Arbitration Commercial Litigation
David B. Wilson
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2017 
Firm
David B. Wilson Dispute Resolution LLC
1 Best Lawyers award
Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
David Wilson, a Fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, is an independent international and U.S. arbitrator and mediator. A Colorado lawyer and a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, he focuses on complex commercial and IP disputes in U.S. and international arbitrations, often (although not exclusively) in the energy and technology sectors. After nearly 38 years practicing with AmLaw 200 firms in Denver, Colorado, he founded David B. Wilson Dispute Resolution LLC in 2024. His practice as counsel centered on international and U.S. commercial arbitration and international and U.S. commercial litigation, and he continues to serve as an expert witness and counsel in select matters.
Named Best Lawyers in America's 2024 and 2021 Denver Arbitration Lawyer of the Year, he is the former Vice Chair of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR and co-chaired the Commission's Task Force on the Use of Information Technology in International Arbitration and the Task Force on Expertise. He also served on the Commission's Working Group on the Use of Technology in Arbitration and has been a member of the U.S. delegation to the Commission continuously since 2004.
He has served as arbitrator (chair, panelist, sole arbitrator, and emergency arbitrator) about 70 times in international and U.S. disputes, including under ICC, ICDR, AAA, and other rules and with more than 25 international appointments and with amounts in dispute up to $640 million to date. He serves on various arbitration panels, including AAA and ICDR (including Large Complex Case, Energy, M&A & Joint Venture, and Telecommunications), AIAC, AIFC-IAC, BVI Int'l Arbitration Centre, Cayman Int'l Mediation & Arbitration Centre, EU-U.S. DPF List of Arbitrators, HKIAC Panel of Arbitrators, Maldives Int'l Arbitration Centre (Primary Panel), Mauritius Int'l Arbitration Centre List of Arbitrators, and Tashkent Int'l Arbitration Centre.
He is a member of the American Law Institute and a Senior Fellow of Litigation Counsel of America. He chaired the Colorado Bar Association's International Law Section from 2022-2024. As a trial lawyer, he won what was then reported to be Colorado's largest jury verdict, $125.5 million.
Since his practice began in 1986, and counting his non-arbitration work, he has handled more than 200 cross border matters in more than 40 countries and non-U.S. jurisdictions including (in alphabetical order): Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, British Virgin Islands, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Netherlands, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, and Uzbekistan.
He was a member of Sherman & Howard L.L.C. from 2013-May 2024, which he joined after 27 years with Holme Roberts & Owen LLP/Bryan Cave HR0 as a partner and associate.
Firm
David B. Wilson Dispute Resolution LLC
1 Best Lawyers award
Overview
- English
- The University of Texas, B.A. with highest honors, graduated 1983
- The University of Texas, J.D. with high honors, graduated 1986
- United Kingdom, Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, 2013
- Colorado, Colorado Supreme Court, 1986
- American Bar Association - Member
- American Law Institute - Member
- American Bar Foundation - Life Fellow
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Chair, Rocky Mountain Chapter) - Fellow
- College of Commercial Arbitrators - Fellow
- Colorado and Denver Bar Associations - Member (Chair, CBA International Law Section, 2022-2024)
- Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge USA Subcommittee - Member
- The Federalist Society - Member
- ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR (Vice Chair, 2014-2018; Co-Chair, Task Force on Expertise and Task Force on the Use of Information Technology in Arbitration; Member, Working Group on the Use of Technology in International Arbitration) - Member
- International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) - Member
- International Bar Association - Member
- Litigation Counsel of America - Senior Fellow
- Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Center - Member
- U.S. Council for International Business Arbitration Committee, Rocky Mountain Subcommittee - Chair
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. Supreme Court
- English
- United Kingdom, Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, 2013
- Colorado, Colorado Supreme Court, 1986
- American Bar Association - Member
- American Law Institute - Member
- American Bar Foundation - Life Fellow
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Chair, Rocky Mountain Chapter) - Fellow
- College of Commercial Arbitrators - Fellow
- Colorado and Denver Bar Associations - Member (Chair, CBA International Law Section, 2022-2024)
- Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge USA Subcommittee - Member
- The Federalist Society - Member
- ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR (Vice Chair, 2014-2018; Co-Chair, Task Force on Expertise and Task Force on the Use of Information Technology in Arbitration; Member, Working Group on the Use of Technology in International Arbitration) - Member
- International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) - Member
- International Bar Association - Member
- Litigation Counsel of America - Senior Fellow
- Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Center - Member
- U.S. Council for International Business Arbitration Committee, Rocky Mountain Subcommittee - Chair
- The University of Texas, B.A. with highest honors, graduated 1983
- The University of Texas, J.D. with high honors, graduated 1986
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. Supreme Court
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Arbitration, Denver (2024)
- Arbitration, Denver (2021)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Arbitration
- Commercial Litigation
Additional Areas of Practice:
- International Arbitration - Commercial
Awards:
- Colorado Super Lawyers, 2006-present (Alternative Dispute Resolution (2025); (Business Litigation 2006-2024))
Euromoney’s Expert Guides’ Best of the Best Global, Commercial Arbitration (2019-2021)
Euromoney’s Expert Guides’ Best of the Best USA, Commercial Arbitration (2017-2022)
- 5280 (The Denver Magazine) Top Lawyers, 2015-present (Alternative Dispute Resolution (2025); International (2015-24))
- Guide to the World’s Leading Experts in Commercial Arbitration (2007-2022)
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
- Lexology Index/Who's Who Legal (Commercial Arbitration) (2009-2019; 2022-present)
News & Media
Additional Information
Case History
Cases
- Arbitrations (as arbitrator)
- Panel chair in an ICDR arbitration between Canadian and U.S. parties in a dispute involving patents and state law claims related to products used in the oilfield services industry.
- Panel chair in an ICDR arbitration between a multinational company and Taiwanese and U.S. companies on claims concerning parts manufactured for a power plant in Asia.
- Panel chair in an AAA arbitration in a dispute concerning the breach of an agreement for the distribution of chemical additives used in the oil and gas industry.
- Emergency arbitrator in an ICDR arbitration concerning the shareholders of a European sports team.
- Panel member in an ICDR arbitration between a multinational company and a Honduran company on claims for breach of a distribution agreement.
- Panel member in an AAA arbitration in a dispute over equipment used in the oil and gas industry.
- Panel member in an AAA arbitration in a dispute involving a joint venture formed to supply water in connection with the oil and gas industry.
- Panel member in an AAA arbitration in a dispute under Colorado law among the members of a limited liability company over amounts owed to a withdrawing member.
- Panel member in an AAA arbitration in a dispute under North Carolina law regarding contracts for the sale of coal.
- Sole arbitrator in an ICDR arbitration involving Chinese and U.S. parties in a dispute over the sale of solar energy equipment.
- Sole arbitrator in an ICDR arbitration between Kyrgyz and U.S. parties involving the international sale of goods.
- Sole arbitrator in an ICDR arbitration between Canadian and U.S. parties involving contract and securities law issues related to the sale of renewable building products.
- Sole arbitrator in various ICDR arbitrations between Chinese and U.S. parties related to the international sale of goods.
- Sole arbitrator in an ICDR arbitration under Mexican law between a Canadian company and a U.S. company and its Mexican subsidiary on claims related to a mining venture in Mexico.
- Sole arbitrator in an ICDR arbitration in a dispute under English law between a Singapore company and a U.S. company on claims for breach of a contract for the sale of goods related to an offshore oil terminal in Asia.
- Sole arbitrator in an ICDR arbitration in a dispute between various individuals and a Canadian company on claims for breach of contract arising out of share purchase agreement involving a company in the healthcare industry.
- Sole arbitrator in an ICDR arbitration in a dispute between a Chinese company and a U.S. company concerning the manufacture, distribution and sale of die-cast molded parts.
- Sole arbitrator in an ICDR arbitration in a dispute between U.S. and Canadian parties on claims for breach of contract.
- Sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration in a dispute on claims for breach of a contract for the sale of specialty chemicals.
- Sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration on claims for breach of contract between a U.S. company and an Asian company.
- Sole arbitrator in an AAA arbitration alleging breaches of contract regarding payment systems in the financial services industry.
- Sole arbitrator in an AAA arbitration alleging breach fiduciary against a former officer of a Delaware corporation in the oil and gas industry.
