Introduction

Judith helps clients resolve high-stakes commercial and cross-border disputes through litigation and arbitration across a broad range of industries.

Dr. Judith Sawang is a partner in our dispute resolution practice in Frankfurt with a particular focus on complex commercial and cross-border disputes. She acts as counsel before state courts in litigation, including international recognition and enforcement. She also acts as counsel and arbitrator in arbitration proceedings (ICC, SCC, DIS, LCIA), often in international settings.

Her practice comprises disputes in corporate and commercial law including shareholder disputes, post M&A, distribution, construction, banking and finance. Judith advises clients across a broad range of industry sectors including banks/financial institutions, infrastructure, insurance, health sciences, commodities, telecommunications and the automotive industry.

Judith has been repeatedly recognised for her litigation and arbitration work.

In the German legal market publication JUVE, Judith has been repeatedly "frequently recommended" for dispute resolution as "articulate, to the point, friendly, reliable, confident – really brilliant" (by a client) and as an "excellent counsel, very committed and very good in cross-examination" (by a competitor). She is praised for her "reliable, high-quality work" and described as "very good in conducting litigation proceedings."

Judith has also been repeatedly recognized by Who's Who Legal as Future Leader Arbitration, with clients and competitors commenting "Judith is a class-act in the arbitration market", "an outstanding disputes lawyer" and "the sharpest arbitration lawyer in Germany". Her peers and clients further noted "Her commitment to client service is second to none" and "She is very precise and a pleasure to work with".

Judith has also been repeatedly ranked as Counsel by Chambers, where clients note: “You can count on Judith Sawang for the highest-quality legal service.” She was also repeatedly recognized by Handelsblatt as one of the foremost lawyers in Germany for Arbitration and Mediation, International Arbitration and Litigation. She was further repeatedly recognized by WirtschaftsWoche as TOP Lawyer in the area of arbitration.

Judith is a member of the Executive Board of the German Arbitration Institute (DIS). She has published in the area of arbitral law and is a regular speaker at national and international conferences. Judith is a co-author of the practice commentary by Nedden/Herzberg/Kopetzki on the rules of the German Arbitration Institute (DIS). She is a member of several professional associations including the German Arbitration Institute (DIS), HK45, and the IBA.

Judith studied law at the Universities of Heidelberg, Melbourne, Auckland (LL.M.) and Marburg (Dr. iur.). She held several scholarships by the German Academic Scholarship Foundation and was awarded a scholarship prize by the German Arbitration Institute (DIS) for her Ph.D. thesis on the protection of business secrets and the right to be heard in arbitral proceedings.

Judith has been admitted to the bar in 2006. Prior to joining Ashurst Perkins Coie, she was with a boutique law firm and with Hengeler Mueller.

  • Communal energy provider | Represented against an international investment bank in a claim for damages for mis-selling of derivatives and wrong advice including comprehensive witness examinations over two instances (€220m).
  • Russian insurance company | Represented against an investment bank in the context of the extraordinary termination of ruble denominated asset-linked securities in the context of sanctions by the US against Russia (€5m).
  • German real estate company | Represented against a lawsuit brought by a subsidiary for compensation of losses based on a profit transfer and control agreement (€88m).
  • Air freight company | Represented in litigation brought against the insolvency administrator of the estate of an airport for damages (€8m).
  • IT Software company | Represented against several lawsuits brought by a minority shareholder in the context of shareholder contestation and actio pro socio claims.
  • Software integration company | Co-represented a company for software integration against a claim for damages before a court in Cape Town in cooperation with a South African law firm (€496m).
  • A sovereign state | Represented against claims for liability in an ICSID arbitration before the PCA at The Hague (€1.5 billion).
  • US manufacturer of audio and entertainment electronics | Represented in Post-M&A ICC arbitration proceedings in connection with variable purchase price payment claims by the sellers (€20m).
  • Brazilian mining company and manufacturer of refractory materials | Represented in ICC arbitration proceedings against a Swedish distributor in connection with the termination of a distribution agreement (€8m).
  • German automotive supplier | Represented in litigation brought by OEM before the commercial court in Stuttgart against contractual and warranty claims (€78m).
  • International mattress and home textiles company | Represented the founders in a complex DIS arbitration against the majority shareholder concerning exit processes, founder buyout rights and put options under a shareholders’ agreement (€296m).
  • Australian listed infrastructure company | Represented in an ICC arbitration in connection with defect claims arising under an EPC contract for a wind farm involving sub-suppliers from multiple jurisdictions and complex issues of applicable law, insurance and German insolvency law (AUD 130m+).
  • International medical technology company | Represented in a distribution agreement dispute with a Hong Kong-based distributor claiming damages for alleged breach of contract following an M&A integration; claim completely dismissed by the Munich Regional Court I, appeal pending (€68m).
  • International skincare company | Sitting as co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration between a US distributor and a German skincare company concerning the termination of a long-standing exclusive distribution agreement and claims under US franchise law (USD 55–80m).