Stanimir A. Alexandrov PLLC

STANIMIR A. ALEXANDROV works principally as an arbitrator in treaty-based investor-state disputes and international commercial arbitration cases.

Mr. Alexandrov has served as an arbitrator in numerous cases administered by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), the American Arbitration Association (AAA), JAMS, and other institutions, as well as ad hoc arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Rules. He was designated by the Chairman of ICSID's Administrative Council to serve on ICSID's Panel of Arbitrators and is also a member of the panel of arbitrators of many other arbitration institutions. Mr. Alexandrov has arbitrated disputes in English, French, Russian and Spanish.

Until August 2017, Mr. Alexandrov was co-leader of the international arbitration practice at Sidley Austin LLP, where he practiced for 15 years in the areas of international dispute resolution, including investor-state arbitration and international commercial arbitration, and the resolution of trade disputes before the World Trade Organization (WTO). He represented private parties and governments in arbitrations before ICSID and the PCA, as well as in ICC, UNCITRAL, AAA and other international arbitrations.

Prior to joining Sidley Austin LLP in 2002, Mr. Alexandrov practiced at the law firm of Powell Goldstein Frazer & Murphy LLP, where he was one of the founders of the international arbitration, trade and dispute resolution practice.

Mr. Alexandrov has been listed as a leader in the field of international arbitration in publications including Chambers USA, Chambers Global, Chambers Latin America, The Legal 500: United States, The Legal 500: Latin America, The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers (Arbitration), Best Lawyers in America, Benchmark Litigation (Local Litigation Star and National Star for International Arbitration), Who's Who Legal: Thought Leaders (Arbitration) and Who's Who Legal's Commercial Arbitration. He has been ranked in Band 1 by numerous publications and has been recognized and selected as a leader in the field of arbitration.

Mr. Alexandrov has been listed in the 2012–2025 editions of The Best Lawyers in America and has been recognized as "Lawyer of the Year" for International Arbitration – Governmental, and "Lawyer of the Year" for International Arbitration – Commercial. He has also been recognized as one of Latin America's "Top 100 Lawyers" by Latinvex. Washingtonian magazine has routinely included Mr. Alexandrov on its list of Washington's Best Lawyers, including as "Lawyer of the Year" for international arbitration, and has referred to him as one of the region's "best legal minds" in the area of international trade and arbitration.

Mr. Alexandrov's work is also praised by his peers. A dispute practice chair in a major law firm mentioned him as a lawyer who impressed him: "Stanimir Alexandrov... is someone I have long admired. Stanimir has vast experience as both an advocate and arbitrator in international arbitrations, and exemplifies all of the qualities that I have identified as keys to success for young lawyers in the field."

Before he entered private practice, Mr. Alexandrov was Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, where he managed Bulgaria's relations with the European Union (EU), the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and NATO, worked on Bulgaria's EU and WTO accession, and was responsible for all legal work of the Foreign Service. Prior to that, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission in the Embassy of Bulgaria in Washington, D.C., where he negotiated trade and investment agreements and worked with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

He is a Professor at the George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C., where he has been teaching courses on international law, international dispute settlement and arbitration for more than 25 years. Mr. Alexandrov has also taught at the American University Washington College of Law and at Georgetown University Law Center. He is a regular speaker at conferences, seminars, roundtables and other fora on topics regarding international arbitration and international law.

Mr. Alexandrov's publications have been cited by parties to disputes before the International Court of Justice and by Judges of the Court.

Mr. Alexandrov is the President of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) and a member of its Governing Board, and has been an active member of the Institut de Droit International, the American Society of International Law (ASIL), and other professional organizations focusing on international law and international arbitration.

Mr. Alexandrov is admitted to the bar in the District of Columbia and New York.

Mr. Alexandrov obtained his doctoral degree in law (S.J.D.) from The George Washington University Law School in 1995, and his master's degree (LL.M.) in international and comparative law with highest honors also from The George Washington University Law School in 1993. He obtained his degree in public international law (J.D.) from the Moscow Institute of International Relations in 1981.

Mr. Alexandrov is fluent in Bulgarian (native), English, French, Russian, and Spanish.