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Experience

​​Joe Neuhaus is an independent arbitrator and has served as chair, co-arbitrator, and sole arbitrator in more than 35 arbitrations since his first appointment in 2001.  He is regularly ranked in “league tables” of leading arbitrators, and is now listed in Band 2 of the Chambers Global ranking of international arbitration arbitrators in the United States. Joe was a partner in the litigation group of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP for 30 years, from 1992 through 2021, and served as head of the firm’s arbitration group.  Below is a sample of the numerous transnational arbitration and litigation matters he led.

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Biographical Information

  • Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, N.Y., 1987-2024 (Partner 1992-2021, Arbitration Practice Coordinator; Of Counsel 2022-2024; Associate 1987-1991)

  • Covington & Burling, Washington, D.C., 1986-1987

  • Law Clerk to Howard M. Holtzmann, Iran-United States Claims Tribunal, 1984-1985

  • Law Clerk to Hon. Lewis F. Powell, Jr., United States Supreme Court, 1983-1984

  • Law Clerk to Hon. Carl McGowan, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 1982-1983

  • J.D. Columbia Law School, 1982

  • Editor-in-Chief, Columbia Law Review

  • Parker Program in International and Foreign Law, Certificate of Achievement with Honors, 1982

  • B.A. Dartmouth College, 1979

  • Languages: reading knowledge of Spanish, some Russian

"Joseph is very sharp, very practical, and very clear about what the objective is.”

Chambers USA, 2023

Selected Arbitrator Appointments and Representations

Over the course of 35 years as counsel and 25 years as arbitrator, Joe has acted in a wide range of commercial and investor-state disputes.  Here is a sample of the more significant matters: 

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Accounting

As Arbitrator

  • Ad hoc (CPR Rules) dispute related to provision of accounting and tax services to hospital group (co-arbitrator)

As Counsel

  • Representing health insurance provider in post-closing adjustment disputes regarding working capital calculations and alleged breaches of representations and warranties

  • Representing Popular, Inc. in complex securities class action, shareholder derivative action and ERISA class action litigation arising out of alleged overstatements of deferred tax assets 

 

Chemicals

As Arbitrator

  • ICC dispute  arising out of chemical manufacturing production sharing agreement (party-appointed) 

  • ICDR dispute among U.S., German and Dutch companies in chemicals industry (chair)

 

Construction

As Arbitrator

  • ICDR dispute between a Brazilian-based construction company and a former chief executive (sole arbitrator).

As Counsel

  • Counsel for Minera Alumbrera Limited in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, on claims arising out of construction of mine in Argentina

 

Distribution

As Arbitrator

  • AAA dispute arising out of U.S.-U.S. beverage distributorship agreement (party-appointed)

  • AAA dispute arising out of U.S.-Norway beverage distributorship agreement (party-appointed)

  • AAA Panama-Switzerland cosmetic distribution agreement (selected by ICDR)

  • AAA Mexico-The Netherlands, contract dispute, retail goods (party-appointed)

 

Energy & Renewables

As Arbitrator

  • ICC dispute arising out of agreement for Mexica-Canada sale of interests in Mexican power plants (party-appointed)

  • ICDR dispute arising out of U.S.-Canada agreements for operation and maintenance of wind farms (chair)

  • ICC dispute between Portuguese and U.S. companies in solar power industry (chair)

  • ICDR Mexico-U.S. dispute over alleged breach of agreements involving renewable energy (chair)

  • ICC Mexico-Switzerland dispute involving sale and installation of electric-power-generating equipment (chair)

As Counsel

  • Representing the owner of an LNG regasification terminal in Latin America in $800 million ICC arbitration with customer

  • Representing Argentina in S.D.N.Y. dispute over nationalization of YPF 

  • Representing seller of LNG in connection with price review negotiations and potential arbitration under long-term SPAs with Asian LNG buyers 

  • Counsel to a European oil company in connection with potential ICSID arbitration arising out of oil concession in Latin America

  • Counsel for a foreign-local joint venture in power transmission field in ad hoc arbitration against a Latin American government

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Intellectual Property

As Arbitrator

  • NAI dispute arising out of U.S.-China trademark license in publishing industry (party-appointed)

  • ICC dispute arising out of Israel-Canada technology purchase (sole arbitrator)

  • LCIA England-U.S. dispute over alleged breach of nondisclosure agreement in tech sector (selected by LCIA)

  • ICC Canada-Israel dispute over alleged nonpayment under an engineering contract (sole arbitrator)

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Joe is an expert draftsman, who is extremely well prepared and wonderful to work with."

~ Chambers USA, 2023

Investor-State

As Arbitrator

  • Ad hoc (UNCITRAL Rules) investor-state arbitration involving former Soviet state alleging expropriation of a commercial enterprise (party-appointed)

  • AAA U.S.-U.S. involving proceeds of expropriated Romanian property (selected by ICDR)

As Counsel

  • Representing Argentina in S.D.N.Y. dispute over nationalization of YPF

  • Representing Argentina in English and N.Y. cases arising out of GDP warrants issued by the Republic

  • Representing the Guaidó government of Venezuela in various arbitral award enforcement and bond cases

  • Representing Centerra Gold and subsidiaries in ad hoc arbitrations with Kyrgyz Republic concerning Kumtor gold mine

  • Representing the Central Bank of Argentina in litigation on central bank immunity under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act

  • Counsel to a project company in a $4+ billion mining project in an African country, in connection with “creeping expropriatory” measures taken by the sovereign

  • Counsel to a European oil company in connection with potential ICSID arbitration arising out of oil concession in Latin America

  • Counsel for a foreign-local joint venture in power transmission field in ad hoc arbitration against a Latin American government

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Joint Ventures

As Arbitrator

  • ICC dispute arising out of Japan-U.S. aircraft part manufacturing agreement (chair).

