Giorgio A. Sassine

Partner | Chair, International Arbitration Practice and Construction Disuputes

Los Angeles Office
515 S. Figueroa Street, Suite 1235, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Giorgio A. Sassine is a Partner at Gavrilov & Brooks, Chair of the firm’s International Arbitration and Construction Disputes Practices, and an Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, where he teaches the Theory of International Arbitration. He represents companies, investors, sovereign entities, founders, and high-net-worth individuals in high-stakes international arbitrations and cross-border disputes throughout California, the United States, and around the world.

Drawing on experience gained in Beirut and Paris, Giorgio is regularly retained as lead counsel in disputes involving parties from North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. He has appeared in arbitrations administered under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), American Arbitration Association (AAA), JAMS, and Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), as well as in ad hoc proceedings seated in California, New York, London, Paris, Dubai, and other major arbitration centers.

Practice Areas and Industries

Giorgio’s practice centers on four principal areas:

Shareholder, Business, and Fraud Disputes

Giorgio handles high-stakes business litigation involving fraud and fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary duty, shareholder and partnership disputes, business divorces and founder disputes, trade secret and unfair competition claims, fraudulent transfer and asset recovery actions, civil conspiracy claims, and claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). He represents businesses and investors in disputes arising from failed ventures, ownership battles, financial misconduct, and complex commercial fraud schemes spanning multiple jurisdictions, and is adept at coordinating litigation strategy across state courts, federal courts, bankruptcy proceedings, arbitration tribunals, and foreign jurisdictions, including international asset tracing and judgment enforcement.

Technology Disputes

Giorgio represents technology companies, investors, and counterparties in disputes involving software and licensing agreements, international distribution arrangements, telecommunications, and joint ventures, with growing experience in matters involving artificial intelligence and data center development. His technology practice frequently involves cross-border elements — foreign investors, parallel proceedings, and enforcement across jurisdictions — and he writes and speaks regularly on the arbitration of technology disputes and the use of AI in dispute resolution.

Construction and Design Disputes

Giorgio represents owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, engineers, and architects in disputes arising from major construction and infrastructure projects, including delay, disruption, defect, design, and termination claims. His experience spans airports, highways, manufacturing facilities, dams, hospitals, and sports facilities, in arbitration and litigation in the United States and internationally, and he is recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for Construction Law.

Energy and Renewable Energy Disputes

Giorgio represents parties in disputes involving conventional and renewable energy projects, including clean energy development, power generation, and energy infrastructure. He has handled arbitrations involving energy production facilities and public utilities, and is a frequent commentator on the disputes landscape surrounding California’s energy transition, including offshore wind development.

Representative Experience

◆ Represented joint venture against subcontractors over delay and disruption claims arising from a $2.5 billion Los Angeles International Airport infrastructure project.

◆ Represented Dutch medical device company against U.S. distributor in an ICC arbitration seated in London.

◆ Represented owner of $50 million residence in AAA arbitration seated in Los Angeles against general contractor and subcontractor.

◆ Represented Swedish autonomous vehicle components design-manufacturer in ICDR international arbitration seated in San Francisco.

◆ Represented veterinarian service provider in AAA arbitration seated in Los Angeles against publicly traded large pet store.

◆ Represented Latin American state-owned entity in ICC international arbitration seated in New York against multinational shipping company in joint venture dispute.

◆ Represented Italian battery storage manufacturer in JAMS international arbitration seated in California against multinational clean energy company.

◆ Represented Spanish engineer in ICDR international arbitration seated in California against multinational clean energy company relating to design and installation of material components for giga project.

◆ Represented U.S. renewable energy company in ICDR international arbitration seated in California against public utility company arising out of onshore wind power purchase agreement.

◆ Represented Dutch bank and its U.S. subsidiary in multiple proceedings in the U.S. District Court for Nevada against U.S. and U.K.-based merchants.

◆ Represented Dutch bank, and its U.S. and Hong Kong subsidiaries, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against U.S. company arising out of financial and strategic partnership agreements.

◆ Represented top-5 EPCM contractor in an international arbitration over the design and construction of a multibillion-dollar polysilicon manufacturing facility in the United States.

◆ Represented Lebanese subcontractor in an ICC arbitration seated in Qatar involving delay and breach claims connected to a major Middle East airport security package.

◆ Represented French engineering firm in an international arbitration over the design of water treatment infrastructure at an Australian uranium mine.

◆ Represented a technology company in an ICC arbitration seated in New York against a U.S. Fortune 500 company.

Leadership and Recognition

Giorgio is a recognized thought leader in international dispute resolution, serving in leadership roles including:

◆ Board Member and Executive Committee, California Arbitration, Inc. (CalArb).

◆ Board Member, Stockholm University’s International Commercial Arbitration Law Alumni Association.

Recognitions:

◆ Lexology Index: International Arbitration Future Leaders (2025, 2026).

◆ Super Lawyers Rising Stars – International (2024, 2025).

◆ Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, Construction Law (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026).

◆ Lawdragon 500 X: The Next Generation (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026).

◆ Los Angeles Magazine, Best of the Legal Profession (2026).

Speaking Engagements

Giorgio is a frequent speaker at leading international arbitration conferences worldwide, including:

◆ “21st Annual ICDR Y&I Coffee House Debate,” Vienna, Austria (2026).

◆ “From Investment to Enforcement in the CIS Region: Trends, Tensions, and the California Connection,” Paris Arbitration Week (2026).

◆ “Arbitrating the AI Infrastructure Boom: Contracts, Risk Allocation, and Forum Strategy,” Paris Arbitration Week (2026).

◆ “Young CalArb Debate,” California International Arbitration Week (2026).

