Martin J. Valasek, FCIArb

Martin Valasek is Co-Head of the firm’s International Arbitration Practice Group. He is a leading practitioner in the area of international arbitration, with extensive experience in both investor-state and commercial contract disputes. He regularly acts as counsel and also sits as an arbitrator.

Martin’s experience extends to legal systems on all continents and covers a wide range of industries, including energy, mining, construction, forestry, aerospace, banking, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing. He has provided winning guidance to clients, in both transactions and disputes, under all of the leading rules, including the ICC, LCIA, ICSID and UNCITRAL rules, and other institutional and ad hoc regimes. He has also acted in expert determination proceedings involving complex technical and tax issues.  He has acted as arbitrator and tribunal secretary in several important arbitrations, including the multibillion dollar Yukos-Energy Charter Treaty arbitration.

Martin started his career in arbitration and litigation in New York City, and worked in leading international law firms before joining Bennett Jones. Prior to that, he clerked for Mr. Justice Gonthier of the Supreme Court of Canada, and was editor in chief of the McGill Law Journal.

Martin now works out of the firm’s Montreal and Toronto offices. He is fluent in English, French and Czech, and has a working knowledge of Spanish. He is a frequent speaker, lecturer and contributor to various publications in his areas of practice.

In 2026, Martin obtained the prestigious designation of a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb).