2024-2025 Global AI Trends Guide
Karl Pörnbacher
Partner Litigation, Arbitration, and Employment
Languages
English, Polish, French, German
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Overview
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Experience
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Credentials
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Insights and events
Who's Who Legal, , 2015/2016Recognized as "being among the world's leading arbitrators".
Karl Pörnbacher heads the firm's international arbitration team in Germany. Together with his multinational team of experienced international arbitration lawyers, he has represented clients in more than 90 international and domestic arbitrations as counsel. He has further been appointed as an arbitrator in more than 50 cases, both as chairman/sole arbitrator and co-arbitrator.
Karl assists clients in the efficient resolution of their disputes. He is an expert in alternative dispute resolution, with broad experience in the structuring and conduct of alternative dispute resolution proceedings. His experience includes disputes related to energy (gas, oil, renewables), construction and infrastructure projects, (post) M&A, and the automotive, aeronautic and life science industries in commercial and investment arbitrations. Karl and his team have experience in arbitration proceedings under a variety of rules, including the ICC, VIAC, Danish Chamber of Commerce, Polish Chamber of Commerce, DIS and Swiss Rules, as well as in ad-hoc proceedings. He also represents clients in mediations, dispute board proceedings and adjudications.
Karl is fluent in English, French and Polish. He worked in Warsaw for several years and frequently advises on cross-border disputes involving entities from Poland and other Central and Eastern European states. In recent years, his practice relating to the Eastern European and Caucasus regions has grown significantly.
Karl is a member of the Boards of VIAC and the Arbitration Court at the Polish Chamber of Commerce and he serves as Chair of the Arbitration Court of the German-Polish Chamber of Commerce in Warsaw. He is a member of the scientific advisory board of the MuCDR and the BayCDMA, and he teaches courses on arbitration at the University of Bayreuth.
Chambers Europe, 2020Karl Pörnbacher is described by one source as "an outstanding arbitrator as he combines excellent legal skills, diligence and attention to detail with a pragmatic and human approach in conducting arbitral proceedings."
Representative experience
Representing an Eastern European state-owned entity in a multi-billion USD ad-hoc arbitration in the oil and gas sector arising out of a Production Sharing Agreement.
Representing several international energy companies in disputes in relation to the termination and price revision of oil and gas supply and storage agreements.
Representing a construction company in relation to claims for costs and liquidated/delay damages arising out of two offshore windfarm agreements (DIS arbitration, adjudication, ad-hoc mediation).
Representing employers and contractors in arbitration, adjudication and mediation in relation to claims for delay, extension of time and damages in connection with offshore windfarm projects.
Advising and representing employers in adjudication and arbitration proceedings regarding several wind, water and solar power projects (FIDIC, adjudication, ICC and ad-hoc arbitration).
Representing an international aircraft manufacturer in supply chain disputes against European and U.S. suppliers.
Representing an Asian technology company against a major German manufacturer of electronic equipment in a post-M&A ICC arbitration related to purchase price adjustment and misrepresentation claims.
Representing Eastern European state entities in disputes (negotiation, dispute board/adjudication and arbitration) arising out of infrastructure projects (roads, energy, rail infrastructure).
Representing the Slovak Republic in its investment dispute against the Dutch company Achmea before German courts and the European Court of Justice.
Advising a number of investors and state entities in relation to claims under a variety of investment protection treaties and laws.
Representing an international automotive supplier in an ICC arbitration in relation to the delivery of defective automotive components and related recalls and class actions in the U.S.
Acting as chair and co-arbitrator in various international supply chain disputes and international cooperation agreement disputes, including local content issues.
Credentials
Education
- LMU Munich (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München)
- Université d'Angers
- Université de Toulouse
- University of Passau