- Sole arbitrator in an AAA arbitration in a dispute concerning a venture for waste processing in the oil and gas industry.
- Sole arbitrator in an AAA arbitration in a dispute over cryptocurrency and cybersecurity.
- Sole arbitrator in an AAA arbitration in a dispute concerning e-commerce.
- Sole arbitrator in an AAA arbitration in a dispute on claims for breach of a contract for telecommunications networking services.
- Sole arbitrator in an AAA arbitration in a dispute for breach of a contract for accounting services.
- Arbitrations (as advocate)
- Representing the claimant and counterclaim-respondent in an AAA arbitration and parallel state court litigation relating to disputes with the co-owner of a corporation providing educational services.
- Representing the respondents (the government of an Asian country) in a CIArb Rules arbitration under English law involving claims for breach of a contract for services allegedly performed in multiple jurisdictions around the world.
- Representing the claimant in an ICC arbitration under English law in a dispute with an English company over satellite launch services.
- Representing the claimant and counterclaim-respondent in an ICC arbitration under New York law against the wholly owned subsidiary of a Spanish company in a dispute involving a solar energy project.
- Representing a co-claimant in an ICC arbitration in a multi-party dispute involving the construction of a solar energy project in Arizona.
- Representing the respondent in a British Columbia International Arbitration Centre arbitration in a dispute under British Columbia law over software development.
- Representing the claimant in an ICC arbitration under German law in a dispute over chargeback fines in e-commerce transactions.
- Representing the respondent and counterclaimant in an ICC arbitration under German law in a dispute over electronic payment processing for e-commerce transactions.
- Representing the claimant in an ICC arbitration under English law in a dispute related to a cable television project in Saudi Arabia.
- Representing the claimant in an ICDR arbitration under New York law against a Mexican company in a dispute over a post-closing purchase price adjustment related to the sale of a broadband telecommunications system.
- Representing the claimant in a non-administered AAA Commercial Rules arbitration under New York law seeking a post-closing purchase price adjustment in connection with the sale of a biodiesel plant.
- Representing the seller in multiple non-administered AAA Commercial Rules arbitrations for breach of contract under New York law against the purchaser of natural gas assets, including claims for a post-closing working capital adjustment.
- Representing the claimant in an AAA Commercial Rules arbitration for breach of contract under California law in a dispute arising from the sale of components for electric vehicles.
- International and U.S. litigation
- Representing the defendants, a Canadian company and its U.S. subsidiary, in federal court litigation related to two asset sale transactions involving bankrupt companies in the election services industry.
- Representing the claimant and working with Panamanian counsel in a dispute under Panamanian law arising out of an investment in Panama.
- Representing the plaintiffs in a suit against a Hong Kong conglomerate for securities fraud, fraud, and breach of contract related to a cable television franchise in Hong Kong. After an 11-week jury trial, the plaintiffs won a $125.5 million verdict. Before trial, successfully defended interlocutory proceedings on defendants’ motion to compel arbitration in U.S. District Court, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. After trial, successfully defended the judgment in the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, which affirmed 9-0. Through use of turnover and contempt proceedings, forced the defendants to post a supersedes bond pending appeal, which ensured that after the appeals were over, the plaintiffs would recover the $200 million in damages, interest, and attorneys’ fees to which they were entitled.
- Representing various defendants and working with Israeli counsel in a breach of fiduciary and minority shareholder rights lawsuit in the District Court of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel.
- Representing the claimant and supervising and leading a team of English solicitors and barristers in a suit against a commercial and investment bank in the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, London. The case, in which there was approximately $2 billion in dispute, concerned the extent to which a bank may compete against its customer when the customer has provided the bank with confidential information about the customer’s business and business plans. The English Court of Appeal upheld a preliminary injunction in favor of the client and barred the bank from disposing of an asset that the client contended was acquired in violation of the bank’s duties.
- Representing a defendant in litigation against the California Attorney General’s Office on claims involving GAAP accounting, charitable solicitations, and the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
- Representing the defendant in patent infringement litigation in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.
- Representing three defendants in class action shareholder litigation in the Delaware Chancery Court concerning the merger of two publicly-traded companies.
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