J. GREENBLATT | International Disputes, PLLC
Jonathan L. Greenblatt
Experienced International Arbitration and Litigation Practitioner
Jonathan L. Greenblatt is a retired partner of Shearman & Sterling LLP with extensive experience in international commercial arbitration and litigation. At Shearman, Jonathan served as a Member of the Policy Committee, co-deputy managing partner of the international Arbitration Group, co-office managing partner of the Washington office, and co-founder and head of the Diversity Committee. Jonathan is the co-founder and chairman of Legal Innovators – An innovative alternative legal service provider, changing the way the law approaches hiring, pricing, inclusion, and diversity of junior legal talent.
As an advocate, Jonathan has handled many high value, complex commercial cases for global clients involving construction disputes, fraud, financial instruments, international insolvency and securities and antitrust laws. Jonathan has also received certification in the provision of mediation services by CEDR and the CPR.
Experience
International Arbitrations
- Enka Insaat ve Sanayi AS (ENKA) in a dispute against various Chubb Insurance Company entities originally commenced by the Chubb entities in the Russian courts. Jonathan led the case for ENKA in seeking an anti-suit injunction from the English courts on the basis of a London seated ICC arbitration clause in the relevant contract. The case was litigated in the High Court of Justice, Business and Property Courts of England and Wales, Queen’s Bench Division, Commercial Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. The Supreme Court decision, which upheld the Court of Appeals decision granting ENKA antisuit relief, was recognized by Global Arbitration Review as the “Most Important Decision” of 2021.
Jonathan also represented ENKA in an ICC arbitration commenced by ENKA against Chubb for breach of the arbitration agreement. - An international consortium of contractors, the Claimants in an ICC arbitration against a Middle Eastern State arising out of the design and construction of an airport. The law of the Middle Eastern State applied. The case was massive and was broken into multiple tracks. A highly favorable result in the form of multiple awards was obtained for clients in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
- The Dow Chemical Company (leading the case on damages) in obtaining the largest ICC arbitration award ever (USD 2.5 billion), against a Kuwaiti state-owned company arising out of a failed petrochemicals joint venture.
- A European based multi-national contractor, Claimant in an ICC arbitration in London brought against a Middle Eastern owner. The construction dispute arises from a contract for the conversion of a simple cycle power plant to combined cycle technology. English law applied. A highly favorable award was obtained for client. After the award, Jonathan led the multi-jurisdictional effort to enforce the award against the judgment debtor, ultimately resulting in a highly favorable settlement for client.
- A European based multi-national contractor and its subsidiary in a dispute before a Dispute Adjudication Board against a Middle Eastern owner. The dispute arose from a contract for the construction of a combined cycle technology power plant in the Middle East. English law applied.
- Enka Insaat ve Sanayi AS in proceedings brought before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to request the confirmation of a USD 47 million award rendered in an ICC arbitration against Gabon in a dispute over payments on contracts to build the presidential palace and a museum in the country. Highly favorable settlement obtained for client in the form of a court entered Consent Judgment.
- A State-owned Latin American oil and gas company, the Respondent in an ICC arbitration against a contractor involving the expansion of a refinery. The seat of arbitration was The Hague. A highly favorable award and settlement was obtained for client.
- A large, multinational company in ICC arbitration seated in New York relating to purported obligations under financial instruments arising from a troubled private equity transaction.
- A multinational EPC contractor in connection with a foreign court proceeding relating to the construction of a paper mill. Case was successfully resolved.
- A large multinational chemical corporation in two international arbitrations concerning a dispute over the use of intellectual property in US court and a Paris seated ICC arbitration. A highly favorable result was obtained for client in court and arbitration proceedings.
- A multinational US based company in two international arbitrations (one ICC and one ad hoc) concerning the use of intellectual property. A favorable settlement was obtained for client after preliminary decisions in the client’s favor.
- A large power company in an AAA arbitration involving a dispute with its partner concerning the dilution of its equity interests in a California power project.
- A Latin American company in connection with a AAA arbitration and international insolvency proceedings. Highly favorable result obtained for client.
- An EPC contractor in an LCIA mediation concerning a construction dispute relating to a Middle Eastern power plant project.
- Multiple representations in litigation concerning the arbitrability of disputes.
Fraud Cases
- A number of cases on behalf of major international financial institutions involving civil and criminal fraud allegations.
- The Bank of China in a series of actions around the world to recover more than USD 43 million that had been diverted from China’s foreign exchange reserves in a massive bank fraud.
- The Bank of Montreal in connection with a sophisticated fraud perpetrated in the United States and Canada by one of its customers.
- The U.S. subsidiary of five Danish companies in connection with a fraud investigation conducted by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and related civil litigation.
- A large international bank in connection with the Hong Kong government’s investigation of a high-volume check-kiting scheme.
- The court-appointed liquidators of BCCI.
Antitrust
- In re Buspirone antitrust litigation – representation of Watson Pharmaceuticals in a Section 1 and Section 2 case involving a major pharmaceutical product in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
- INO Therapeutics v. Sensormedics et al. – representation of INO Therapeutics in defense of an antitrust counterclaim involving nitric oxide gas in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
- S. v. Waste Management – defense of Waste Management in a government merger challenge.
- A large healthcare company, Plaintiff in a merger injunction suit brought in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Other Complex Litigation
- Successful representation of U.S. company on motion to dismiss where company was alleged to have violated the Alien Tort Statute and the Torture Victim Protection Act for allegedly having sold a chemical precursor to the manufacture of mustard gas purportedly used by a nation against citizens of another nation.
- Citibank in the Hunt Brothers lender liability suit against Citibank and 22 other banks.
- The bank lending group in the Ames Department Stores bankruptcy litigation.
- Citibank in a class action lawsuit brought by owners of parcels of land in a Florida real estate development.
- Court-appointed liquidators of five insolvent London market insurance companies (the KWELM companies) in their U.S. Bankruptcy Code Section 304 cases.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- George Washington University Law School, J.D.
Member of The George Washington Law Review, 1980 - University of Connecticut, B.A., magna cum laude, with distinction, 1977
Admissions & Courts
- New York
- Washington, D.C.
- Various U.S. District Courts
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
- Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Circuits
- U.S. Tax Court
- U.S. Supreme Court
Languages
English
Nationality
U.S.
OF NOTE
Mediation Certifications
- CPR certification
- CEDR certification
Professional Affiliations
- Professorial Lecturer in Law at The George Washington University Law School, International Commercial Arbitration, 2008–present
- Member (U.S.), ICC Commission on Arbitration
- Past USCIB Subcommittee Chair, Washington, D.C.
- Current chair of USCIB Task Force on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Board of Directors, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
- Board of Directors, University of Connecticut Foundation
- Board of Directors, Military Bowl
- Member of Class V, Leadership New York
- Frequent lecturer on international insolvency, international arbitration, lender liability, and general litigation practice
Other
- Co-Founder & Chairman of Legal Innovators
Named as one of New York’s and Washington, D.C.’s Super Lawyers