Laura R. Zimmerman
Biography
Laura Zimmerman is a partner in the New York office. She has over a decade of experience counseling clients through complex international dispute resolution, including high-stakes international arbitration, mediation and commercial litigation cases.
Laura is ranked as a Future Leader for Arbitration by Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal), was selected to publish in 40 Under 40 International Arbitration 2021, and has held a number of leadership positions in the international arbitration community. She currently serves on the board of the New York International Arbitration Center as an Alternate Director and Executive Committee member and is a founding ambassador of the global Arbitration Lunch Match networking initiative for women in arbitration.
Within the Firm, Laura has worked in both the London and New York offices and co-chairs the New York office women’s initiative. She is actively engaged in pro bono matters, with a focus on representation of undocumented immigrants in removal proceedings.
Practice Focus
Laura primarily focuses on cross-border contract, investment,and business disputes. She has significant experience with energy (including renewables, oiland gas, and nuclear), infrastructure and construction disputes, as well as in the financial,fashion and pharma sectors, and has acted for and against states and state bodies.
An experienced advocate, Laura has taken a lead role on numerous multimillion-dollarinternational arbitration cases from inception to final award. She also regularly litigates inNew York federal and state courts, and various other US jurisdictions.
Laura also brings a practical in-house perspective to her client work. In 2021, she spent six months working in the litigation and compliance team of a major fashion house, where she negotiated contractual disputes and managed cross-border internal investigations. In 2016 to 2017, she spent six months seconded to Standard Chartered Bank’s global disputes team in London, managing arbitrations, litigations and other disputes in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Representative Legal Matters
- Acting for a Brazilian oil company as Respondent in an ICC arbitration involving over 40 claims and counterclaims arising out of an EPC contract for the construction of off-shore oil platforms, including first-chairing an USD 85 million counterclaim.
- Acting for a renewable energy company in mediation and ICDR arbitration against a customer related to liquidated damages and calculation of wind farm conversion guarantees.
- Acting for a renewable energy company in dispute against Chinese supplier of components for wind turbines, including investigation, mediation and negotiation of favorable settlement prior to ICC arbitration.
- Acting for an energy company on multiple disputes arising from sales contracts for wind turbines and services contracts for the operation of wind farms.
- Acted for a Brazilian oil company as claimant in an ICC arbitration arising out of an EPC contract for the construction and integration of offshore oil platforms, involving issues of Brazilian tax law and defective works.
- Acted for a US biomedical entity in an ICC arbitration with an African state entity, involving royalty claims for a patented scientific technology, achieving early dismissal of over 95% of claimed damages.
- Advised luxury fashion brands on issues related to sanctions compliance and distributor contracts in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.
- Conducted a cross-border internal investigation concerning supply chain issues in Asia for a fashion house.
- Acted for a mutual insurer in several JAMS mediations and other ADR proceedings involving high-stakes coverage claims for nuclear power plants.
- Acted for a UK bank in a Delaware Bankruptcy Court adversary proceeding on constructive fraudulent transfer claims, achieving a complete dismissal on forum non conveniens grounds.
Professional Honors
- Future Leader – Arbitration, Lexology Index / Who’s Who Legal (2023 - 2025)
- 40 Under 40 International Arbitration 2021
Professional Associations and Memberships
- New York International Arbitration Center - Alternate Director, Executive Committee Member
- CPR Y-ADR - Steering Committee (2021 – 2024)
- AAA/ICDR Young & International - Global Advisory Board (2019 – 2023)
- AAA/ICDR Innovation & Technology Advisory Council - Founding Member (2019 – 2023)
- New York Arbitration Week - Organizing Committee (2022, 2024)
- ArbitralWomen - Member
- ICC Young Arbitrators Forum - Member
- Rising Arbitrators Initiative - Member
- New York City Bar Association - Member
- American Bar Association - Member
Admissions
- New York~United States (2012)
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York~United States (2013)
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York~United States (2013)
Education
- Brooklyn Law School (J.D., cum laude) (2011)
- American University, School of International Service (M.A. International Peace and Conflict Resolution) (2007)
- American University, School of International Service (B.A. International Studies, honors, magna cum laude) (2005)
Languages
- English