Pierre R.Heitzmann

Of Counsel

Dubai + 971.4.709.8414 Paris + 33.1.56.59.39.39

Pierre Heitzmann's main areas of practice are international arbitration and complex cross-border litigation related to, inter alia, construction and engineering projects, joint ventures, investment disputes, license agreements, distribution agreements, and share and purchase agreements. He has represented private companies, sovereigns, and state-owned entities in international disputes.

Pierre acts both as arbitrator and counsel in international arbitration proceedings, including but not limited to investment treaty and commercial arbitration proceedings under the ICC, ICSID, DIAC, SCC, DIFC-LCIA, and UNCITRAL rules. He is registered with the DIFC Courts with full rights of audience. Pierre's recent representations include representing a Saudi client in DIFC-LCIA proceedings relating to the construction of a power plant in Saudi Arabia; representing a telecom investor in a DIFC Courts proceeding and in a parallel arbitration proceeding relating to an investment in Iraq; representing a Saudi company against its subcontractor in relation to tunneling works in Saudi Arabia; advising the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) in reforming its Arbitration Act and in drafting its first Mediation Act; representing a Luxembourg company that specializes in the financing and construction of solar projects in ICC proceedings in Geneva; representing a Luxembourg holding company in the banking sector against Cameroon in ICSID proceedings; and representing a pharmaceutical company in an ICC arbitration in New York in relation to a development agreement.

Pierre is the author of many articles and case notes published in arbitration periodicals. Before joining the Dubai Office, he was a lecturer on international contract law at the Paris Institute of Political Sciences (Sciences Po).

Experience

  • Telecommunications company arbitrates shareholder disputes relating to ownership of affiliated companyJones Day has represented a telecommunications company in several arbitration proceedings relating to shareholder disputes connected with the ownership of an affiliated company in the Middle East.
  • Emirati contractor disputes termination of contract in Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaJones Day advised an Emirati contractor in a dispute before the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) and the Saudi Courts arising out of an alleged wrongful termination of certain design and build works for the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh.
  • Pharmaceutical client prevails in ICC arbitration arising from royalty disputeJones Day served as lead counsel for a pharmaceutical client and the licensor in a cross-border arbitration.
  • World leading food and liquid packaging group of companies obtains favorable outcome in shareholder disputeJones Day successfully represented a world leading food and liquid packaging group of companies as claimants in an ICC arbitration seated in Geneva against a Saudi shareholder in a shareholders' dispute.
  • Saudi subsidiary of a world leading food and liquid packaging company obtains awards in two ad hoc arbitrationsJones Day successfully represented the Saudi subsidiary of a world leading food and liquid packaging company in two separate ad hoc arbitrations seated in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) against two Saudi shareholders.
  • Global pharmaceutical client wins ICC arbitration arising from collaboration disputeJones Day successfully defended a multinational, pharmaceutical client against a $300-plus million breach-of-contract claim arising from a collaboration agreement and that alleged among other things a failure to use commercially reasonable efforts.
  • Capital Financial Holdings arbitrates before ICSIDJones Day represented Capital Financial Holdings Luxembourg S.A., a Luxembourg investor, in arbitration before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes ("ICSID").
  • Global pharmaceutical company seeks over $1 billion in ICC arbitration related to licensing agreementJones Day successfully represented a global pharmaceutical company seeking over $1 billion in a licensing agreement dispute over royalty payments and the application of U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Brulotte and Kimble, among other claims.
  • Middle-East construction company assists in enforcement of first demand bank guaranteeJones Day assisted a major Middle-East construction company in emergency court proceedings for the enforcement of a first demand bank guarantee issued by a leading Italian bank in favor of the key contractor.
  • OHADA reforms arbitration and mediation lawsJones Day is advising the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa, OHADA, in reforming its arbitration act and creating a mediation act.
  • Leading French industrial group obtains recognition and enforcement of ICC award in Morocco against two Moroccan companiesJones Day successfully obtained the enforcement of an ICC award in Morocco for a leading French industrial group against two Moroccan companies following the termination of a contract for the delivery of a cement plant.
  • Leading French automotive manufacturer obtains ICC award against Korean company for breach of joint venture agreementJones Day obtained an ICC award issued in Tokyo for a leading French automotive manufacturer against a Korean company for breach of a joint venture agreement and misappropriation of know-how.
  • International contractor arbitrates joint venture agreement involving airport construction project in DubaiJones Day is acting for an international contractor in a DIFC/LCIA arbitration related to the determination of a joint venture agreement relating to works carried out on an airport construction project in Dubai.
  • Japanese pharmaceutical company prevails in ICC arbitrationJones Day successfully represented a Japanese pharmaceutical company in an ICC arbitration with a U.S. pharmaceutical company regarding a contractual and intellectual property dispute in France.
  • Major construction company defends against ICC arbitration concerning gas pipeline in QatarJones Day is acting for a major construction company in an ICC arbitration brought by a subcontractor in relation to additional works performed on a gas pipeline in Qatar.
  • Japanese pharmaceutical company arbitrates intellectual property dispute with U.S. companyJones Day is representing a Japanese pharmaceutical company involved in an ICC arbitration with a U.S. pharmaceutical company regarding intellectual property rights.
  • Leading Japanese pharmaceutical company seeks compensation against generic manufacturersJones Day is representing a leading Japanese pharmaceutical company in claims against several generic manufacturers involving the launch of products in France.
  • Finnish industrial group in arbitration with a private investor group over the sale of a group of companiesJones Day represented a Finnish industrial group in a dispute over the sale of a group of companies to a private investor group from the United Kingdom and France in a Frankfurt-based, ICC arbitration in English, under English and German law.
  • Onyx prevails in ICC arbitrations claiming breach of representations and warranties for waste facility purchased in MexicoJones Day represented Onyx S.A., a French subsidiary of Veolia Environnement involved in international waste management, with regard to a dispute that arose after it acquired a hazardous waste landfill in Mexico in 2000.
  • Additional Speaking Engagements

