Kiera Gans

Kiera S. Gans

Partner
Kiera is the rare lawyer who is not only incredibly steeped in the law but also has a keen awareness of practicality and her client's business concerns." "She's very bright, thoughtful and conducts herself wonderfully." "She's easy to work with, reasonable, collegial and cooperative." "Kiera Gans was incredible in her focus on the client, their needs, and how to bring the case forward in a way that was most advantageous. Her communication ability and overall sense of empathy really made teamwork easy and enjoyable.
— Client quotes from Chambers USA
New York
About

Kiera Gans is a Canadian-born, US-based advocate whose practice focuses on cross-border disputes where law, culture, and strategy intersect. She represents individuals, corporates, and sovereigns in high-stakes arbitrations—ad hoc and under International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Singapore International arbitration Centre (SIAC), United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), American Arbitration Association/International Centre for Dispute Resolution (AAA/ICDR), and International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) rules—across major global seats. Known for her fluency in navigating different legal traditions and business cultures, Kiera cuts through complexity to deliver pragmatic, business-focused solutions.

Kiera has acted both for and against states in a number of prominent investor–state disputes and regularly trains government agencies on dispute prevention, and strategic case management. Her matters span energy, infrastructure, education, telecom, construction, and mining, often involving parallel proceedings, political sensitivities, and fast-moving facts that demand decisive, culturally attuned judgment.

She litigates issues ancillary to arbitration—including award enforcement—and advises on arbitration clauses and pre-dispute strategy to minimize future friction. Kiera has also led multi-jurisdictional internal investigations and risk reviews, coordinating diverse teams in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and appearing before various government agencies. 

Areas of FocusLitigation, Arbitration and InvestigationsRegulatory and Government Affairs
Bar admissionsNew York
CourtsUnited States Court of Appeals for the Second CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh CircuitUnited States District Court for the Southern District of New York

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Representative Investor – State Arbitration Experience
  • Lead counsel representing a Canadian mining company in connection with a mining project in Mexico and denial of justice claims resulting from actions of the judiciary
  • Lead counsel representing the Sultanate of Oman defeating multi-million-dollar claims by a Saudi investor pursuant to the OIC Agreement concerning a large infrastructure project, and denial of justice claims related to the purported expiration of an arbitration right and obtaining favourable cost award in client’s favour
  • Lead counsel representing the Sultanate of Oman defeating multi-million-dollar claims by a US investor pursuant to the US-Oman FTA concerning a limestone mine, and obtaining favourable cost award in client’s favour
  • Lead counsel representing Qatar Pharma for Pharmaceutical Industries and Dr. Ahmed Bin Mohammad Al Haie Al Sulaiti in an ICC arbitration against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in relation to a blockade in the Middle East, resulting in a substantial arbitral award in our clients’ favour in the only investment treaty dispute to have been resolved as a result of the blockade
  • One of the lead counsel representing two investors in an UNCITRAL (ICSID) BIT in connection with changes to the renewable energy subsidiary program
  • Lead counsel representing Hungary in two different ICSID arbitrations brought by French investors under the Franco-Hungarian bilateral investment treaty related to changed tax incentives in relation to "social vouchers" industry and in annulment proceedings related to a third case
Representative International Commercial Arbitration Experience
  • Lead counsel representing Middle-Eastern state-owned authority in an ICC arbitration concerning the breach of a tender contract for the construction of a water pipeline network. Case was resolved with an amicable settlement favorable to client
  • Co-lead counsel representing state-owned mining company in an arbitration under modified UNCITRAL rules, relating to leasing and concession rights related to a mine. Successfully represented the client in defeating over USD300 million worth of the damages claimed against it
  • Lead counsel representing a publicly traded specialty pharmaceutical company in a Singapore-seated, New York law governed ICC arbitration proceedings, in dispute regarding reasonable efforts to develop and commercialize vaccine under licensing agreement, and clinical supply agreement.  Case was resolved, after emergency arbitration procedures, with an amicable settlement favorable to client
  • Lead counsel representing a contract research organization (CRO) in an ICDR arbitration and related mediation and parallel litigation in dispute arising out of a clinical trial and related to the breaches of a third-party vendor. Case was resolved with an amicable settlement favorable to client
  • Lead counsel representing a Brazilian apparel manufacturer in a New York-seated, New York-law-governed ICDR arbitration defeating approximately USD90 million worth of lost-profit damages asserted by a Hong Kong distributor
  • Lead counsel representing a Fortune 100 company in a New York-seated, New York-law-governed ICC arbitration arising out of a sponsorship and licensing dispute with a national athletic federation.  Successfully obtained determination on liability and significantly limited the counterclaim.
  • Lead counsel representing a Hong Kong - based multinational technology company in a New York-seated, New York-law-governed ICC arbitration against a US-based multinational technology company regarding indemnification and representation and warranty claims in connection with patent infringement litigation. The matter resulted in a favorable settlement for our client
  • Lead counsel representing an investment fund in ad hoc proceedings pursuant to the CPR Procedures related to breach of contract, conversion and other related claims in New York courts
  • Lead counsel representing a US company in several New York-seated, New York-law-governed ICDR arbitrations involving contract and tort claims regarding commodities contracts
  • Lead counsel representing a concessionaire in an ICC arbitration in London against a Central American country involving the construction of a toll road
  • Representing and advised foreign energy company in connection with ICC arbitration related to Liquefied Natural Gas SPA
  • Representing a multi-national company in two complex ICC arbitrations involving construction of a pipeline in Venezuela and subject to Venezuelan law
Languages
  • Spanish

