About Nils Schmidt-Ahrendts
Dr. Nils Schmidt-Ahrendts primarily acts as arbitrator and counsel in arbitrations.
Nils has acted under various institutional and ad hoc rules (ICC, LCIA, SCC, VIAC, DIA, FAI, SCAI and DIS) as well as under various laws (Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Macedonia, Mexico, The Netherlands, Serbia, Switzerland, Swedish, Turkey and Qatar).
Moreover, Nils represents clients in proceedings before German courts including enforcement of foreign awards and judgments.
In addition, he also often represents clients in DAB, mediation and other ADR proceedings with a particular focus on construction and offshore windfarm disputes.
Nils’ industry focus lies in the areas automotive, construction, energy, international trade (CISG), infrastructure and transport as well as joint ventures and post-M&A.
Nils holds a Doctor of Laws in international sales law (CISG) and is a visiting professor for international arbitration at the Universities of Berlin and Freiburg. He also regularly speaks at international conferences and issues academic publications.
Nils speaks German, English and French.
Contact
Recognitions
”Nils has a quick and sharp mind”
"In complex matters, he never looses sight of his client’s interests, while also taking into
account the opposite side’s position"
"An excellent practitioner and out-of-the-box thinker"
Chambers Global ranking of Germany’s 25 most in demand arbitrators
JUVE’s 2020 list of Germany’s 30 most renowned arbitrators
Dr. Nils Schmidt-Ahrendts "is hugely experienced in international arbitrations"
Who's Who Legal Thought Leaders - Germany
"highly visible and on almost every shortlist of arbitrators"
a star in the German market, commended for his 'top-tier' work as arbitrator
"a very smart and well-prepared arbitrator"
"excellent arbitrator, legally exact and to the point"
"an outstanding performer with the sharpest legal mind and impressive clients"
"a class act who is very business-oriented and very strategic"
Nils Schmidt-Ahrendts enters the rankings as an up-and-coming arbitrator following strong endorsements from market observers. One interviewee enthuses: "He knew the case inside and out, asked very skilful questions and decided very correctly," further highlighting that "there are arbitrators who put their finger on every weakness and that is what Nils Schmidt-Ahrendts does to either side, which is essential."
Dr. Nils Schmidt-Ahrendts has a "very good Court-Room-Presence" and is recommended for his "effective case management, excellent quality of pleadings and conduct of negotiations"
arbitration shooting star
an extremely good lawyer
Nils Schmidt-Ahrendts is singled out by his peers for his experience and efficiency. He is praised for his “in-depth expertise” and described as “in command and always well prepared”.
Instruments
Areas of practice
Experience
Chairman, Sole Arbitrator, Party-Appointed and Emergency Arbitrator in more than 60 arbitration proceedings (ICC, Swiss Rules, VIAC, DIS, DIA, FAI, Hamburg Chamber of Commerce and ad hoc)
- Representation of domestic and foreign companies in arbitration proceedings (ICC, LCIA, SCC, DIS and ad hoc)
- Representation of domestic and foreign companies in DAB proceedings (FIDIC, ICC, DIS and ad hoc) as well as in mediation proceedings
- Representation of domestic and foreign companies before German courts (i.a. enforcement of arbitral awards and follow-on-damage claims)
Co-counsel and expert arrangements with domestic and foreign law firms
Languages and nationality
- German
- English
- French
- German
Curriculum vitae
-
Since 2011
Attorney with HANEFELD, Hamburg
-
2009 - 2011
CMS Hasche Sigle, Munich (Member of the International Litigation and Arbitration Department headed by Dr. Klaus Sachs)
-
2007 - 2009
Legal traineeship including work experience with the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris, France, Hengeler Mueller in Berlin and the German Embassy in Cambodia
-
2005 - 2007
Doctor of Laws (Dr. iur.) and Research and Teaching Assistant at the Institute for Foreign and International Private Law, University of Freiburg, Germany
-
1999 - 2005
University of Freiburg, Germany and University of Grenoble, France
Speeches
-
Schiedsverfahren mit säumigen Parteien (in German)
Hamburg Arbitration Circle
Hamburg, Germany
-
Das neue deutsche Schiedsverfahrensrecht (in German)
Berlin Arbitration Circle
Berlin, Germany -
Arbitration, Antitrust & Ordre Public
Belgrad Arbitration Days
Belgrade, Serbia -
Document Production in International Arbitration
Berlin, Germany
-
Climate Litigation
University of Hamburg
Hamburg, Germany -
IT & Legal Tech in Arbitration
Baltic Arbitration Days
Riga, Latvia -
The CISG Applies
MAA International Commercial Law & Arbitration
Vienna, Austria
-
Fast and Furious – Urgent and Expedited Relief
SCAI Innovation