    • June 10, 2015
      Qatar & Middle East: International Arbitration Summit
    • April 14, 2015
      Global Disputes Seminar - Saving Time and Costs: A Roundtable Discussion On The New ICC Rules and Alternative Arbitration Rules in The MENA Region
    • March 6, 2014
      2014 International Arbitration Seminar - Tokyo
    • 25 novembre 2011
      Le nouveau réglement d'arbitrage de la CCI : les changements majeurs à prendre en compte pour la résolution de vos litiges
    • 25 novembre 2011
      Le nouveau règlement d'arbitrage de la CCI: les changements majeurs à prendre en compte pour la résolution de vos litiges
    • May 22, 2008
      Arbitration and EC Competition Law - Legal effects on arbitral awards, Swedish Arbitration Association and Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce
    • 9 novembre 2007
      L'entreprise en difficulté et l'arbitrage, Les modes alternatifs de règlement des litiges dans la vie de l'entreprise
    • September 21, 2007
      Confidentiality and privileges in cross-border legal practice: the need for a global standard? ASA Annual Meeting
    • August 23, 2007
      Insolvency Across the Borders: the Impact of Bankruptcy Proceedings on Arbitration Proceedings, AIJA Congress
    • 22 mars 2007
      Ajustements de prix post-closing : les nouvelles tendances
    • March 22, 2006
      Choice of Forum for Dispute Resolution (EFE) French Business Law in English
    • December 8, 2005
      International Arbitration: arbitration agreements and the conduct of arbitral proceedings (EFE)
    • June 23, 2005
      Dispute resolution in France (EFE) Paris, France
    • March 24, 2005
      Domestic and International Arbitration: keeping the procedure under control and ensuring the enforcement of the award (LJA/Lamy)
    • March 24, 2005
      Arbitrage interne et international - Comment sécuriser la procédure arbitrale? Seminar organized by La Lettre des Juristes d'Affaires (Les Matinées-Débats)