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John Fellas

Partner

John Fellas is a partner in the New York office of Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, and Co-Chair of the Arbitration Practice and Co-Chair of the International Practice of that firm, practicing in the fields of international litigation and arbitration.

Mr. Fellas has practiced in both the U.S. and England, and as well as being a member of the New York Bar, he is also a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. He has served as counsel, and as chair, sole arbitrator and co-arbitrator, in arbitrations under the AAA, ICC and ad hoc rules. He also serves on the Mediation Panel of the District Court for the Southern District of New York. He has also been retained to act as an expert witness on U.S. law in proceedings in other countries.

He has been recognized for his practice in international arbitration by: Who’s Who Legal – The International Who’s Who Of Business Lawyers; Chambers USA – Guide to America’s Leading Business Lawyers; Chambers Global; The Best Lawyers In America; Euromoney Expert Guides – Best of the Best USA. The most recent editions of Chambers Global and Chambers USA noted that he is considered “a wonderful lawyer with very thorough legal knowledge,” and that he is “one of the best – his reputation is phenomenal and deserved.”

He has also been recognized for his practice in commercial litigation by: Who’s Who Legal – The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers; New York Super Lawyers.

He is co-editor of International Commercial Arbitration in New York (Oxford University Press 2010).

He received a B.A. (Hons.) from the University of Durham, England, and both an LL.M. and an S.J.D. from the Harvard Law School.

Professional Organizations

  • Member, American Law Institute, 2003-Present
  • Member, American Bar Association, Section on International Litigation, 1996-Present
  • Member, International Bar Association, Sections on International Litigation, International Arbitration, 1995-Present
  • Member, London Court of International Arbitration, 2001-Present
  • Member, Panel of International Arbitrators and Conciliators, American Arbitration Association, 1999-Present
  • Member, Mediation Panel, District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1999-Present
  • Member, The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 2003-Present

Recognitions

  • Benchmark Litigation “Local Litigation Star”
  • Avvo Rating “Superb Attorney”
  • Who’s Who Legal (International Arbitration) “A Very Fine Advocate”
  • Legal 500 U.S.A. (International Arbitration) “Recommended by Clients”
  • PLC Which Lawyer? (Dispute Resolution/International Arbitration) “Highly Recommended”
  • Chambers Global and Chambers USA (International Arbitration) “One of the Most Effective Practitioners in the United States”
  • Euromoney Guide to the World’s Leading Experts in Commercial Arbitration
  • Euromoney (International Arbitration) “Best of the Best U.S.A.”
  • Best Lawyers in America (International Arbitration)
  • Global Counsel Dispute Resolution Handbook (International Arbitration)
  • Global Arbitration Review “Identified as one of ‘45 under 45’ Leading International Arbitration Practitioners Worldwide” (February 2006)
  • Who’s Who Legal (Commercial Litigation) “Expertise in Multiple Methods of Dispute Resolution”
  • New York Super Lawyers (Commercial Litigation)
  • Marquis Who’s Who in American Law
  • Marquis Who’s Who in the East
 

Practice Groups and Other Information

Education Information

  • Harvard Law School, S.J.D., 1989
  • Harvard Law School, LL.M., 1985
  • University of Durham, B.A., 1983
    Honors

Bar Admissions

  • New York, 1989
  • Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, 1995

Highlighted Matters As Arbitrator or Mediator

  • Dispute between Canadian company and U.S. company over technology license agreement.
  • Dispute between Chinese company and U.S. company over technology license agreement.
  • Dispute between German company and U.S. company over franchise agreement. (Arbitrator – UNCITRAL Rules)
  • Dispute between Indian company and U.S. company over joint venture. (Arbitrator – ICC Rules)
  • Dispute between French company and U.S. company over technology license agreement. (Arbitrator – AAA International Rules)
  • Dispute between Italian company and U.S. company over franchise agreement. (Arbitrator – AAA International Rules)
  • Dispute between Taiwanese company and U.S. company over distribution agreement. (Arbitrator – AAA International Rules)
  • Dispute between parties to Venezuelan company and U.S. company over distribution agreement. (Arbitrator – AAA International Rules)
  • Dispute between Mexican and U.S. company over joint venture. (Mediator)
  • Dispute between general contractor and sub-contractor. (Mediator)
  • Dispute between copyright holder and publisher over alleged copyright infringement. (Mediator)