Zurich, Switzerland
-
Reform des deutschen Schiedsverfahrensrecht, DIS 40, Berlin (2019)
DIS 40
Berlin, Germany
-
Der richtige Schiedsstandort bei Brexit (in German)
Konstanz, Germany -
Energy Disputes
ICC YAF
Dusseldorf, Germany
-
Minimising unconscious bias – a checklist for arbitrators
Vienna, Austria -
Schiedsort Berlin – quo vadis (in German)
Berlin, Germany -
Arbitrating East-West Disputes in the Time of Sanctions
ICC YAF
Helsinki, Finland -
Damages under the CISG
Hanover, Germany
-
Challenges for a new generation of arbitrators
ICC YAF
Frankfurt am Main, Germany -
Independence and impartiality – the new IBA Guidelines
Copenhagen, Denmark -
Arbitral activism v impartiality
Kiev Arbitration Days
Kiev, Ukraine -
Emergency arbitrators – success stories and challenges
ICC YAF
Cologne, Germany
-
Internationales Schiedsverfahrensrecht (in German)
YAAP Roundtable
Vienna, Austria -
The future of investment arbitration
ICC YAF, Hamburg (2014)
Hamburg, Germany -
Counsel ethics in international arbitration
YIAG
Istanbul, Turkey -
Europe Hall Debate
ICC YAF
Rome, Italy
-
Arbitration & Project Finance
Baltic Arbitration Days
Riga, Latvia -
The empty chair – arbitrating against absent Respondents
ASA Below 40
Geneva, Switzerland -
CISG & Arbitration
ICC YAF
Paris, France -
Evidence in international arbitration
Warsaw, Poland -
Sportschiedsgerichtsbarkeit
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
-
The Use of Experts in International Arbitration
Wellington, New Zealand -
Bridging the divide between party and tribunal-appointed experts
Auckland, New Zealand -
The CISG – a good choice for buyers
Cologne, Germany -
Sports Arbitration in Germany
Warsaw, Poland
Publications
-
Schiedsverfahren und UN-Kaufrecht (in German)
M. Hofstätter / G. Flecke Giammarco (eds.), Schiedsverfahren in der Unternehmenspraxis, pp. 313. -
Art. 25-27 and 71-73 UN-Kaufrecht (in German)
Beck Online Großkommentar
-
Art. 7-10 und 21 ICC-SchO sowie Art. 8, 17-20 und 24 DIS-SchO (in German)
H. Nedden / B. Herzberg / U. Kopetzki (eds.), Praxiskommentar ICC-SchO / DIS-SchO, 2. Aufl.
-
Dispute resolution by Dispute Adjudication Boards - practical advice on the structuring and conduct of proceedings
BauR 2020, pp. 1385 et seq. (in German, jointly with Dr. Johanna Büstgens and Jörn Hombeck) -
Die Feinjustierungen des BGH zu den Folgen der Verletzung von Offenlegungspflichten im Aufhebungs- und Vollstreckbarerklärungsverfahren
SchiedsVZ 2020, pp. 35 et seq. (in German, jointly with Viktoria K. Schneider)
-
Country Report: Germany
Weigand/Baumann (ed.), Practitioners Handbook on International Commercial Arbitration, 3rd ed. -
Art. 74 - 77 CISG
Brunner/Gottlieb (ed.), Commentary on the UN Sales Law (CISG) -
The Consequences of the Non-Disclosure of Conflict of Interest on the Enforceability of Awards: The German Stance
Kluwer Arbitration Blog (jointly with Viktoria K. Schneider)
-
The "Right" Place of Arbitration: How Germany Might Profit from Brexit
SchiedsVZ 2018, pp. 281 et seq. (jointly with Aaron de Jong)
-
Enforcement of international arbitral awards in Germany
Practice Note for LexisPSL (jointly with Jörn Hombeck)
-
Art. 74 - 77 UN-Kaufrecht
Brunner (Hrsg.), UN-Kaufrecht – CISG, 2. Aufl.
-
Art. 7-10 and 21 ICC-SchO
Nedden/Herzberg (ed.), Praxiskommentar ICC SchO und DIS SchO, 1st ed. 2013 (in German) -
§§ 13 und 23 DIS-SchO
Nedden/Herzberg (ed.), Praxiskommentar ICC SchO und DIS SchO, 1st ed. 2013 (in German)
-
Expert Teaming - Bridging the Divide Between Party-Appointed and Tribunal-Appointed Experts
Wellington Law Review 2012, pp. 653 et seq.
-
Applicable law in arbitration proceedings seated in Germany
SchiedsVZ 2011, pp. 267 et seq. (in German, jointly with Dr. Philipp Höttler)
-
Expert evidence under the 2010 IBA Rules
International Arbitration Law Review 2010, pp. 216 et seq. -
Settlement Efforts in Arbitration
Revista de Arbitragem e Mediação 2010, pp. 161 et seq. -
Diverging concepts of the Principle of Competence-Competence
New Developments in International Commercial Arbitration 2010, pp. 1 et seq. -
Experts – Neutrals or Advocates
ICCA Congress Series 2010, pp. 135 et seq. -
Einführung in das Schiedsverfahrensrecht
JURA 2010, pp. 520 et seq.
-
Der Ersatz frustrierter Aufwendungen im UN-Kaufrecht
IHR 2006, pp. 67 et seq. -
Recoverability of frustrated expenses under the CISG (in German)
IHR 2006, pp. 67 et seq.
-
Das Verhältnis von Erfüllung, Schadensersatz und Vertragsaufhebung im CISG
Mohr Siebeck, 2007 (doctoral thesis in German; sponsored by the German Academic Scholarship Foundation)
Academic appointments
- Visiting Professor for International Arbitration at the University of Freiburg
- Co-founder of the International Dispute Resolution LL.M at the HU Berlin
Memberships
- Appointed member of the advisory board of the German Arbitration Institute (DIS)
- Hamburg Arbitration Circle (HAC)