Gisela Knuts

Gisela Knuts
Partner
Office: Helsinki
Tel. +358 20 506 6539
Mobile: +358 40 769 8265
gisela.knuts@roschier.com
Primary practices
Dispute Resolution
Languages
Swedish, Finnish, English, German, Danish
Profile
Gisela Knuts is a Partner specialized in commercial dispute resolution. Gisela’s practice
includes litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. She has been involved in
disputes relating to, e.g. construction, energy, distribution, M&A and anti-trust damages.
Gisela practices in both Finland and Sweden.
Gisela also frequently acts as arbitrator under a variety of arbitration rules as well as in ad hoc
proceedings.
In addition to an LL.M. degree, Gisela holds an LL.D. from the University of Helsinki and has
been a visiting scholar at the University of Uppsala. She has also trained at the Bench.
Gisela frequently lectures on topics relating to dispute resolution at both universities and
conferences. She also contributes on a regular basis to international publications with articles
on international dispute resolution.
Awards & rankings
Gisela is recognized as one of the leading experts in dispute resolution/arbitration in Finland
by international legal directories such as Chambers Europe, Chambers Global and Who's Who
Legal. According to the clients, Gisela is “creative and hardworking” (The Legal 500, 2014) as
well as "very intelligent and strong in the courtroom." (Chambers Global, 2014).
Career
Roschier (2000-), Partner since 2011
University of Uppsala, Visiting Scholar (2004)
Law clerk, trained at the Bench (2000)
Memberships & professional appointments
Member of the Finnish Bar Association
Member of the International Bar Association; IBA Arb 40, Member of the Steering Committee
(2014-2015)
Member of the Finnish Arbitration Association
Member of the ICC Commission on International Arbitration
Member of Arbitral Women
Member of the Law Society of Finland
Finland Chamber of Commerce Redemption Board, Board Member (2013-2015)
Åbo Akademi Foundation, Board member and Advisory board member (2012-)
Member of the Swedish Arbitration Association; Executive committee member (2011-2015)
National Board of Nordic Lawyers’ Conference, Board member (2008-2014), Secretary (20032008)
AIJA, International Arbitration Commission, President (2006-2009), Vice president (2004-2006)
Publications
Book review of Anna-Liisa Autio’s doctoral dissertation entitled “Lainkäyttö yritysten
riidanratkaisussa” (“Dispute resolution practices among companies”), with A. Keinänen,
Lakimies 2014
"Recourse to the Courts against an Arbitral Award", in Ulf Franke et al. (Ed.): "International
Arbitration in Sweden. A Practitioner's Guide", Kluwer Law International 2013
“Jura Novit Curia and the Right to be Heard – an Analysis of Recent Case Law”, Arbitration
International 2012
“Korvaus tarpeettoman turvaamistoimen aiheuttamasta vahingosta” (”Compensation for
Damage due to Groundless Interim Relief”), Lakimies 2011
”Skiljeförfarandeundantaget i Brysselförordningen – Quo vadis?” (“The Arbitration Exception
in the Brussels Regulation – Quo vadis?”), Festskrift till Gustaf Möller, November 2011
”West Tankers – ett bakslag för internationellt skiljeförfarande in Europa” (”West Tankers – a
Backlash for International Arbitration in Europe”), Tidskrift utgiven av Juridiska Föreningen i
Finland 2010
“Asiakirjakategorian esittämispyyntö kansainvälisessä välimiesmenettelyssä International Bar
Associationin Rules of Evidencen mukaan” (”Discovery in International Arbitration in
Accordance with the Rules of Evidence of the International Bar Association”), in Risto Koulu
(Ed.): Oikeudenkäyntejä ja tuomioistuimia: Juhlakirja Juha Lappalainen 60 vuotta, Helsinki 2007
”Förfarandegarantier vid domstolsanknuten medling” (“Procedural Guarantees in Courtannexed Mediation”), Doctoral Thesis, Suomalainen Lakimies-yhdistys 2006