Highlighted Matters As Counsel

Arbitration

  • Representation of Indian company in connection with dispute with U.S. company over acquisition agreement in AAA arbitration in New York.
  • Representation of French company in connection with dispute with Mexican company over Mexican joint venture in ICC arbitration in New York.
  • Representation of Korean company in connection with dispute with German company over Polish joint venture in ICC arbitration in Geneva.
  • Representation of U.S. company in dispute with Korean entities in UNCITRAL arbitration in Zurich.
  • Representation of American Arbitration Association in suit in District Court for Southern District of New York arising out of arbitration between Costa Rican entities.
  • Representation of Broadcast Music, Inc. in arbitration before the Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel of the Library of Congress, in case involving the determination of royalties for use of music in BMI’s repertoire by PBS and NPR.
  • In re Arbitration between David Checkosky and Coopers & Lybrand LLP (AAA, New York), representation of accounting company in employment dispute with former partner.
  • In re Arbitration between Syncsort Inc. and Prime Computer Inc., (AAA Boston, Mass. & D. Mass.), representation of software developer in multi-million dollar technology license dispute with computer manufacturer.

Litigation

  • Representation of BVI partnership in dispute alleging securities fraud in District Court for the Southern District of New York.
  • Representation of Japanese company in dispute with U.S. company over breach of contract in New York Supreme Court.
  • Representation of Irish company in dispute with California software company over breach of contract pending in District Court for the Southern District of California.
  • Representation of Big Four accounting firm in securities fraud and RICO action in United States District Court for Eastern District of New York.
  • Representation of Hallmark Incorporated, defendant in a patent infringement dispute in United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
  • Prosecution of significant liability insurance claims on behalf of Skopbank, Helsinki, Finland and its U.S. mortgage subsidiary Union Mortgage Company, Inc., in connection with underlying claims of mortgage fraud.
  • Representation of Skopbank, Helsinki, Finland, and its U.S. mortgage subsidiary Union Mortgage Company, Inc., in connection RICO claims in numerous state and federal courts.
  • Representation of Syncsort Inc. in patent infringement dispute with software developer in United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
  • Representation of London-based copper futures trader in connection with investigation by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission of alleged manipulation of copper futures prices on London Metal Exchange by major New York brokerage company.
  • Representation of Prince Adam Czartoryski in connection with recovery of a painting looted by Nazis during invasion of Poland in case pending in New York Supreme Court.
  • Representation of Calberson, Inc., a French company, in dispute with competitor in United States District Court for Eastern District of New York alleging customer and employee solicitation.
  • Representation of Swiss Bank Corporation in suit arising out of fraud by Maxwell Group of Companies by custodial company in English High Court.
  • Representation of Symantec Corporation, in connection with lawsuit alleging breach of contract by software developer.
  • Representation of Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. in action involving claimed breaches of fiduciary duty and misappropriation of trade secrets by departing managers and their new employer.

Highlighted Matters As Expert Witness In Non-US Proceedings

  • United States v. Nicholas B. Cannar, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Sydney Registry, Common Law Division, 2003 NSWSC 802 [Expert testimony on behalf of the United States Department of Justice]
  • Refco Group Ltd. v. CS First Boston and Standard Bank (London) Ltd., Court of Appeal, Queen’s Bench Division [2001] EWCA CIV 1733 [Expert testimony on behalf of CS First Boston and Standard Bank (London) Ltd.]

News

HHR Secures Sanctions for Frivolous Challenge to Arbitration Award (August 2012)
Chambers USA Rankings (June 2010)
Chambers Rankings (July 2009)
Five HHR Partners named in the 2007 International Who's Who of Commercial Arbtration (October 2006)
John Fellas featured in Latin Lawyer magazine (July 2006)
George Davidson, John Fellas and Steven Hammond have been nominated for The International Who’s Who of Commercial Litigation Lawyers 2006 (March 2006)
John Fellas has been named one of Global Arbitration Review’s “45 under 45” (March 2006)
Chambers Guide Cites Arbitration (January 2006)
Townsend, Baum, Fellas and Hammond named to The International Who’s Who of Commercial Arbitration (January 2006)
Business Law International published a review of Transatlantic Commercial Litigation edited by John Fellas (November 2005)
John Townsend, Axel Baum, John Fellas and Steve Hammond were listed in the 2005 edition of The International Who's Who of Commercial Arbitration (August 2005)
Am Law ‘Arbitration Scoreboard’ (June 2005)
Four Hughes Hubbard Attorneys Named This Year's Who's Who of Commercial Arbitration (April 2005)
Sony Ericsson Win (April 2005)
Columbia Court Victory (February 2005)
Hughes Hubbard Hellenic (October 2004)
John Fellas Appointed Editor of Transnational Litigation Book (December 2003)
Second Wind: Cover Story by The American Lawyer Magazine (August 2003)
John Fellas Elected to American Law Institute Membership (May 2003)
Hughes Hubbard Wins Dismissal of Securities Fraud Action (October 2002)
Fellas Articles on Transnational Litigation Published in NYLJ (September 2002)

