George A Bermann

Practice Areas

International Commercial and Investment Arbitration

Transnational Litigation

Private International Law

European Union Law

French Law

Career

Yale College (BA), Yale Law School (JD), Columbia Law School (LLM)

Associate, David Polk & Wardwell LLP (New York)

Professor of Law, Columbia Law School (New York)

Arbitrator in International Commercial and Investor-State Arbitration in scores of cases since 1985

International Arbitration Legal Expert before arbitral tribunals and national courts

Chief Reporter, American Law Institute (ALI), Restatement of the U.S. Law of International Commercial and Investor-State Arbitration

Lecturer, Masters in International Dispute Settlement (MIDS) (Univ. of Geneva); Sciences Po LL.M. in International Dispute Settlement (Paris)

Director of Board of Directors, Thai Arbitration Center (Bangkok, Thailand)

Director of Board of Directors, Center for International Investment and Commercial Arbitration (CIICA) (Lahore, Pakistan)

Editor-in-Chief, American Review of International Arbitration (ARIA)

Member, Board of Editors, Revue de l'Arbitrage

Professional Memberships

Founding member, Governing Board, International Chamber of Commerce, International Court of Arbitration

Chair, Global Advisory Board, New York International Arbitration Center (NYIAC)

Director, American Arbitration Association (AAA)

Representative of American Arbitration Association as Observer at UNCITRAL Working Group III

Member and Patron, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Member, College of Commercial Arbitrators

Member, Arbitration Commission of International Chamber of Commerce, International Court of Arbitration

Member, Center for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR)

Member, International Bar Association, Committee on International Arbitration

President, International Academy of Comparative Law

President, American Society of Comparative Law

Publications

International Arbitration and Private International Law (General Course of Hague Academy of International Law)

UNCITRAL Guide to the New York Convention (with E. Gaillard)

Twilight Issues in International Arbitration: Latent Choice of Law Challenges

Mandatory Law in International Arbitration

Interpretation and Application of the New York Convention

"The 'Gateway' Problem in International Arbitration"

"Understanding ICSID Article 54"

"Navigating European Union Law and International Arbitration"

"Res Judicata in International Arbitration", in Cambridge Compendium of International Commercial and Investment Arbitration

"The Future of International Commercial Arbitration", in Cambridge Companion to International Arbitration

"What Does it Mean to be Pro-Arbitration?"

"The Contribution of International Commercial to International Investment Arbitration"

"The Self-Styled 'Autonomy' of International Arbitration"

"The Energy Charter Treaty and European Union Law"

"After First Options: Delegation Run Amok"

"Costs Allocation in International Arbitration: What Normative Source If Any?"

"The Role of National Courts at the Threshold of Arbitration"

"European Union Law as a Jurisdictional and Substantive Defense in Investor-State Arbitration"

"International Standards as a Choice of Law Option in International Arbitration"

Personal

Resident of France for 40 years, as professor, University of Paris I (Sorbonne), University of Paris II (Assas), Institut des Sciences Politiques (Sciences Po) Ecole de droit

Married to Sandra L. Bermann, Professor of Comparative Literature, Princeton University, Princeton, N.J. USA

Parent of Sloan Bermann (business executive), Suzanne McMillan (lawyer), Grant Bermann (lawyer)

Grandparent of five

Clients

In international arbitration, I perform only as arbitrator (and expert witness) and therefore do not have clients

However, I do serve as co-counsel and advisor to counsel in international arbitration

Work Highlights

Directorship of the Center for International Commercial and Investment Arbitration, Columbia Law School

Chief Reporter, American Law Institute (ALI), Restatement of the U.S. Law of International Commercial and Investor-State Arbitration

Leadership role in New York International Arbitration Center (NYIAC)

Longtime activity as expert and expert witness before international arbitral tribunals and national courts

Teaching International Arbitration internationally

Industry Sector Expertise

Construction

Energy

General contract law

Distribution Contracts and Franchise Agreements

Intellectual Property

Telecommunications

Pharmaceuticals

Aviation

Transport

Exploitation of Natural Resources (including mining) and Environmental Law

Expert in these Jurisdictions

United States

United Kingdom

France

Languages Spoken

French (fluent)

Spanish (reading)

Experience

Over 40 years as arbitrator in international commercial and investor-State disputes

Over 40 years as expert and expert witness on international arbitration before arbitral tribunals and national courts

Co-counsel and advisor to counsel in international arbitration cases

Over 45 years of teaching numerous subjects, including international arbitration, transnational litigation, and European Union law, among others, both in the United States and abroad

Over 40 years of activity in professional associations in internation arbitration

Education

Awards