◆ “Building the Right Ecosystem for Sport Disputes,” Riyadh International Disputes Week (2026).

◆ “Energy Disputes Across Generations: Traditional Tools for a Transitioning World,” Dubai International Arbitration Week (2025).

◆ “Cross-Border Innovation: Structuring, Regulating, and Resolving Tech-Driven Deals Between the GCC and California,” Dubai International Arbitration Week (2025).

◆ “Witness Evidence: A Cultural Cross Examination,” Riyadh International Disputes Week (2025).

◆ “Coffee House Debate: Illegally Obtained Evidence – War Stories and Practical Advice,” Swedish Arbitration Days (2025).

◆ “The Future Speaks: Young Practitioner Perspectives on the International Arbitration of Tomorrow,” 8th Annual USC-JAMS Arbitration Symposium (2024).

◆ “What Domestic ADR Practitioners Can Learn from International Commercial Arbitration,” ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Spring Conference (2024).

◆ “GAR Live Debate – GAR Live Technology Disputes,” San Francisco (2024).

◆ “Recent Trends in International Arbitration – Saudi Arabian, US and English Perspectives,” Riyadh International Disputes Week (2024).

◆ “Losing Sleep over the ‘Midnight Clause’: Drafting Disputes Provisions for Cross-Border Technology Agreements and Protecting Foreign Investments,” Riyadh International Disputes Week (2024).

◆ “When AI Meets ADR: Experts Discuss Appropriate Uses and Protocols for AI in Arbitrations,” Riyadh International Disputes Week (2024).

◆ “Energy Innovation: Challenges and Solutions on the Road to Energy Transition,” California International Arbitration Week (2024).

◆ “California Offshore Wind, the Challenges and Opportunities,” California International Arbitration Week (2024).

◆ “Nuts and Bolts of Delay Analysis,” ICDR Y&I (2023).

◆ “International Commercial Arbitration in the Philippines and California: A Meeting of the Minds,” CalArb and Philippines Dispute Resolution Centre (2023).

◆ “18th Annual ICDR Y&I Coffee House Debate,” Vienna, Austria (2023).

◆ “Arbitrating Technology Disputes: Present Realities, Future Possibilities,” California International Arbitration Week (2023).

◆ “The Many Facets of Arbitration,” Young ITA (2023).

◆ “California International Arbitration: Coming of Age,” Daily Journal (2023).

◆ “Islamic Finance and Banking and Arbitration,” California International Arbitration Week (2022).

◆ “Multi-Tier Dispute Resolution Clauses: Yay or Nay?” YConstruction, New York (2020).

Publications

Giorgio is a prolific writer on international arbitration and cross-border dispute resolution, with work featured in Kluwer Arbitration Blog, the Daily Journal, Los Angeles Lawyer, and other leading publications, including:

◆ “California’s Emergence as a Global Hub for International Arbitration – What It Means for Counsel and Businesses,” Daily Journal, January 2026.

◆ “Arbitrating Offshore Wind Project Disputes in California,” Jus Mundi 2023 Construction Arbitration Report, June 2023.

◆ “Go Global,” Los Angeles Lawyer, April 2023.

◆ “Federal Arbitration Act’s Vacatur Provisions Apply in Vacating International Arbitration Awards,” Daily Journal, April 2023.

◆ “California International Arbitration Week – A Hot Ticket, High Value, and Free,” Daily Journal, March 2023.

◆ “A Look at California’s International Arbitration Future,” Kluwer Arbitration Blog, January 2022.

◆ “Remedial Construction Services v. AECOM: Incorporating Arbitration Provisions by Reference under California Law,” IBA Construction Law International, December 2021.

◆ “Ninth Circuit Holds Article II, Section 3 of the New York Convention is ‘Self-Executing’ and Not an ‘Act of Congress,’ Thereby Affirming Order to Compel Arbitration,” Kluwer Arbitration Blog, November 2021.

◆ “In Memoriam: How U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Influenced U.S. Perspectives on Arbitration and International Dispute Resolution,” Kluwer Arbitration Blog, November 2020.

◆ “MZM Construction Company – Third Circuit Affirms ‘Clear and Unmistakable’ Standard, But Did Its Dicta Go Too Far?,” Kluwer Arbitration Blog, October 2020.

◆ “Raising the Stakes of the 28 U.S.C. § 1782(a) Debate: the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Holds § 1782(a) Applies to Private Arbitral Tribunals,” Kluwer Arbitration Blog, September 2019.

◆ “Schein, Inc. v. Archer & White Sales, Inc.: Upholding Principles of Arbitration, but Leaving Open Question Regarding Competence-Competence in Arbitral Rules as ‘Clear and Unmistakable’ Evidence that Parties Agreed to Arbitrate Arbitrability,” Kluwer Arbitration Blog, January 2019.

◆ “Eureka! Foreign Attorneys Can Now Participate in California-Seated Arbitrations,” Kluwer Arbitration Blog, August 2018.

◆ “A Call to Arms: Education to Prevent the Harsh Reality of Guerrilla Tactics in the Face of the UAE’s Recent Law on Possible Criminal Sanctions for Arbitrators,” Kluwer Arbitration Blog, January 2017.

◆ “There Should Be an Answer to § 1782(a) – As to Whether Its Scope Includes Private Arbitral Tribunals,” McGill Journal of Dispute Resolution, Vol. 3, 2016–2017.

Bar Admissions

◆ California

◆ New York

Education

◆ Stockholm University, LL.M. (International Commercial Arbitration Law).

◆ Sorbonne at the Université Paris I Panthéon (International Commercial Arbitration and Litigation in a Global Context).

◆ University of San Diego School of Law, J.D. (Emphasis in International Law).

◆ University of California – Davis, B.A. (Economics and Philosophy).