Caline Mouawad

Caline has acted as counsel in arbitrations conducted in English and French under the rules of the ICC, ICSID, LCIA, AAA, ICDR, and SIAC, as well as in ad hoc cases under the UNCITRAL Rules. She regularly advises clients on drafting dispute resolution clauses in international commercial contracts and on protecting their international investments under investment treaties. In addition, Caline regularly serves as an arbitrator. She is listed on the Panel of Neutrals for the International Centre for Dispute Resolution and the AAA National Roster of Arbitrators and Mediators.  Click here to view Caline’s arbitrator bio.

Among other leadership roles, Caline serves as Vice-Chair of the Steering Committee of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR and the Steering Committee’s liaison to the ICC Task Force on Addressing Corruption Issues. Caline also serves as Vice Chair of the IBA Arbitration Committee and is a member of the IBA Arbitration Committee’s Task Force on Privilege.  She is a Director of the New York International Arbitration Center (NYIAC), as well as a Member of its Executive Committee. She formerly chaired the International Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association, and is currently a member of the International Commercial Disputes Committee. Caline also serves on the Advisory Board of ArabArb.

Chambers Global USA recognizes Caline as “an excellent practitioner” and an “impressive lawyer,” and Chambers USA notes that she is “absolutely fantastic,” “very dedicated,” “very bright,” and “great to work with,” with a “fantastic” writing style.  Legal 500 US praises her “excellent, steady hand in arbitration,” her “knowledge of the players, issues,” her “exceptional” written advocacy, and her “excellent oral advocacy skills,” while Who’s Who Legal distinguishes her for being “great on her feet and an excellent advocate on complicated issues.” Among her recent recognition, Caline won the 2023 Smit-Lowenfeld Prize awarded by the International Arbitration Club of New York for best article in the field of international arbitration published in 2021, for her article “The Illegality Objection in Investor-State Arbitration.

Caline joined Chaffetz Lindsey in December 2019 and was previously a partner at King & Spalding in New York, where she practiced for more than ten years and was Vice-Chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee. Prior to that, Caline practiced for nearly six years at Salans in Paris and New York, and began her legal career as a litigation association at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York.

• Representing a U.S. and European manufacturer of wind turbines and O&M operator in an ICDR arbitration against the owners regarding alleged defect and O&M issues under New York law.
• Representing a Spanish subsidiary of a U.S. consumer goods company in an UNCITRAL arbitration against Venezuela for breaches of the Spain-Venezuela BIT.
• Representing a U.S. energy investor in an ICSID arbitration against Argentina over breaches of the U.S.-Argentina BIT.
• Representing a European marine equipment supplier in a SIAC arbitration arising out of the termination of multiple contracts, which are governed by New York law.
• Represented owners of power plants in an ICC arbitration under New York law regarding breaches of EPC contracts.
• Represented a pharmaceutical company in an ICC arbitration concerning a licensing agreement dispute under New York law.
• Represented a Spanish subsidiary of a U.S. consumer goods company in an UNCITRAL arbitration against Venezuela for breaches of the Spain-Venezuela BIT.
• Represented a U.S. energy investor in an ICSID arbitration against Argentina over breaches of the U.S.-Argentina BIT.
• Represented private equity investors in multiple, parallel AAA arbitrations concerning power plant projects.
• Represented a Canadian mining company in an ICC arbitration under New York law, concerning the termination of a supply agreement.
• Represented a telecommunications company in an ICSID arbitration brought under an intra-African BIT concerning the revocation of a license.
• Represented an energy company in an ICC arbitration concerning a dispute over a preemption right relating to an interest in a deepwater project.
• Represented a major U.S. oil company in an UNCITRAL arbitration brought under the U.S.-Ecuador BIT concerning breaches of treaty and international law.
• Represented a major Southeast Asian conglomerate in a SIAC arbitration concerning a shareholder dispute with its joint venture partner over infrastructure projects.
• Represented a Canadian company in an ICSID arbitration brought under the Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement concerning a mining project.
• Represented an international trading company in an ICC arbitration against Libya for breaches of the Cyprus-Libya BIT.
• Represented a U.S. company in a dispute brought under the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement concerning a mineral mining project.
• Represented a production sharing contractor in an ICC arbitration under New York law, involving 18 other parties and concerning LNG sales and supply arrangements.
• Represented Dutch investors in an ICSID arbitration brought under an Eastern European bilateral investment treaty concerning a dispute over the termination of waste management concession agreements.
• Represented an energy company in an UNCITRAL arbitration relating to a production sharing agreement and a windfall tax on oil profits.
• Represented a French global media and communications company before an LCIA tribunal concerning claims of breach of a shareholders agreement.

A select list of Caline’s publications follows:

• “Climate Science:  A Role to Play at Every Stage of Investment Arbitration?” in Anja Ipp and Annette Magnusson (eds.), Investment Arbitration and Climate Change (2024) (co-author)
• “Composition of the Arbitral Tribunal,” in Kroll, A. Bjorklund, and F. Ferrari (eds.), Cambridge Compendium of International Commercial and Investment Arbitration (2023) (co-author)
• “Arbitration in a Changing World,” American Review of International Arbitration (ARIA Vol. 32 No. 1) (Oct. 2021)
• “The Illegality Objection in Investor–State Arbitration,” Arbitration International (March. 2021) (co-author)
• “Analyzing Illegality Defense Trend In Investor-State Arbitration,” Law360 (Feb. 17, 2021) (co-author)
• United States Chapter, in Julien Fouret (ed.), Enforcement of Investment Treaty Arbitration Awards (2d ed. 2021) (co-author)
• “Structuring Investments into Africa through Mauritius to Benefit from Investment Treaty Protection,” MARC Insights, Issue 1 (Dec. 2019) (co-author)
• Chapter on Article 49 of the ICSID Convention, in Julien Fouret, Rémy Gerbay, and Gloria M. Alvarez (eds.), The ICSID Convention, Regulations and Rules: A Practical Commentary (2019) (co-author)
• “Investment Arbitration under Multilateral Treaties in the Middle East,” BCDR International Arbitration Review 3, No. 2 (December 2016), 243-65 (Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution) (co-author)
• “A Case for Dispositive Motions in International Commercial Arbitration,” BCDR International Arbitration Review 2 No. 1 (June 2015), 77-98 (Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution) (co-author)
• “Structuring Your Investment to Protect IP Rights – the Case of Compulsory Licensing,” The Pharma Letter (Mar. 21, 2014) (co-author)
• “Energy Disputes in Times of Civil Unrest: Transitional Governments and Foreign Investment Protections,” in Arthur W. Rovine (ed.), Contemporary Issues in International Arbitration and Mediation:  The Fordham Papers 2013, 234-50 (2015) (co-author)
• “The Protection Offered by ‘Umbrella Clauses’ in Korean Investment Treaties,” Journal of Arbitration Studies 23 No. 3 (Sept. 2013), 127-47 (co-author)
• “Resource Nationalism and Mining Reforms: An Increased Potential for International Disputes,” The Northern Miner (Sept. 26, 2013) (co-author)
• “A Guide to Interim Measures in Investor-State Arbitration,” Arbitration International 29 No. 3 (2013), 381-434 (co-author)
• “Who Decides? The Tug-Of-War Between U.S. Courts and Arbitrators:  A Commentary On Republic of Iraq v. BNP Paribas USA,” in Jalal El Ahdab (ed.), International Journal of Arab Arbitration 4 No. 3 (2012), 112-28 (co-author)
• “The DynCorp Case: The Journey of an International Arbitration Award,” in Jalal El Ahdab (ed.), International Journal of Arab Arbitration 3 No. 3 (2011), 25-54 (co-author)
• “Modern and Competitive: The New CRCICA Rules,” in Jalal El Ahdab (ed.), International Journal of Arab Arbitration Vol. 3 No. 1 (2011), 17-24 (co-author)
• “The Meaning of ‘Investment’ in the ICSID Convention,” in Pieter Bekker, Rudolf Dolzer, and Michael Waibel (eds.), Making Transnational Law Work in the Global Economy: Essays in Honour of Detlev Vagts (CUP 2010), 326-356 (co-author)

A select list of Caline’s speaking engagements follows:

