United States, UK (England & Wales)
Joe is a partner and Global Co-Head of Linklaters’ International Arbitration practice and an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center. A Chambers-ranked attorney in international arbitration, he maintains a first-chair arbitration and litigation practice that focuses exclusively on complex international disputes. In 2023, Law360 recognized Joe as one of four “MVPs” in international arbitration in the United States.
A U.S.-qualified attorney and English-qualified Solicitor, Joe has practiced in both the United States and England and served as counsel in threatened or actual litigation or arbitration in over 70 countries. He has successfully represented clients in courts at both the trial and appellate levels, as well as in over 100 international arbitrations under the rules of the ICC, AAA/ICDR, LCIA, SIAC, HKIAC, ICSID, JAMS, DIS, CEPANI, CIETAC, WIPO, CeCAP and UNCITRAL. Joe has an established track record of achieving significant successes for his clients, including successfully representing them in disputes totaling tens of billions of dollars and obtaining tens of millions of dollars in fees and costs awards on their behalf.
Joe represents U.S., Asian, Latin American, European and other global public and private corporations as well as foreign sovereigns and their instrumentalities in a wide range of complex multi-jurisdictional, cross-border disputes. His industry experience spans investment, private equity, technology, energy, construction, joint venture, contract, e-commerce, hotel/hospitality, insurance, intellectual property, licensing, media, pharmaceutical and securities disputes. He also sits as arbitrator.
According to Chambers:
“Joseph Profaizer […] is highly regarded for his strengths in commercial and investment treaty disputes ... Commentators characterize him as ‘a great legal mind with a profound intellect,’ with sources revealing that ‘his technical skills and commercial insights make him an exceptionally effective litigator and negotiator.’”
“Joseph Profaizer is praised for his ability ‘to be open to the dynamics of the case.’ His expertise includes both commercial and investment treaty arbitration, and one client enthuses: ‘I give him high marks on everything.’"
“Clients are united in their opinion that Mr. Profaizer is ‘the guy you go to if you want to get things done.’ Hard-working and attentive, he is ‘always on top of things and gifted with strong strategic vision.’”
The Legal 500 (United States) reports that:
“Joe Profaizer provides clients with ‘quality of service that is nothing short of brilliant,’ and ‘possesses, according to one UK-based client, ‘all-round qualities that are so exceptional, I wrote to the Law Society telling them so.’”
Joe Profaizer’s “[d]epth and breadth of knowledge in the subject matter but, more importantly, the potential strategy and environment of the ‘other side’ prove invaluable.”
Joe's recent matter highlights include*:
*Includes matters handled prior to joining Linklaters.
Joe regularly speaks at conferences, in-house seminars, law schools, international organizations and non-governmental organizations on various aspects of international arbitration, international litigation, mediation and international law. He has taught or spoken in the United States, England, Canada, the Philippines, Germany, Bangladesh, South Korea and South Africa.
A 2023 Law360 “MVP” in international arbitration, Joe is consistently ranked as a leading attorney in international arbitration by Chambers and Partners Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business (2013-present), Chambers and Partners USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2008-present), Euromoney's Commercial Arbitration Expert Guide (2017-present), The Legal 500 (United States) (2007-2013, 2017-present), Who's Who Legal: Arbitration (2015 & 2021) and Best Lawyers In America (2021-present).
In both 2023 and 2024, he was named a “first runner-up” for “Litigator of the Week” for wins in the Mitsubishi Tanabe and Daiichi Sankyo arbitrations. In 2018, the National Law Journal recognized him as one of 40 “ADR Champions” in the United States. Joe’s “all-round qualities as a lawyer” have been recognized by the Global Arbitration Review in their annual ranking, the GAR 100. He has been listed by the GAR 100 as a “name to know” every year from 2009 to the present.
Joseph completed his B.A. (magna cum laude; Special Honors) at the University of Texas at Austin in 1990. He continued his studies at UT Austin, attaining his J.D. in 1993 (Research and Submissions Editor of the Texas International Law Journal). In 1999, he graduated from the London School of Economics, completing his Masters of Law (L.L.M.; with merit).
State Admissions:
District of Columbia
New York
Texas
Joe’s analysis of international legal disputes has appeared in The Washington Post, The ABA Journal, The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, Bloomberg, UPI, CNN Money, Reuters, Global Arbitration Review, Fox Business, Al Jazeera, Morningstar, Oil Daily, The Guardian of London and Law360.
Joe is the author of numerous published articles, including:
Admissions