Michael E. Schneider

Senior Counsel, Geneva 

+41 58 105 2000 

meschneider@lalive.law

Michael E. Schneider

Michael is a founding partner of LALIVE and now Senior Counsel. He has practised in international arbitration for more than 40 years as counsel and arbitrator in ad hoc proceedings and under various rules, including those of ICSID, UNCITRAL, the ICC, LCIA, Swiss Rules, SCC Arbitration Institute, Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA) and the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), as well as before other international bodies, including the WTO Appellate Body and the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC). 

Ranked “a senior statesman” Chamber Europe, Arbitrators, 2023 and “Hall of Fame” Legal 500 EMEA, Dispute Resolution, Arbitration 2023, Michael is one of the most respected figures in the international arbitration community in Switzerland and worldwide, in particular for his unparalleled experience in construction, infrastructure and engineering projects-related disputes. 

Recognition

Michael Schneider is one of the most prominent arbitrators in the field.”
Chambers Europe, International Arbitration, Most in Demand Arbitrators, 2023 

Ranked Band 1
Chambers Global, Public International Law: most in demand arbitrators, 2023

Michael Schneider is widely acknowledged as one of the most prominent arbitrators in the global market.
Chambers Global, Public International Law: most in demand arbitrators, 2023

Recent publications

Expert Evidence
MICHAEL E. SCHNEIDER, JOACHIM KNOLL, CHRISTOPHE GUIBERT DE BRUET
In: Andreas J. Roquette/Tom Christopher Pröstler (Eds.), International Construction Disputes – A Practitioner’s Guide, C.H.Beck/Hart/Nomos, pp. 305-328, 2022

The Uncertain Future of the Interactive Arbitrator: Proposals, Good Intentions and the Effect of Conflicting Views on the Role of the Arbitrator
MICHAEL E. SCHNEIDER
In: Brekoulakis/Lew/Mistelis (Eds.), The Evolution and Future of International Arbitration, International Arbitration Law Library, volume 37, pp 379 – 392, Kluwer 2016

Non-Monetary Relief in International Arbitration: Principles and Arbitration Practice
MICHAEL E. SCHNEIDER, JOACHIM KNOLL
In: Juris, New York / ASA, Switzerland (Eds.), ASA Performance as a Remedy, Chapter 1, ASA Special Series No. 30, pp. 3-48, 2011

Recent conferences

GAR Live 2024
Panel discussion on Construction Arbitration: ideas for radical change and improvement
Moderator: ALEX BEVAN; Panelist, MICHAEL E. SCHNEIDER
Abu Dhabi 30 January 2024

2nd BRU Investment Arbitration Academy 2023, Rashtriya Raksha University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India,
Panel discussion on “Dynamics between the Stakeholders of Investment Arbitration: Towards Harmonization of Interests”,
Chair, MICHAEL E. SCHNEIDER
India, 6 December 2023

Of courage in international arbitration – revisited:
a Fireside Chate between PROFESSOR GEORGE BERMANN and MICHAEL SCHNEIDER, moderated by DR SILJY SCHAFSTEIN
Geneva, 16 May 2023

Current memberships

  • Honorary president of the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA) 
  • Member of the Board of Trustees of the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA)  
  • Member of the Court of Arbitration of the Singapore Arbitration Centre 
  • Member of the Court of Arbitration of the Abu Dhabi International Arbitration Centre
  • Vice-President UNCITRAL (2015 – 2017)
  • Chair of UNCITRAL Working Group II (Arbitration) (2006 – 2010; 2014 – 2015)

Career history

  • Senior Counsel, LALIVE, 2021 – present 
  • Partner, LALIVE, 1994 – 2020 
  • Counsel, Universal Engineering and Finance Corporation (UNEFICO), 1978 – 1987
  • Associate / Counsel, Lalive Budin & Partners, 1970 – 1994

Academic qualifications

  • 1st and 2nd State examination, Munich, 1965, 1970
  • Comprehensive Doctoral Examination, Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva, 1968

Practices

  • Arbitration - International Commercial
  • Arbitration - Investment Treaty
  • Public International Law

Sectors

  • Construction & Infrastructure
  • Energy
  • Mining

Languages

  • Arabic
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Spanish
  • Italian

Nationality

  • German

Admission

  • Geneva (Foreign Lawyer) 
  • Munich, 1970
“A giant in the arbitration world” Chambers Europe, International Arbitration, 2023