CV
Dr. Gisela Knuts
Helsinki, Finland
+358 40 769 8265
gisela.knuts@giselaknuts.com
Nationality: Finnish
Career
Independent Arbitrator (since 2022)
Roschier (2000 – 2022): Associate and Senior Associate (2000 – 2011), Partner (2011 – 2022), Head of Dispute Resolution Team in Finland (2012 – 2019), Head of Dispute Resolution Practice in Finland (2019 – 2022), Head of Helsinki office (2019 – 2022)
Pargas District Court, Law clerk (1999 – 2000)
Education
University of Helsinki, LL.D. (2006)
University of Helsinki, LL.M. (1999)
SAA Training Programme for Arbitrators (2010 – 2011)
Areas of expertise and experience
- As arbitrator
Gisela’s main expertise is as arbitrator in international commercial arbitrations. Her arbitrator experience comprises of about forty cases, mostly as chair.
She has acted as arbitrator in proceedings under institutional arbitration rules, including ICC, SCC, FAI, DIA, DIS and the Swiss Rules, as well as in ad hoc proceedings, applying a variety of substantive rules of law.
Gisela has arbitrated disputes arising out of, e.g., joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, shareholders’ agreements, international sales and related transactions, agency and distribution, licensing, construction, and engineering projects, across a wide range of business sectors.
Gisela also has experience as arbitrator in statutory squeeze-out proceedings under the Finnish Companies Act.
- As counsel
Before pursuing a career as a full-time arbitrator, Gisela acted for more than twenty years as counsel in commercial dispute resolution, including international and domestic arbitration, complex cross-border and domestic litigation, and ADR. In this respect, Gisela has acted as lead counsel and advised clients in multi-million-euro disputes in fields such as post-M&A, construction (on- and offshore), engineering, projects & energy, distribution, sale of goods, insolvency, tax, financial instruments, corporate law and shareholder relations, director’s liability, ICT, and competition damages. Moreover, she has experience acting as counsel in white collar crime matters.
- As strategic and business advisor
In addition to her dispute resolution expertise, Gisela has considerable experience in governance and compliance related issues as well as risk management, both in relation to corporations and not-for-profit organisations.
Gisela also acts as strategic, legal and financial advisor to corporations and private individuals and takes a special interest in wealth management.
Positions of trust
The Finland Arbitration Institute, Board member and Vice-Chair (since 2022)
Veritas Pension Insurance, Chair of the Board of Directors (since 2023)
Aktia Bank Plc, member of Shareholders’ Nomination Board (since 2019)
Åbo Akademi Foundation, Board member (2012 – 2022), Chair (2019 – 2022)
Rettig Capital Ab & Rettig Group Ab, Board observer and advisor to the owners (2016 – 2022)
Membership in professional organisations
ICC Commission on International Arbitration
Finnish Arbitration Association
Swedish Arbitration Association
International Bar Association
Recognitions
As counsel, Gisela was recognised as a leading expert in dispute resolution in Finland by the following international legal directories:
Chambers (band 1)
The Legal 500 as Leading Individual (since 2017)
Winner of Benchmark Litigation Europe Award 2020: the Lawyer of the Year for Finland
Who’s Who Legal as Thought Leader in Arbitration (since 2017)
Who’s Who Legal as Global Leader in the categories Arbitration and M&A
Who’s Who Legal as Future Leader in Arbitration
Testimonials
“She is very skilful as counsel and arbitrator”, “She is an outstanding attorney with the sharpest of legal minds” (Who’s Who Legal, 2022)
Gisela is “an excellent leader and coordinator” who is able “to grasp key issues swiftly and deliver clear, practical options and solutions, even under difficult situations” (Chambers Europe, 2020)
Clients characterise Gisela as “meticulous and committed to her work”, “highly experienced” (The Legal 500, 2019)
Clients describe Gisela as “well-known and respected litigator, most notably active in competition-related disputes” (Chambers Europe, 2020)
She is lauded for offering “very good and efficient client service and communication” (GAR100, 2019)
According to clients, Gisela is “very fast, easy to reach and work with” (Chambers Global, 2018)
Gisela is also commended by clients for her “international take on everything” (Chambers Europe, 2017)
Publications
“Recourse to the Courts Against an Arbitral Award” in “International Arbitration in Sweden: A Practitioner’s Guide” 2nd Edition, Kluwer Law International B.V., 2021
“Domarens förlikningsverksamhet och rätten till rättvis rättegång” (“Facilitation of settlement by the courts and the right to a fair trial”), Festskrift till Dan Frände, 2017
“Toolkit for Award Writing”, IBA Arb40 Subcommittee, 2016
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, 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 Court-annexed Mediation”), Doctoral Thesis, Suomalainen Lakimies-yhdistys, 2006
“Tuomioistuinsovittelu – vaihtoehtoinen riidanratkaisu osaksi riidanratkaisun virallisjärjestelmää Suomessa?” (“Court-annexed Mediation – Alternative Dispute Resolution to be Integrated to the Public System in Finland?”), Defensor Legis, 2003
Languages
Mother tongue: Swedish
Fluent: English, Finnish
Working knowledge: German, Danish, Norwegian