Highlighted Publications

Articles

  • “A Fair and Efficient International Arbitration Process,” (in Chinese, translated by Cui Qi-fan) in Vol.8, No. 2 Journal of Huzhou Vocational and Technological College 30 (2010)
  • “A Commentary on the International Centre for Dispute Resolution International Arbitration Rules,” Concise International Arbitration (Loukas A. Mistellis, Ed. 2010)
  • “A Fair and Efficient International Arbitration Process,” in Handbook on International Arbitration Practice (American Arbitration Association 2010)
  • “Negligence in The Air: International Greenhouse Emissions Litigation,” New York Law Journal (January 21, 2010)
  • “Feasibility of Class Arbitration,” in Contemporary Issues In International Arbitration and Mediation (Arthur W. Rovine, Ed. 2009)
  • “Using U.S. Courts In Aid of Arbitration Proceedings in Other Countries,” International Arbitration Law Review (Vol. 11, No.1, 2008)
  • “Using Section 1782 In International Arbitration,” Mealey’s International Arbitration Report (February 2007)
  • “The Enjoining of Brazilian Lawsuits by U.S. Courts,” Revista de Arbitragęm e Mediação (April 2006)
  • “Anti-Suit Injunctions in Aid of Arbitration,” Mealey’s International Arbitration Report (April 2005)
  • “The Supreme Court Rules Section on 1782,” New York Law Journal (August 18, 2004)
  • “Strategy in International Litigation,” International Quarterly (Vol. 16, No. 3, July 2004)
  • “A New Standard for International Anti-Suit Injunctions,” New York Law Journal (May 13, 2004)
  • “A Fair and Efficient International Arbitration Process,” Dispute Resolution Journal (Vol. 59, No. 1, February – April, 2004)
  • “The Scope of Judicial Review of Arbitral Awards,” New York Law Journal (November 7, 2003)
  • “Procedures for Gathering Evidence In The United States for Use In Korean Litigation,” Korean Bar Association Journal for Human Rights and Justice (April 2003) (in Korean) (with Haksoo Ko)
  • “Lessons on Enforcing Foreign Judgments in the United States,” New York Law Journal (September 27, 2002)
  • “Obtaining Evidence Abroad for Use in U.S. Litigation,” New York Law Journal (August 22, 2002) (with Barry Donnelly)
  • “Weighing the Plaintiff’s Right to Choice of Forum,” New York Law Journal (April 12, 2002)
  • “Obtaining Evidence Abroad For Use In International Litigation: Evidence Located in The United States,” International Business Lawyer (July/August 2001)
  • “Discovery Of Evidence Located In The United States For Use In Non-U.S. Patent Litigation,” New York Law Journal (September 27, 1999)
  • “Laches As A Defence To Trademark and Trade Dress Infringement In The United States,” European Intellectual Property Review (Vol. 21, Issue 8, August 1999)
  • “The Patentability of Software-Related Inventions In The United States: State Street Bank and Trust Co. v. Signature Financial Group,” European Intellectual Property Review (Vol. 21, Issue 6, June 1999)
  • “Circuit Rules Foreign Discovery Law Inapplicable In Arbitration Proceedings,” New York Law Journal (March 15, 1999)
  • “Tiering of Ownership Interests Under The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act,” New York Law Journal (April 8, 1997)
  • “Service of Process Under The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act,” New York Law Journal (December 23, 1996)
  • “Do Electronic Links Support Personal Jurisdiction?” New York Law Journal, Law and the Internet Supplement (September 30, 1996)
  • “The Extraterritorial Reach of US Law,” International Commercial Litigation (September, 1996)
  • “Trading with the US—Forum and Choice of Law Clauses,” New Zealand Law Journal (August, 1996)
  • “Assertion of Jurisdiction,” New Law Journal (July 5, 1996)
  • “Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments,” International Commercial Litigation (March, 1996)
  • “Give Me Your Documents,” New Law Journal (January 12, 1996)
  • “Discovery For Foreign Litigants,” International Commercial Litigation (September, 1995)

