Dispute resolution and arbitration.
Commercial dispute strategy, Danish litigation, international arbitration, settlement and cross-border enforcement.
When a commercial matter becomes contested, the first decision is rarely whether to sue. The first decision is how to preserve the position: evidence, forum, timing, settlement leverage, interim protection, cost exposure and enforcement route.
Moore Law advises on Danish and cross-border disputes where legal strategy, commercial judgement and procedural discipline must work together. The work includes Danish litigation strategy, DIAC, ICC and UNCITRAL/ad hoc arbitration, legacy DIFC-LCIA clause review, settlement and enforcement coordination.
Last reviewed:
The dispute-resolution clause, governing law, evidence and enforcement route should be reviewed before any escalation.
A dispute should be assessed before it is escalated.
The strongest dispute strategy is not always the most aggressive. In some cases, the right move is an immediate injunction, arbitration notice or court claim. In others, it is a carefully drafted letter, evidence preservation, standstill agreement, mediation or commercial settlement.
The correct choice depends on the contract, forum clause, governing law, assets, counterparties, evidence, cost position and commercial objective.
The question is not whether the client is angry. It is what outcome is worth pursuing.
First 14 days of a dispute.
- Preserve documents, messages, invoices, board minutes and correspondence.
- Identify the governing law and dispute-resolution clause.
- Check notice requirements and cure periods.
- Identify assets and enforcement jurisdictions.
- Avoid admissions in informal messages.
- Assess limitation periods and procedural deadlines.
- Consider whether interim relief or urgent protection is needed.
- Decide whether settlement, mediation, litigation or arbitration is the correct first move.
The first hostile email is often drafted before anyone has read the dispute clause. That is usually a mistake.
Forums and methods.
Danish litigation
Commercial disputes before Danish courts, including contract, shareholder, professional-liability, liquidation and tax-related litigation, coordinated with court-admitted counsel where required.
International arbitration
DIAC, ICC, UNCITRAL/ad hoc and other arbitration frameworks, including clause review, pre-arbitration strategy, procedure and enforcement.
UAE and DIFC-related strategy
Coordination with UAE counsel for Dubai Courts, DIFC Court-related strategy and UAE enforcement issues.
Legacy DIFC-LCIA clauses
Review of older DIFC-LCIA clauses in light of Dubai Decree No. 34 of 2021 and transition to DIAC administration unless parties agree otherwise.
Mediation and settlement
Structured settlement, mediation, standstill agreements, payment arrangements, releases and confidentiality mechanics.
Enforcement
Strategy for converting judgments, arbitral awards and settlement agreements into practical recovery.
Types of disputes.
- Contract disputes
- Shareholder and JV disputes
- Tax disputes reaching the courts
- Professional-liability claims
- Contested liquidation and insolvency-adjacent disputes
- Cross-border payment disputes
- Distribution and agency disputes
- Real estate and investment-related commercial disputes
- Post-M&A warranty and earn-out disputes
- Enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards
Common questions.
Should I start with a legal letter?
Only after the contract, forum clause, evidence and commercial objective have been reviewed. A legal letter can help, but it can also damage the position if sent too early or framed incorrectly.
Is arbitration always better for cross-border disputes?
No. Arbitration can be useful where neutrality, confidentiality and award enforcement matter, but it is not automatically faster or cheaper.
What should I do if the contract says DIFC-LCIA?
The clause should be reviewed immediately. Older DIFC-LCIA clauses require analysis in light of the transition to DIAC administration and the specific wording of the contract.
Can Moore Law appear in UAE courts?
UAE court appearance work is handled by locally admitted UAE counsel. Moore Law coordinates strategy and substance where the matter has Danish, cross-border or firm-client context.
When should settlement be considered?
At the beginning and throughout. Settlement is not weakness if it achieves a better commercial result than contested proceedings.
Related: Contract law · International business law · M&A and joint ventures · Tax cases · Contact the Danish practice.
Arbitration rules, model clauses and enforcement frameworks should always be checked against the current institutional and convention sources before a clause is relied upon.
- LCIA update on DIFC-LCIA
- DIAC Arbitration Rules 2022
- DIAC Model Clause
- UNCITRAL — New York Convention status
External government and institutional sources. Programme figures and regulatory positions should be verified against these before they are relied upon.