Dr Alessandro Covi

Alessandro is a dispute resolution lawyer specializing in international arbitration proceedings and cross-border disputes. He has acted in arbitrations under various rules, such as ICC, DIS, SCC, UNCITRAL, CIETAC, NAI, ICSID, as well as ad-hoc arbitrations. Alessandro's practice focuses on complex technical disputes in the field of constructions, infrastructure, licencing of technology, and natural resources. Additionally, Alessandro has significant experience in representing sovereigns and corporations in investor-state-arbitration proceedings on the basis of bilateral or multilateral investment treaties, and regularly advises clients on public international law issues.

Besides his counsel work, Alessandro regularly acts as arbitrator in commercial disputes. Moreover, Alessandro is one of the co-chairs of the DIS40, the young practitioners’ initiative of the German arbitration institution DIS.

Alessandro is an Italian national qualified in Germany. He has studied in Passau, Münster, and Krasnoyarsk (Russia) and lived in Brazil. He speaks German, Italian, English, Portuguese and Russian.

What others say

Shortlisted as Rising Star for international arbitration
Legal 500 Germany 2024

Alessandro Covi is one of the go-to persons for investment and commercial arbitration
Legal Germany 500 2024

Recognized as leading lawyer for Arbitration in Germany (Top-Anwalt für Schiedsverfahren) 
Wirtschaftswoche 2022/2023

One of the most recommended lawyers for arbitration and mediation
Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers® 'Germany's Best Lawyers 2023'

Rising Star for commercial arbitration in Germany
Legal Media Group’s Expert Guides, The World’s Leading Lawyers  2022

Recent work

• Representing the owner of a offshore wind farm in NAI arbitration proceedings against the manufacturer of the wind turbines regarding the rectification of defects (Dutch seat, Dutch law applicable)
• Representing a German manufacturer of industrial bottling units in a EUR 123 million ICC arbitration against the Turkish customer arising from alleged defects of the equipment (seat in Switzerland, Swiss law applicable)
• Representing a German manufacturer of medical devices in a EUR 71 million ICC arbitration brought by a Brazilian competitor for trade secret infringements (Brazilian seat, German law applicable)
• Representing an English manufacturer of catalysts in a EUR 9 million DIS arbitration against the German co-owner of patents for exhaust aftertreatment systems for Diesel engines concerning royalty payments (German seat and law)
• Representing a German industrial group in a EUR 10 million ICC arbitration against the south-Korean EPC contractor in a dispute arising from the construction of a fertilizer plant in the UAE (seat in England, English law applicable)
• Representing a German investor in a EUR 380 million treaty arbitration against the Republic of Kosovo in a dispute arising from the failed privatization of the national telecommunication provider
• Representing a central-Asian state in a USD 16 million treaty arbitration brought by the Turkish operator of an airport
• Representing a central-Asian state in proceedings concerning the set aside of a USD 500 million treaty award secured by a Moldovan investor in the national oil and gas sector at the seat of arbitration, representing the same state in recognition and enforcement proceedings concerning the same award in the UK, the US, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy and Sweden

Curriculum vitae

• Volunteer work in a NGO in São Paulo, Brazil, 2002 to 2003
• Legal studies in Passau, Münster and Krasnoyarsk (Russia), 2003 to 2009
• Working on a PhD dissertation in international investment law and working part time in a boutique law firm in Hamburg, 2009 to 2013
• Legal clerkship in Hamburg, including, amongst others, training with a leading arbitration boutique in Hamburg and a leading arbitration boutique in Milan, as well as training with the secretariat of the energy charter treaty in Brussels, 2013 to 2015
• Practicing commercial and investment arbitration in leading international law firms in Frankfurt, 2015 to 2024
• Practicing international arbitration at Kapellmann and Partners in Frankfurt and Hamburg since 2024