masterclass," Brussels Diplomatic Academy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
(September 21, 2016).
Presenters: Gordon McAllister and John Laird.
Publications
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"Arbitration in England & Wales," Getting the Deal Through – Arbitration 2019
(March 2019).
Co-Authors: Adrian Jones, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, and John Laird.
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"UK Supreme Court Moves English Common Law Towards International Consensus on 'No Oral Variation' Clauses," ABA International Contracts Committee Newsletter
(Summer 2018).
Co-Authors: Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, and John Laird.
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"Considering Contract Termination Under English Common Law," Law360
(August 22, 2018).
Author: John Laird.
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"Arbitration in England & Wales," Getting the Deal Through – Arbitration 2018
(March 2018).
Co-Authors: Adrian Jones, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, and John Laird.
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"Chapter 2: National Regulation of Foreign Investment," Business Guide to Trade and Investment – Volume 2: International Investment
(2018).
Author: John Laird.
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"Arbitration in England & Wales," Getting the Deal Through – Arbitration 2017
(March 2017).
Co-Authors: Adrian Jones, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, and John Laird.
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"Arbitration in England & Wales," Getting the Deal Through – Arbitration 2016
(January 2016).
Co-Authors: Adrian Jones, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, and John Laird.
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"Impact of Third Party Funding on Privilege in Litigation and International Arbitration," Dispute Resolution International, 6(2)
(2012).
Co-Author: John Laird.
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"Moral Damages and the Punitive Question in ICSID Arbitration," ICSID Review – Foreign Investment Law Journal, 26(2)
(2011).
Author: John Laird.
Client Alerts & Newsletters
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"A New Dawn in International Enforcement of Mediation Agreements: The Singapore Convention,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(August 12, 2019).
Contacts: John Laird, Laurence Winston
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"U.K. Supreme Court Moves English Common Law Towards International Consensus On 'No Oral Variation' Clauses,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(June 11, 2018).
Contacts: Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, John Laird
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"The Month in International Trade — June 2017,"
International Trade Bulletin
(July 10, 2017).
Contacts: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Frances P. Hadfield, Edward Goetz, Michelle J. Linderman, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, John Laird, Carlton Greene, David (Dj) Wolff, Melissa Morris, Ian A. Laird, John B. Brew, Daniel Cannistra, Eduardo Mathison, Robert Holleyman, Robert L. LaFrankie
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"The Month in International Trade — May 2017,"
International Trade Bulletin
(June 8, 2017).
Contacts: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Frances P. Hadfield, Edward Goetz, Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer, John B. Brew, Robert L. LaFrankie, Aaron Marx, Eduardo Mathison, Carlton Greene, David (Dj) Wolff, Thomas A. Hanusik, Kelly T. Currie, Dalal Hasan, Ian A. Laird, John Laird, Alan W. H. Gourley, Adelicia R. Cliffe, M. Yuan Zhou
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"Update: Legal Considerations for U.K. and EU Investment and Trade Treaties after Brexit,"
Brexit Update
(May 24, 2017).
Contacts: Ian A. Laird, John Laird
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"Requirements for Security in English Foreign Award Enforcement Actions,"
(May 4, 2017).
Contacts: Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, John Laird
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"United Kingdom Supreme Court Holds That a Challenge to Enforcement of an International Arbitration Award May Not be Conditional upon Provision of Security on the Award,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(March 7, 2017).
Contacts: Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, John Laird
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"United Kingdom Supreme Court Confirms Westminster Parliament Must Approve Brexit,"
Brexit Update
(January 25, 2017).
Contacts: John Laird, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman
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"English High Court Rules Parliament Must Approve Brexit; Government Appeals to the Supreme Court,"
Brexit Update
(November 4, 2016).
Contacts: John Laird, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman
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"English High Court Elects Not to Intervene Where Emergency Arbitral Procedures Are Available,"
International Dispute Resolution Alert
(October 19, 2016).
Contacts: John Laird, Edward Norman, Gordon McAllister
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"This Month in International Trade — September 2016,"
International Trade Bulletin
(October 11, 2016).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Frances P. Hadfield, Edward Goetz, Ian A. Laird, John Laird, Gordon McAllister, Aaron Marx, David (Dj) Wolff, Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer, Robert L. LaFrankie, Gail D. Zirkelbach
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"Legal Considerations for the U.K.’s Investment and Trade Treaties After Brexit,"
Brexit Update
(September 28, 2016).
Contacts: Ian A. Laird, John Laird
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