Teresa Giovannini

Senior Counsel, Geneva

+41 58 105 2000

tgiovannini@lalive.law

Teresa Giovannini

Teresa, a LALIVE founding partner, specialises in international commercial arbitration and art law. She has been involved over 220 international arbitrations (including over 100 as arbitrator, mainly as presiding or sole arbitrator) and is widely recognized for her “a wealth of experience in commercial arbitration” in Who’s Who Legal National Leaders, Arbitration, 2022.

Her expertise encompasses both ad hoc and administered arbitrations, under all the major arbitration rules including of UNCITRAL, the AAA/ICDR, ICC, LCIA, SCC Arbitration Institute, Milan Chamber of Arbitration, Chamber of Commerce of Venice and Swiss Rules, as well as the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance (ICHEIC). She also has extensive experience as counsel in setting aside proceedings before the Swiss Supreme Court.

Teresa’s practice spans a wide range of sectors including disputes arising out of construction and infrastructure projects, sales contracts, intellectual property and licensing agreements, agency and distribution agreements, as well as joint ventures and shareholder agreements.

Recognition

Ranked as a “leading global practitioner.”
Who’s Who Legal, Thought Leaders, Arbitration 2022 (and since 2018).

“Well regarded by all who have seen her in action.”
Who’s Who Legal, Arbitration, 2016

“Exceedingly well versed in international arbitration” and wins praise for her great “dedication and professionalism.”
Who’s Who Legal, Arbitration, 2017

Recent publications

Reasoning in Arbitral Awards, Why? How? Control and Sanction under Swiss law
TERESA GIOVANNINI
In: International Chamber of Commerce, Publication Explaining why you lose: Reasoning in Arbitration, Chapter 6, July 2020

The Legal Picture
TERESA GIOVANNINI, WERNER JAHNEL, SANDRINE GIROUD
In: Arts and Collections Magazine, Vol 2, 2019

 Arbitres et intérêts public
TERESA GIOVANNINI, HAKIM BOULARBAH, ANDREA CARLEVARIS, LAURENT JAEGER, CHARLES JARROSSON, ISMAIL SELIM
In: Bruylant (Ed.), Arbitrage international et intérêts publics, 2019

Recent conferences

30th Croatian Arbitration Days International Conference
TERESA GIOVANNINI Keynote speaker: The Legitimacy of Arbitral Process
Zagreb, December 2022

6th Annual GAR Live Dubai
TERESA GIOVANNINI Keynote Speaker: Reasoning as Evidence of Legitimacy of the Award
Dubai, November 2019

Harvard Law School, Harvard International Arbitration Conference
TERESA GIOVANNINI Keynote speaker: Lifting the Curtain on Arbitral Tribunal’s Decision-Making: Practical Tools to Enhance the Reliability
February 2019, Boston

Current memberships

  • Member of the ICC Swiss National Committee and ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR
  • Council Emeritus Member of the ICC Institute of World Business Law
  • Member of the Beijing Arbitration Commission (BAC)
  • Club Member of the Milan Chamber of Arbitration
  • Member of the Advisory Board of the Transnational Arbitration Association
  • Member of the International Law Association Committee on Arbitration
  • Board Member of Francarbi

Career history

  • Founder and Partner, LALIVE, Geneva, 1994 – present
  • Associate / Partner, Lalive, Budin & Partners, Geneva, 1985 – 1994
  • Associate, Chiomenti & Partners, Rome, 1983 – 1985
  • Associate, Turrettini & L’Huillier, Geneva, 1981 – 1983
  • Legal Counsel, University Hospital, Geneva, 1977 – 1981
  • Legal Counsel, State Department of Health, Fribourg, 1974 – 1977

Academic qualifications

  • Master in Law, University of Freiburg
  • Certificate, The Royal Hague Academy of International Law, 1974

Practices

  • Arbitration - International Commercial
  • Arbitration - Investment Treaty

Sectors

  • Art & Cultural Property
  • Construction & Infrastructure
  • Energy
  • Mining
  • Pharma

Languages

  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Italian

Nationality

  • Swiss

Admission

  • Switzerland, 1983
“Guarantees the highest possible quality for any client” Legal 500, EMEA, Arbitration, 2022