Morrison & Foerster’s European offices provide a full-service litigation and dispute resolution practice covering civil, regulatory
and corporate criminal proceedings. We represent clients in matters relating to litigation before courts and tribunals, as
well as advising on the full range of alternative dispute resolution procedures.
We recognise the value of dispute avoidance and our litigators work closely with our clients to understand their businesses,
identifying potential areas of legal exposure and devising strategies to manage risk.
Our European team is part of the firm's 500 strong international litigation department, renowned for its ability to succeed
in high stakes, complex, and often multi-jurisdictional, cases.
While maintaining a broad range of litigation skills and experience, the European team has particular expertise including:
Arbitration
The firm ranks as having one of the most active arbitration practices in the world, having arbitrated cases before such major
international arbitration centres as the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the London Court of International Arbitration
(LCIA), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission
(CIETAC), the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA), the American Arbitration Association (AAA), JAMS and before
ad hoc arbitration tribunals operating under the UNCITRAL Rules. Our expertise spans initial advice on the choice of arbitration
or dispute resolution clause in agreements to the appointment of tribunals and enforcement of awards.
Commercial
The resolution of commercial disputes is at the heart of the European practice with experience in acting in disputes for leading
companies from a wide range of industry sectors. The team deals regularly in contentious contractual and regulatory claims,
insurance disputes, claims arising out of debt and equity offerings, shareholder actions and tax related litigation and tribunal
work.
Competition and Antitrust
Morrison & Foerster has a long and distinguished track record of successfully counselling clients in a wide range of complex
antitrust matters, including antitrust litigation. At a time when European authorities are seeking notably harsher penalties
for potential anti-competitive behaviour, and damages claims arising out of anti-competitive behaviour are becoming more frequent,
our lawyers offer expertise in advising on and trying cases for both claimants and defendants in a wide range of industry
sectors, ranging from telecommunications, IT and banking to biotechnology and energy.
Corporate Investigations, Asset Tracing and Criminal Fraud
Our litigators have significant expertise advising on fraud and regulatory matters. We advise corporations and individuals
on money laundering investigations and compliance; bribery and corruption; tax investigations; corporate manslaughter; and
investigations and enforcement brought by regulators such as the Financial Services Authority and the Medicines Healthcare
and Regulatory Agency. Our litigators have expertise in the areas of asset tracing, worldwide freezing orders, search and
seize orders, committal and passport orders and extradition.
Employment
We offer capabilities in contentious employment matters, advising on matters before all courts and employment tribunals. We
are also skilled at working with our clients to intervene early in disputes and, where possible, avoid claims. We have expertise
in informal in-house mediation, formal mediation, arbitration and ADR.
Information, Communications and Technology
Our litigators, drawing on the unrivalled strength of Morrison & Foerster’s technology transactions team, have substantial
experience in managing from the outset, disputes arising from IT systems integration; outsourcing arrangements, software development,
hardware and software maintenance agreements, telecommunications and internet services, products and regulation; licensing
agreements; and consumer and business IT product and infrastructure development and supply.
Insolvency
Our litigators counsel insolvency practitioners and other stakeholders in all claims arising out of administrations and insolvencies,
often across jurisdictional boundaries. We can assist in complex asset tracing work, misfeasance and other actions against
former directors, setting aside of transactions and a wide range of retention of title claims.
Intellectual Property
Morrison & Foerster’s litigators are experienced in providing advice and counselling concerning all aspects of intellectual
property. We have represented clients in a broad variety of intellectual property cases, including patent matters and adversarial
patent licensing negotiations.
Professional Liability
Our litigators address concerns arising out of professional advice, including lawyers, property and construction professionals,
insurance brokers, accountants and auditors, patent agents and IT professionals. This work routinely extends to advice on
resolving disputes with underwriters, insurers and managing agents.