Book

  • Co-Editor, “International Commercial Arbitration in New York” (Oxford University Press 2010)
  • Editor, “Transatlantic Commercial Litigation and Arbitration” (Oceana 2004)

Lectures

  • “International Litigation,” in New Orleans on September 23, 2010, at Federal Bar Association Annual Convention, sponsored by the Federal Bar Association.
  • “Using New York Courts In Aid of Your Arbitration Proceeding Outside of the United States,” at seminar Hot Topics in International Arbitration 2010 in London on September 20, 2010, sponsored by SJ Berwin.
  • “Commencing an International Commercial Arbitration,” at workshop Commencing an International Commercial Arbitration: Fundamentals and Strategy in Dallas on June 17, 2010, sponsored by the Institute of Transnational Arbitration.
  • “A Debate on Stolt-Nielsen, Class Arbitration and International Parties,” in New York City, on April 15, 2010, sponsored by American Bar Association.
  • “Arbitral Procedure: Back To Basics,” in Arbitration and Crisis -- the IX CBAr International Arbitration Congress, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on October 20, 2009, sponsored by CBAr - Comitê Brasileiro de Arbitragem and CAMARB.
  • “Canada and the United States: A Comparison of Trends in Arbitration Practice North and South of the 49th,” in Managing International Risk in Commercial and Treaty Arbitration, in Toronto, on October 16, 2009, sponsored by the ICC.
  • “Terms of Reference and its Importance in Drafting ICC Arbitral Awards,” in ICC Arbitral Awards: Defining Features, in New York, on September 14, 2009, sponsored by the ICC.
  • “The Enforcement of Arbitral Awards,” in Specialised Arbitration and Advocacy Skills in The International Minerals and Hydrocarbons Extraction Industries, in London, on September 9, 2009, sponsored by the University of Dundee, Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy
  • “Parallel Litigation,” in Transnational Litigation and Arbitration, in New York, on April 18, 2009, sponsored by the Journal on Private International Law.
  • Keynote Address, The First Annual Penn Law International Arbitration, in Philadelphia, on October 15, 2008, sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
  • Speaker, A debate covering litigation funding and access to justice, in London, on September 24, 2008, sponsored by The Commercial Litigators Forum.
  • “Distortions in Contemporary Arbitration: The Problems of Becoming Popular,” in Rio de Janeiro, on August 20, 2008, sponsored by the 73rd International Law Association Biennial Conference.
  • “Class Arbitration,” at the 2008 Fordham Conference on International Arbitration and Mediation, in New York on June 18, 2008, sponsored by Fordham Law School.
  • “Establishing the Authority of the Panel,” in London on March 31, 2008, in Managing The Arbitral Process, sponsored by the School of International Arbitration, London and the ICC.
  • “The Preparatory Conference/Preliminary Meeting,” in Sao Paolo on July 27, 2007, in Arbitrating in Brazil Under the ICDR Rules and Administrative System sponsored by the International Centre for Dispute Resolution and the Comite Brasileiro de Arbitragem.
  • “The Arbitrator As Provider of Services,” in Stockholm on May 11, 2007 in Arbitrators: Private Judges, Service Providers or Both, sponsored by Stockholm University, Department of Law.
  • “Anti-Suit Injunctions: Can They Imperil The Development of International Arbitration?” in Miami on January 7, 2007, in Dealing With Challenges In International Arbitration: A Comparative Approach, sponsored by the University of Miami School of Law, International and Comparative Law Review.
  • “Transnational Litigation in U. S. Courts, The Fundamentals,” in Washington D.C.,on November 14, 2006, on International Law and Litigation for U.S. Judges, sponsored by the Federal Judicial Center and the American Society for International Law.
  • “Comparative Judicial Practice,” in Washington, D.C., on November 14, 2006, in International Law and Litigation for U.S. Judges, sponsored by the Federal Judicial Center and the American Society for International law.
  • “The Use of Experts in International Arbitration,” in New York on October 11, 2006, in the International Arbitrator’s Deliberations and Determinations: The Common Law/Civil Law Gap: The Issues and How International Arbitration May Resolve Them, sponsored by the International Centre for Dispute Resolution.