• “ISDS Reform: Financing of a Standing Mechanism and an Advisory Center,” The 48th session of UNCITRAL Working Group III, (New York, April 2024)
• “Investment Arbitration and Climate Change” as part of the “ICSID Virtual Book Launch Event,” International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, (April 2024)
• “Good Faith in Investment Arbitration: What’s Different?” 43^rd ICC Institute of World Business Law Annual Conference, Moderator (November 2023)
• “Arbitrators in Corporate Disputes:  How far can they go?”  26^th Annual Colloquium of the ICC Institute of World Business Law Annual Conference, Moderator (November 2023)
• Advocate, The David D. Caron Praelium 2023, New York Arbitration Week (November 2023)
• “Subpoena and Third-Party Evidence – the State of Play,” 7th Annual USC-JAMS Arbitration Symposium in Collaboration with SIAC, (March 2023).
• “Enforcement of Arbitral Awards,” GAR LIVE New York, (October 2021).
• “Debate: Parallel Proceedings in Investment Arbitration Are Abusive and Should be Banned,” ASIL Annual Meeting, (March 2021).
• “Arbitration in a Changing World,” Columbia Arbitration Day, (March 2021).
• “News about the Legal Foundations Invoked in International Commercial Arbitration to Remedy Hardship Situations,” 36^th Annual ICC-SIA-QMC Joint Symposium of Arbitrators, (March 2021).
• “Does 28 U.S.C. § 1782 Apply to Private International Commercial Arbitrations? A Mock U.S. Supreme Court Argument,” Panel, Fordham Conference on International Arbitration and Mediation, (Virtual, November 2020).
• “Stronger Together: Colloquy on Diversity and Perseverance,” Keynote Speaker, ArbitralWomen for New York Arbitration Week, (Virtual, November 2020).
• “Hot Topics in International Arbitration,” IBA Annual Meeting, (Virtual, November 2020).
• “Attribution of Harm,” Czech Ministry of Finance 10th Investment Treaty Arbitration Conference, (Virtual, October 2020).
• “The Impact of International Corruption on Cross-Border Litigation and Arbitration,” NYSBA Annual Meeting, (New York, January 2020).
• “In the Hot Seat: Dealing with Corruption in International Arbitration,” McGill Journal of Dispute Resolution and McGill Arbitration Student Society, (Montreal, January 2020).
• “New York as a Seat for International Arbitration,” 8^th Annual GAR Live New York, ( New York, October 2019).
• “Deal Issues and the Challenges of Obtaining Financing for Litigation,” 2^nd Annual IMN Financing, Structuring & Investing in Litigation Finance, (New York, June 2019).
• “Mandatory Laws and Lois de Police,” IBA Arbitration Day on Beyond the Governing Law: Mandatory Rules, Lois de police, Trade Sanctions and Other Conflicts of Laws, (Montreal, March 2019).
• “Women in International Law: Journey to Parity,” New York City Bar Association, (New York, November 2018).
• “Third-Party Funding in International Commercial and Investment Treaty Arbitration,” IMN Financing, Structuring & Investing in Litigation Finance Conference, (New York, May 2018).
• “The Interpretation and Application of the New York Convention: Taking Stock of the Practice,” The Second Circuit and the New York Convention, (New York, September 2017).
• “Challenges to the Legitimacy of International Arbitration,” ITA Annual Workshop, (June 2017).
• “How Procedure Makes Substance in International Courts and Tribunals,” ASIL Annual Meeting, Washington D.C. (April 2017).
• “Is there a U.S. Culture of International Arbitration?” The Grand Central Forum, (New York, May 2016).
• “The Influence of International Arbitration on Domestic Litigation and Vice Versa,” IBA Annual Meeting, (Vienna, October 2015).
• “Recent Developments in International Arbitration,” The Grand Central Forum, (New York, April 2015).
• “How ‘International’ Is International Arbitration?” Keynote Address, ICC Houston Conference on International Arbitration, (Houston, October 2014).
• “The International Arbitrator’s Point of View”, PLI Arbitration Day, (New York, June 2013).
• “Latin America – Enforcement of Awards” ICC Houston Conference on International Arbitration Houston (Houston, April 2013).
• “Privatizing Justice: Shifting Adjudication Out of the Judiciary”  Randolph W. Thrower Symposium (February 2013).
• “Women in International Law: Transforming the Legal Landscape,” New York City Bar Association, (New York, May 2012).
• “Enforcement of Arbitral Awards Against Sovereigns,” Columbia Arbitration Day, (New York, March 2012).
• “The Impact of Technology and the Internet on the Content of Advocacy in Arbitration,” World Arbitration Forum on Intellectual Property (WAFIP), (Jordan, November 2010).

• Vice Chair, ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR
• Vice Chair, IBA Arbitration Committee
• Member, IBA Arbitration Committee’s Task Force on Privilege
• Director and Executive Committee Member, New York International Arbitration Center (NYIAC)
• Member, International Commercial Disputes Committee of the New York City Bar Association