  • ICC dispute  arising out of chemical manufacturing production sharing agreement (party-appointed). 

 

M&A and Finance

As Arbitrator

  • ICC dispute arising out of agreement for Mexica-Canada sale of interests in Mexican power plants (party-appointed)

  • Ad hoc U.S.-Sweden dispute over interpretation of earn-out clause in M&A transaction (party-appointed)

As Counsel

  • Representing health insurance provider in post-closing adjustment dispute regarding working capital calculations and alleged breaches of representations and warranties

  • Representing Japanese buyers of a Mexican pharmaceutical firm in bringing claims in an ICC arbitration arising from breaches of representation and warranties in sales agreements

  • Representing Banco Popular, the largest bank in Puerto Rico, in $300 million disputes in AAA arbitration with the U.S. FDIC arising out of purchase of loan assets from the FDIC as receiver of a failed bank

  • Representing Popular, Inc. in complex securities class action, shareholder derivative action and ERISA class action litigation arising out of alleged overstatements of deferred tax assets

  • Representing Bancolombia in a long-running dispute arising out of the merger in 1997 with Banco de Colombia

 

Manufacturing

As Arbitrator

  • ICC dispute arising out of Japan-U.S. aircraft part manufacturing agreement (chair)

  • ICC dispute  arising out of chemical manufacturing production sharing agreement (party-appointed)

  • ICDR dispute among U.S., German and Dutch companies in chemicals industry (chair)

  • LCIA England-U.S. dispute over alleged breach of nondisclosure agreement in connection with ring-laser gyroscope technology (selected by LCIA)

As Counsel

  •    ICC arbitrations in contract dispute involving transfer of battery manufacturing technology between Argentine and Mexican parties

 

Mining

As Counsel

  • Representing Centerra Gold and subsidiaries in ad hoc arbitration with Kyrgyz Republic concerning Kumtor gold mine

  • Counsel to a project company in a $4+ billion mining project in an African country, in connection with “creeping expropriatory” measures taken by the sovereign

  • Advising a U.S. owner of mining assets in connection with actions by the Venezuelan government related to Venezuela’s grant of mining concession, including with respect to arbitration claims against Venezuela and potential political-risk insurance claims

“Joseph Neuhaus garners praise for his deep expertise in arbitration proceedings, with sources noting: He is a superb lawyer.”

~ Chambers Global, 2019

Pharmaceuticals

As Counsel

  • Representing Japanese buyers of a Mexican pharmaceutical firm in bringing claims in an ICC arbitration arising from breaches of representation and warranties in sales agreements

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Professional Services & Employment

As Arbitrator

  • Ad hoc (CPR Rules) dispute related to provision of accounting and tax services to hospital group (co-arbitrator)

  • ICDR dispute between a Brazilian-based construction company and a former chief executive (sole arbitrator).

  • ICDR U.S.-India dispute over alleged breach of outsourcing agreement (chair)

  • ICDR dispute between an international law firm and a former partner (sole arbitrator)

  • ICC Canada-Israel dispute over alleged nonpayment under an engineering contract (sole arbitrator)

  • Ad hoc dispute between U.S. law firm and foreign law expert on fees (sole arbitrator)

As Counsel

  • Representing a U.S. law firm in arbitration of claims against a former European partner of the firm over fees received after the partner’s withdrawal from the firm for work done as a partner of the firm

 

Publishing

As Arbitrator

  • NAI dispute arising out of U.S.-China trademark license in publishing industry (party-appointed)

  • AAA Germany-Canada-U.S., contract dispute, publishing (party-appointed)

As Counsel

  • ICC arbitration in contract dispute involving French and American parties in publishing industry

 

Technology

As Arbitrator

  • ICC dispute arising out of Israel-Canada technology purchase (sole arbitrator)

  • LCIA England-U.S. dispute over alleged breach of nondisclosure agreement in connection with ring-laser gyroscope technology (selected by LCIA)

As Counsel

  • Representing Microsoft Corporation in the defense of numerous class action cases alleging monopolization of the operating system and spreadsheet software markets

  • ICC arbitrations in contract dispute involving transfer of battery manufacturing technology between Argentine and Mexican parties

 

Telecommunications

As Arbitrator

  • AAA U.S.-U.S., Russian telecommunications agreement (chair)

As Counsel

  • Counsel for Telefonica in New York Supreme Court case arising out of purchase of Argentina telecommunications and media properties 

 

Transportation

As Arbitrator

  • ICC dispute arising out of Japan-U.S. aircraft part manufacturing agreement (chair)

  • ICDR dispute arising out of an aircraft purchase-sale contract (selected by ICDR)

As Counsel

  • Counsel to British Airways in antitrust litigation against Virgin Airways

“Joseph Neuhaus is a ‘smart and astute’ attorney whose clients appreciate that he ‘dives deep into the subject so he feels entirely comfortable with it.’ He has impressive experience in the financial sector and handles investor-state disputes related to Latin America and Asia.”

~ Chambers Global, 2016

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