Awards

Chambers USA

  • Band 5, Nationwide International Arbitration: Counsel, (2022 – 2025)
  • Band 6, Nationwide International Arbitration: Counsel, (2021)
  • Up and Coming, Nationwide International Arbitration, (2015 – 2016) 

Chambers Global

  • Band 5, USA International Arbitration: Counsel, (2023 – 2025)
  • Band 6, USA International Arbitration: Counsel, (2022)
  • Up and Coming, USA International Arbitration, (2016)

The Legal 500 United States

  • Next Generation Partner, International Arbitration, (2023 – 2025)

The Legal 500 Latin America

  • Next Generation Partner, International Arbitration, (2023)
  • Recommended, Latin America International Arbitration, (2017 – 2018)
Additional Recognitions
  • Who's Who Legal
  • Future Leaders Partners, (2023)
  • Recognized, Arbitration Future Leaders, (2022)

Pro Bono

Kiera has partnered on various of the New Perimeter Projects including serving as a lecturer teaching dispute resolution and negotiation skills to government officials as part of DLA Piper's Signature Project in Tanzania, and partnering to provide training to students in Zambia on drafting and utilizing dispute resolution clauses. She partnered with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) to provide trial advocacy training to police prosecutors in the Caribbean, and also works with PIPLG to assist in providing accountability for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh who were subject to human rights abuses committed in the Myanmar Rhakine State. Kiera is also committed to supporting and advancing the next generation of lawyers and amongst other programs has served as a mentor as part of Young ICCA, the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Mentoring Program, and Arbitral Women.

Education
  • J.D., University of Toronto, 2001
    Editor, International Law Section, University of Toronto Law Review
  • M.A., International Relations, University of Toronto, 2001
  • B.A., Cornell University, 1998

Bylines

Seminars

  • Speaker, "Refocusing on the 'Alternative' in ADR: Innovative Paths to Resolving Business Disputes," CPR Annual Meeting, February 5, 2025
  • Keynote Speaker, "A New Generation of AI Tools: The Future of Arbitration," Canadian College of Construction Lawyers, Mid-Winter Seminar, January 24, 2025
  • Speaker, "Handling Your First Arbitration," GAR Live, September 24, 2024
  • Speaker, "Effective Advocacy at International Arbitration Hearings," PLI: International Arbitration 2024, June 2024
  • Speaker, "Maximizing Access To International Arbitration For Mining Investments: Recent Trends And Challenges," ITA Conference, Toronto, Canada, March 6, 2024
  • Speaker, "Creating AI Tools for Tomorrow: Harnessing AI For Dispute Avoidance and Effective Dispute Resolution," CPR Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, March 8, 2024
  • Moderator, "Obtaining Evidence from Non-parties to an International Arbitration in a Post Section 1782 World," New York Arbitration Week, November 15, 2023
  • Speaker, "Recent trends, issues and practices involving US-related disputes," London Arbitration Week, June 2, 2023
  • "The Great Resignation Re-setting and Reimagining Your Career," NAWL General Counsel Institute, November 11, 2021
  • Speaker, "The 1782 Conundrum: The American Dream or a Global Nightmare?," American Bar Association's 2020 ILS Virtual Annual Meeting, June 2, 2020
  • Speaker, "Conflict Prevention and Resolution at Work in Brazil and Mexico," CPR Institute, November 6, 2019

Media Mentions

Clerk Experience

  • Clerked for the Honorable John Evans at the Federal Court of Appeals, Ottawa, Canada

Memberships And Affiliations

Kiera is Co-chair of the ITA Task Force for UNCITRAL Working Group III on Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform and the Co-Chair of the ITA Mining Conference.  She serves on the Panel of International Commercial Arbitrators of the ICC National Arbitration Committee of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. She is also a member of the US Delegation to the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR. Kiera is also on the Board of Directors for the New York International Arbitration Center. In addition, she is a member of the Council of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR). 

Kiera has also been named to the international panel of arbitrators for the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR).

My latest insights

Publication

Is international arbitration part of your IP protection and enforcement strategy?

16 July 2024 .2 minute read

Publication

Supreme Court unanimously decides that federal courts must stay, and not dismiss, cases...

24 May 2024 .5 minute read

Past event

Modernizing the Energy Charter Treaty: Recent Developments

9 May 2023 .2 minute read

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Phone

+1 212 335 4587
(Work, New York)
+1 646 641 3580
(Work)