John L. Gardiner is global head of Skadden’s International Litigation and Arbitration Group. He concentrates his practice in the resolution of complex, high-exposure, multijurisdictional disputes before leading arbitral institutions as well as before federal and state courts in the United States.
Gardiner’s extensive litigation, arbitration and mediation experience covers a wide range of disputes in the energy, insurance/reinsurance, telecommunications, construction, auditing and accounting, and finance sectors. He also has acted as arbitrator in complex international corporate disputes and as mediator in intricate corporate and partnership separation situations. He has participated as counsel in many successful mediations and expert proceedings both internationally and domestically.
Lawdragon Honors
| Honor | Year | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators | 2026 | International Litigation & Arbitration |
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2026 | Complex Litigation, International, IP |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators | 2025 | International Litigation & Arbitration |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2025 | Complex Litigation, inc. IP |
| The 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators | 2024 | International Litigation & Arbitration |
| The 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2024 | Complex Litigation, inc. IP |
| Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators | 2023 | International Litigation & Arbitration |
| Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2022 | Complex Litigation, International, IP |
| The Lawdragon Global Litigation 500 | 2021 | International Litigation & Arbitration |
Gardiner’s experience includes representing claimants and respondents in numerous international arbitral proceedings. Select experience representing claimants in arbitral proceedings includes:
- an Indian satellite and telecommunications company in an ICC arbitration seated in New Delhi against an Indian space agency regarding an investment valued in excess of $1.4 billion
- Starr Investments Cayman, II, Inc. in two parallel HKIAC-administered arbitrations arising from Starr’s investment in China MediaExpress Holdings, Inc., formerly a publicly traded company created through a reverse merger with a Delaware company
- a major U.S. energy company in an ICC arbitration concerning certain options rights in joint ventures in Brazil and Suriname
- a group of U.S.-based insurance agencies in a series of arbitrations before ARIAS, AAA and ad hoc tribunals
- a worldwide natural gas company in an ICC arbitration arising out of the construction of a gas pipeline in Colombia
- the owner of a large power plant in Indonesia in an arbitration before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) against its principal coal supplier for breach of an exclusive fuel supply contract for one of the first independent power projects in Indonesia
- a European developer and producer of automobile safety equipment in an ICC arbitration in Switzerland involving the misappropriation of confidential and proprietary knowledge in the automotive industry
Select experience representing respondents in various international arbitral proceedings includes:
- a large Polish conglomerate in an ICC dispute brought by a U.S.-based venture capital firm
- a leading international vehicle rental business in a post-acquisition dispute with a French bank before the ICC
- an Indian financial institution in an ICDR arbitration venued in New York
- a Brazilian investor in a $200 million-plus ICDR/AAA arbitration dispute with a U.S. company concerning a sugarcane product
Select experience representing clients in federal and state courts includes:
- Starr International Company, Inc. in a takings case against the United States government in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims seeking recovery of in excess of $40 billion
- a former director and officer of a major international insurance company in shareholder derivative litigation before the Delaware Court of Chancery
- Crown Limited and a leading Australian casino company in a lawsuit arising out of a failed hotel and casino project in Las Vegas