Michael W. Bühler has served as counsel and arbitrator in a wide range of international disputes arising out a variety of different types of contracts, concerning many different industries and involving the application of different governing laws from civil and common law jurisdictions.
Sector experience
- Construction/Engineering: EPC turnkey lump sum contracts, FIDIC conditions (mainly Red and Yellow Book), M&EP subcontracts, civil engineering construction (e.g., hotel and office buildings; roads in Africa, as well as highways in Eastern Europe; high voltage transmission towers in Gulf country); shipbuilding;
- Manufacture & supply of industrial equipment: e.g,, in renewable energy sector (wind tower), cement industry, mining industry, hydro-electrical industry (turbines);
- Oil & gas sector: Natural gas price review disputes, production sharing agreements for onshore blocks in Libya, Romania and Yemen; power supply agreements; natural gas transmission agreements;
- Hospitality & Luxury goods: Hotel management and operator agreements; luxury resort development project; agency, distributorship, and franchising agreements in the fast-food industries, liquor as much as watchmaker and jewelry industries;
- Investment disputes: Acting in ICSID proceedings for investors against Cameroon, Croatia, and Pakistan, but also for the Democratic Republic of Congo;
- Joint Venture disputes: Regarding rights and obligations of JV partner, e.g., in telecommunications, pharmaceutical and construction industries;
- IP disputes: License agreements in pharmaceutical industry; extension of patent rights under license agreement; know-how transfer agreements; trade secret misappropriation disputes concerning medical devices;
- M&A disputes: Shareholder agreements; disputes arising out of share purchase agreements (reps & warranties) or with respect to call & put options
International clientele
Over the years, Michael had the privilege of doing complex dispute work for clients, from sole entrepreneurs, small corporations to large multinational groups and high net worth individuals, goverments as well as state-owned entities, coming from many different parts of the world:
- From Europe (Austria, Croatia, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK)
- From the Americas (Canada, Colombia, Mexico, the U.S.A.)
- From the Middle East (Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E., Yemen)
- From Africa (Cameroun, Egypt, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Libya, Uganda)
- From Asia (India, Japan, South Korea, Turkmenistan)
Arbitration Rules
The arbitrations handled by Michael were conducted mostly under the Arbitration Rules of the ICC, but also those of the CAS, CEPANI, DIAC, DIS, GICAM, CCJA, LCIA, PCA, SCC, SIAC, VIAC, WIPO and UNCITRAL.
Case experience as counsel and/or arbitrator
Available upon request. Due to the confidential matter of arbitration cases, the names of the parties involved will only be mentioned when the matter is in the public domain.