”Tuomioistuinsovittelu – vaihtoehtoinen riidanratkaisu osaksi riidan-ratkaisun
virallisjärjestelmää Suomessa?” (”Court-annexed Mediation – Alternative Dispute Resolution
to be Integrated to the Public System in Finland?”), Defensor Legis 2003
Recent speaking engagements
Session "The influence of international arbitration on domestic litigation and vice versa", IBA
Annual Conference, Vienna, Austria, 6 October 2015 (Panelist)
Young Arbitrators' Forum: Independence and Impartiality - The New IBA Guidelines "What's
new about the New IBA Guidelines?", ICC YAF & YAC, Copenhagen, Denmark, 4 September
(Speaker)
Panel Discussion "Legal framework and enforcement of contractual obligations", Heuking
Kühn Lüer Wojtek - Trade Sanctions and International Arbitration Conference, Düsseldorf,
Germany, 26 August 2015 (Panelist)
Panel Discussion "Antitrust follow-on damages claims – is there a true potential for
arbitration?" GAR Live, Frankfurt, Germany, 3 June 2015 (Panelist)
Symposium “Young International Arbitration Practitioner’s Workshop on Witness Testimony”
presented by the IBA Arb40 Subcommittee of the Arbitration Committee, IBA Annual
Conference, Tokyo, Japan, 19 October 2014 (Moderator)
Table Session “Anti-suit injunctions: an efficient tool for arbitrators to preserve the
effectiveness of the arbitral process?” Co-Chairs’ Circle 1st Global Conference, Berlin,
Germany, 19 September 2014 (Moderator)
Panel Discussion “Arbitration During the next 40 years: preparing for the challenge” Swiss
Arbitration Association ASA Conference, Bern, Switzerland, 5 September 2014 (Session Chair)
Panel Discussion "Näkökulmia välimiesmenettelylain uudistamiseen" ("Perspectives on a
revision of the Finnish Arbitration Act"), Young Arbitration Club Finland, Helsinki, Finland, 2
April 2014 (Panelist)
Serving as opponent of Anna-Liisa Autio’s doctoral dissertation entitled “Lainkäyttö yritysten
riidanratkaisussa” (“Dispute resolution practices among companies”), University of Turku, 1
March 2014
Panel Discussion “Appointment of Arbitrators”, YAS Young Reception, St. Petersburg, Russia,
27 June 2013 (Panelist)
Panel Discussion “Persuasive Written Advocacy – How to Prepare Convincing Written
Submission”, Helsinki International Arbitration Day 2013, Helsinki, Finland, 22 May 2013
(Moderator)
Presentation “The impact of trade sanctions on international arbitration”, ICC YAF Event,
Geneva, Switzerland, 11 January 2013 (Speaker)
Panel Discussion “Attorney-Client Privilege in the Digital Age”, American Bar Association’s
Conference on the Resolution on CIS-related Business Disputes, Moscow, Russia, 21
September 2012 (Panelist)
Presentation “Turvaamistoimista” (Precautionary measures), Finnish Bar Association’s
Seminar on Precautionary measures, Helsinki, Finland, 3 September 2012 (Speaker)
Seminar “Emergency Arbitration – a valuable addition to the tool box or just another
marketing trick”, Annual General Meeting of Swedish Arbitration Association, Stockholm,
Sweden, 29 May 2012 (Moderator)
Education
University of Helsinki, LL.D. (2006)
University of Helsinki, LL.M. (1999)
SAA Training Programme for Arbitrators (2010-2011)
Selected representations
Representing a global group of companies against a 150 MEUR claim in relation to an
investment.
Representing a Finnish institutional investor in arbitration proceedings concerning an alleged
breach of contract.
Acting for a Nordic client against a 60 MEUR anti-trust damages litigation in relation to a cartel.
Representing a Nordic group of companies in 50 MEUR anti-trust damages litigation.
Acting for a Nordic chemicals producer in a 80 MEUR anti-trust damages litigation in relation
to a cartel.
Acting as chair, party appointed and sole arbitrator in international arbitrations under Finnish,
Swedish and Danish arbitration rules.