  • “Nomination of Arbitrators: Required Disclosures and Potential Challenges,” in Philadelphia on April 6, 2006, in International Arbitration – The Dispute Resolution Alternative of Today’s Global Economy, sponsored by University of Pennsylvania Law School Journal of International Law and Policy.
  • “Drafting International Arbitration Clauses,” in New York on January 26, 2006, in The Globalization of ADR: What Every New York Neutral and Advocate Needs To Know, sponsored by the New York State Bar Association, Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution.
  • “Enhancing Predictability Through Knowledge and Your Arbitration Clause,” in New York on November 17, 2005, in International Commercial Arbitration in Latin America, sponsored by the American Arbitration Association.
  • “From The Terms of Reference to the Enforcement of the Award,” in Miami on November 6, 2005, in the conference International Commercial Arbitration in Latin America: The ICC Perspective, sponsored by the ICC International Court of Arbitration.
  • “How to Handle a Construction Case under the International Arbitration Rules of the AAA,” in Washington, D.C. on September 14, 2005, in the Second Annual Seminar on International Commercial Arbitration, sponsored by the International Arbitration Program, American University College of Law.
  • “The Art of Arbitrating,” in Dallas on June 16, 2005, at workshop The Art of Arbitrating: Mock Arbitration Proceedings and Commentary, sponsored by the Institute of Transnational Arbitration.
  • “Enhancing Your Practice: New Trends and Developments,” in Charlottesville, Virginia, on June 7, 2005, at conference, Maximizing the Benefits of the ICC System, sponsored by the ICC International Court of Arbitration.
  • “Ethics Rules Applied in Arbitration,” in New York City on January 24, 2005, at conference, Is Commercial Arbitration The New Litigation? Working In The Changing World of Arbitration, sponsored by the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.
  • “Recent Developments in International Arbitration,” in New York on April 14, 2004, at conference, Beyond Globalization: Issues and Opportunities, sponsored by American Bar Association Section of International Law and Practice, Spring Meeting.
  • “Drafting Arbitration Clauses,” in New York City on March 16, 2004, at conference, International Business Litigation and Arbitration, sponsored by Practising Law Institute.
  • “The Arbitration Proceedings: Potential Problems to Avoid,” in New York on March 12, 2004, at conference, International Commercial Arbitration in Latin America, sponsored by International Centre for Dispute Resolution.
  • “Resolving International Business Disputes,” in Barcelona on June 3, 2003, at conference, Transatlantic Business Transactions: Choice of Law, Jurisdiction and Judgments, sponsored by Joint Association of American Law Schools and European Law Faculties Association, held at the University of Barcelona.
  • “Service of Process and Obtaining Evidence in International Litigation,” in New York on July 26, 2002, for Justices, Commercial Division, New York Supreme Court County of New York.
  • “Gathering Evidence and Obtaining/Enforcing Judgments,” in Toronto on April 23, 2002, at conference, Business Litigation From A Cross-Border Perspective, sponsored by Ontario Bar Association (Association du Barreau de L’Ontario).
  • “Strategies in International Litigation,” in New York on November 13, 2001, at conference, Recent Developments In International Litigation, sponsored by the New York State Bar Association and New York University.
  • “Requests Between Civil Law and Common Law Countries,” in Dublin, on May 23-25, 2001, at conference, Obtaining Evidence Abroad For Use In International Litigation, sponsored by the International Bar Association.
  • “Procedure and Strategy in International Litigation,” in Washington, D.C. on April 4, 2000, at conference, International Litigation and Arbitration: New Developments and Strategies, sponsored by American Society of International Law.
  • “Proposed Hague Jurisdiction and Judgments Convention,” in New York City on November 5, 1999, at conference, International Law in 2000: A Bridge Between the 20th & 21st Centuries, sponsored by Association of the Bar of the City of New York.
  • Chair and Lecturer, Practising Law Institute, Program on “International Business Litigation and Arbitration.”
June 11, 2012PLI International Litigation 2012
CLE Program
New York, New York

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