Roy Schondorf

Dr. Roy Schöndorf is the Head of International Dispute Resolution at Herzog, mainly handling sensitive and high-profile international matters for commercial and governmental clients. In July 2024, Dr. Schöndorf was appointed as a member of the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration. Recently, Dr. Schöndorf was retained by the Government of Israel to advise the Prime Minister in connection with the application to issue an arrest warrant against him in the International Criminal Court.

Dr. Schöndorf represents clients in international arbitration proceedings and accepts appointments as an arbitrator in both local and international arbitrations. He also represents clients in cases before Israeli courts, primarily in cross-border litigation. He has particular expertise in conducting simultaneous proceedings in different countries, the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitration awards, support for legal proceedings conducted abroad, issues related to states’ and international organizations’ immunity, and matters involving international treaties.

In addition to his litigation work, Dr. Schöndorf guides clients through complex crises, particularly those involving interactions with government or law enforcement agencies in Israel and abroad.

Between October 2013 and June 2022, he served as Deputy Attorney General (International Law), the highest public authority in international law. In this capacity, he oversaw all public and private international law issues across the government, regularly advising the Government and Cabinet. He advised on some of the most complex and sensitive matters of state over the past decade, including the maritime boundary agreement with Lebanon, the “Abraham Accords,” attempts to bring Israel before the International Criminal Court and other international instances, Israel’s bilateral investment treaties and free trade agreements, and classified national security matters with international legal dimensions. Dr. Schöndorf was also responsible for handling all international legal proceedings involving the State of Israel. He appeared in proceedings before the International Court of Justice; led the representation of Israel in dozens of legal proceedings in numerous countries, including in sensitive international arbitration proceedings involving economic-commercial matters; advised governmental bodies concerning arbitration demands made by various commercial institutions; and was responsible for preparing Israel’s legal positions in the context of domestic legal proceedings concerning a wide variety of issues ranging from State immunities to the enforcement of foreign judgements and arbitral awards. Dr. Schondorf was also responsible for advancing legislation and treaties in the field of International Arbitration in Israel. Most notably, he initiated and led the drafting of the newly adopted International Commercial Arbitration Law, which provides a novel regulatory framework for the field of International Arbitration in Israel in accordance with advanced international standards.

In February 2022, Dr. Schöndorf was chosen by a professional-public committee as one of three candidates for Israel’s Attorney General.

In addition to public service, Dr. Schöndorf worked in the International Dispute Resolution Group in the New York office of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, where he represented States, multinational corporations, and individuals before numerous arbitration institutions in matters related, inter alia, to the oil and gas industry, infrastructure projects and joint ventures, and in related proceedings before courts in the U.S. and abroad.

Dr. Schöndorf has taught law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv University and Reichman University. He has published articles in leading professional periodicals and is often invited to speak in international conventions on International Arbitration and other topics.