Lawrence S. Schaner is an independent arbitrator, handling both international and domestic cases. He formed his own firm in 2017. Previously, he was a partner in Jenner & Block’s Chicago office, where he was the co-chair of the firm’s International Arbitration practice and a member of its Litigation Department. He has served since 2010 as an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, teaching international arbitration.

In his more than 30 years of practice as counsel and arbitrator, Mr. Schaner has amassed broad experience with complex, challenging, high-stakes business disputes. His experience includes matters relating to contract, tort, intellectual property, antitrust, securities, bankruptcy, tax, employment and insurance disputes. He has dealt with matters in fields ranging from aerospace and defense, government contracts, and hospitality to telecommunications, construction, manufacturing, technology, and energy. Mr. Schaner has often been called upon to provide cross-border legal assistance, such as the enforcement of arbitration awards and obtaining discovery for use in foreign legal proceedings.

Mr. Schaner is a member of various panels of arbitrators, including the AAA, AIAC, BVI IAC, CIDRA, CIICA, CPR, ICDR, FedArb, HKIAC, KCAB, SIAC, VIAC, and VanIAC. He serves as an arbitrator in cases administered by the ICC, which does not maintain a panel of arbitrators.

He has been widely recognized for his work in commercial and international arbitration by numerous publications, including Chambers Global, Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, Who’s Who Legal, and Legal Media Group Guides.  Chambers USA has described him as “a very experienced commercial arbitration expert who is a sophisticated and fair person to deal with,” “excellent,” “tremendously knowledgeable,” and “highly respected.” The National Law Journal recognized him as an “ADR Champion,” in 2016.  Best Lawyers in America awarded him “Chicago International Arbitration – Commercial Lawyer of the Year,” in 2014.

Mr. Schaner has extensive experience as arbitrator and counsel in international and domestic arbitration matters. He has been appointed as an arbitrator in more than 60 cases. His matters as an arbitrator have ranged in value from less than $1 million to more than $1 billion. His recent matters have been under the rules of the AAA, CPR, ICC, ICDR, JAMS, LCIA, SCC, and UNCITRAL. More in-depth information about his experience is at https://schanerlegal.com/, reflecting his appointment in many high value and complex disputes, across a broad range of industries and sectors.

Mr. Schaner’s training includes: Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Fellowship Program, 2003; ICDR International Symposium in Advanced Case Management, 2008; and AAA Arbitration Fundamentals and Best Practices, 2015. He has spoken at approximately 100 conferences and other events throughout the world on topics pertaining to international arbitration and cross-border and domestic dispute resolution.

Fellow, College of Commercial Arbitrators

Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, received President’s Prize for achieving the highest mark on the Award Writing Examination (2003)

Founder, Chicago Chapter of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Member, ICC Commission on Arbitration

Member, ICC USA Nominations Commission

Member, International Bar Association (former Vice Chair, Secretary, and Publications Officer of the Arbitration Committee)

Editor, Dispute Resolution International (IBA) (2012-2018)

Member, LCIA North American Users Council (former Councilor)

Co-Editor, International Arbitration in the United States (Kluwer 2018)

William C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot – Arbitrator at 10 moots; Northwestern University team coach (2010-2016)

J.D. 1986, Stanford Law School
A.B. 1982, Duke University