Jan Erik Spangenberg

Jan Erik Spangenberg specialises in dispute resolution, litigation and arbitration. He acts both as counsel and as arbitrator. He assists companies, governments and individuals in navigating complex disputes, in particular international commercial and investment arbitrations. He also advises governments and investors in relation to foreign investments and public international law.

Jan Erik Spangenberg has successfully represented clients in many high stakes arbitrations (including ICC, DIS, SCC, KCAB, CEAC, RUCIP, ICSID, UNCITRAL and Ad hoc) and in German courts. He has handled corporate, shareholder, post-M&A, joint venture, securities, energy, construction and machinery, distribution, insurance, cartel, compliance, and a variety of contract, trade and other commercial disputes, as well as claims under bilateral treaties (BITs) and the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). He has broad experience in mass litigation in the financial and insurance sector. Jan Erik Spangenberg has honed his oral advocacy and cross-examination skills in more than 300 trials and hearings. He also profits from his significant experience as arbitrator, including as chairman/president, and sole arbitrator under various rules (including ICC, DIS, SCC, Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, and Ad hoc). He was appointed to the original Arbitration and Mediation pools of the Court of Arbitration for Art (CAFA) in January 2020.

Jan Erik Spangenberg has been consistently recognised in leading rankings, including JUVE, Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers and Who’s Who Legal for both arbitration and litigation: “He is a well-prepared arbitrator, always well structured, with good knowledge of the community”, “He demonstrates capability handling multi-jurisdictional proceedings and is well versed in many aspects of commercial law”, “Jan is enthusiastic and smart with a talent to view a case from the client perspective” “He is very thorough and smart at hearings” (WWL Arbitration 2021); “an outstanding lawyer” who is “very thorough, smart and client oriented”; he is able to “identify the main issue immediately and provide clear and helpful advice” (WWL Arbitration 2020); a “very experienced” arbitration lawyer who wins widespread praise from market sources for his “excellent” work as arbitrator and counsel (WWL Germany Arbitration 2020); “recognised by sources as an ‘exceptionally good lawyer with a lot of international experience’ who is ‘user-friendly with strong advocacy skills in arbitration’” (WWL Arbitration 2019); “The ‘excellent’ Jan Spangenberg is a talented practitioner who is highly recommended for his vast experience representing clients in high-value arbitration proceedings” (WWL Germany Arbitration 2019); “stands out as a ‘good tactician who does not shrink from going into all the details of a case’” (WWL Arbitration Future Leaders 2018); “is ‘very organized, highly pragmatic and solution-oriented’” (WWL Arbitration Future Leaders 2017); “recognised as ‘a very thorough and bright attorney’ who is ‘very articulate in the courtroom when presenting arguments’” (WWL Litigation Future Leaders 2019); “committed, fast“, “does an extremely good job as chairman in large DIS arbitrations” (JUVE 2020/2021); “excellent lawyer, outstanding in cross-examination” (JUVE 2019/2020); “demonstrates unprecedented confidence as a party representative” (JUVE 2018/2019); “dedicated and professional” (JUVE 2016/2017); “impressed me in witness examinations, already world-wise and seasoned” (JUVE 2015/2016).

Before founding MANNER SPANGENBERG, Jan Erik Spangenberg practiced in the Litigation & Trial Department and International Arbitration Practice Group of the international law firm Latham & Watkins LLP (2009-2017). He received his Doctor of Laws with a doctoral thesis on investment arbitration from Bucerius Law School. He studied law in Germany (Second German State Exam, Hamburg 2009; First German State Exam, Hamburg 2006; LL.B., Bucerius Law School 2004) and in the United States (Washington and Lee University School of Law, Lexington, Virginia 2003).

Jan Erik Spangenberg is the immediate past co-chair of DIS40 and participated in the committee for the revision of the DIS Arbitration Rules 2018. He regularly speaks on international dispute resolution and arbitration topics.