Biography • Arbitration

Martin Valasek is a leading practitioner in the area of international arbitration, with extensive experience in both investor-state and commercial contract disputes. He regularly acts as counsel, and also sits as arbitrator. His varied practice extends to advising on cross-border litigation and devising dispute-resolution mechanisms for complex transactions.

His experience covers a wide range of legal systems all over the world, and industries including aerospace, banking, construction, mining, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and IT. He has handled matters under the ICC, LCIA, ICSID and UNCITRAL Rules, and other ad hoc and institutional rules. He also has extensive experience with investment disputes under BITs, NAFTA and the Energy Charter Treaty.

In 2011, Mr Valasek was named to Global Arbitration Review's "45 under 45" list of leading practitioners in the field of international arbitration under the age of 45. In 2007, he was named one of Lexpert's "Top 40 Lawyers Under 40" for Canada.

He is a member of the bars of Quebec, Ontario and New York, and of the Canadian, American and International bar associations (CBA, ABA and IBA). He served as president of the Young Canadian Arbitration Practitioners (YCAP) from 2007-2010, and is a member of the ICC Canadian national committee and of the LCIA.

Mr Valasek completed his undergraduate studies at Harvard College, and obtained both civil law and common law degrees (highest honours) from McGill University, where he was elected editor-in-chief of the McGill Law Journal. He clerked for Mr Justice Gonthier of the Supreme Court of Canada. He is fluent in English, French and Czech, and has a working knowledge of Spanish.