Sebastian Wuschka LL.M. (Geneva MIDS)
Areas of practice
Sebastian Wuschka assists domestic and foreign clients in relation to complex litigation and arbitration proceedings, with a strong focus on public international law matters (including public international law advisory work).
He has assisted both corporate investors and state-owned enterprises with their investment disputes under bilateral investment treaties and the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). His expertise further covers questions of EU law, international human rights, environmental and humanitarian law.
In addition to his public international law work, Sebastian Wuschka’s practice covers commercial arbitration under all major institutional rules, in particular of the ICC and the DIS, as well as the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards and set-aside proceedings. He also sits as an arbitrator.
Vita
Sebastian Wuschka has been a member of Luther’s Complex Disputes team since 2014. He currently is a research fellow in tax disputes and international arbitration at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, and of counsel in Luther’s Hamburg office. Since 2024, he also serves as one of the Co-Chairs of DIS40 – the initiative for young arbitration practitioners of the German Arbitration Institute (DIS).
Sebastian Wuschka studied law in Bochum (Dipl. Jur., 2012) and Geneva (MIDS LL.M., 2014) and holds certificates in both private and public international law from The Hague Academy of International Law (2014 and 2017). During his bar qualification period with the Higher Regional Court of Hamburg, he inter alia also worked on international law and EU law matters at Germany’s Hamburg-based Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, on human rights law questions relating to mineral supply chains at the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) in Bonn and with the international arbitration practice of a renowned US law firm in Washington, D.C.
An associated member of Ruhr-University Bochum’s Institute for the International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict, Sebastian Wuschka has served as a visiting lecturer for international dispute settlement at Ruhr-University Bochum, for public international law and human rights law at the University of Hamburg as well as for international investment law at Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg.
Honors and distinctions
- The Legal 500 Germany 2026: Recommendation in the category "Dispute Resolution - Arbitration (including International Arbitration)" (first recommendation in 2023)
- Lexology Index 2026: Award "Global Elite Thought Leader" in "Thought Leaders - Global Elite - Arbitration: Under 45 - Non-Partners" (first awarded in 2025) as well as award "Future Leader" in "Arbitration - Future Leaders: Non-Partners" ("Sebastian is a very knowledgeable arbitration lawyer with an impressive array of expertise in public international law", "He is excellent in both commercial and investment arbitration disputes", "His outstanding arbitration practice has earned him a stellar reputation in the legal community", first awarded in 2021) and recommendation "National Leader" in "Germany - Arbitration" (first recommended in 2025)
- Best Lawyers 2026: Recommendation in “International Arbitration” und “Litigation”
- Best Lawyers 2024: Recommendation "Ones to Watch" in "Arbitration and Mediation" (first recommendation in 2023)
Publications
- Case Note regarding German Federal Court of Justice, Decision of 27 March 2025 - Rejection of Declaration of Enforceability of a Cost Decision in Light of an Arbitration Agreement contrary to EU Law, EuZW - European Journal of Business Law 2025, Issue 21, pp. 1070-1071
- ISU v. Commission – EU law and (sports) arbitration in conflict (again)?, b-Arbitra – Belgian Review of Arbitration 2025, Heft / Issue 1, 90-100
- EU führt umfassendes Anerkennungs- und Vollstreckungsverbot für Entscheide auf Basis von Art. 248 der russischen Arbitrazhprozessordnung ein, in: SchiedsVZ / German Arbitration Journal 23 (2025) 1, p. 27-29 (together with Nele Wachholz)
- Zum Umgang mit russischen Anti-Arbitration Injunctions in der internationalen Handelsschiedsgerichtsbarkeit, in: SchiedsVZ, Issue 6/2024 / German Arbitration Journal 22, p. 285-291
- Brexit 2.0: The United Kingdom Leaves the Energy Charter Treaty, in: Kluwer Arbitration Blog, 16 June 2024
- Case Note: UK Supreme Court Authorization of the Enforcement of the Micula ICSID Award during the Brexit Transition Period Violated EU Law, in: Transatlantic Law Journal 2024, Issue 3/2024, p. 131
- International Humanitarian Law and International Investment Law: Mapping a Developing Relationship, in: Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law, Volume 25 (2022), p. 41–69 (together with co-author Dr Tobias Ackermann)
- The Energy Charter Treaty at a Tipping Point – Modernization Efforts, Withdrawal Plans and their Legal Consequences, in: ZEuS – Zeitschrift für Europarechtliche Studien 2024, p. 59-90 (together with Philipp Kehl)
- The Applicability of Investment Treaties in the Context of Russia’s Aggression against Ukraine, in: ICSID Review - Foreign Investment Law Journal, Volume 38, Issue 2, Spring 2023, p. 453–471 (together with Dr. Tobias Ackermann)
- "EU Law and Investment Arbitration: Of Cooperation, Conflict and the EU Legal Order's Autonomy", in: Cambridge Compendium of International Commercial and Investment Arbitration, edited by S. Kröll, A. K. Bjorklund & F. Ferrari, Cambridge University Press, 2023
- ‘Virtual Oral Proceedings in International Arbitration – Admissibility, Implementation and Outlook’ in: Yearbook of Digitalisation and the Law, edited by E. Hoffberger-Pippan, R. Ladeck & Peter Ivankovics, NWV Verlag, 2022 (together with Ralf Lewandowski)
- Investment Protection in Post-Brexit EU-UK Relations, in: ICSID Review - Foreign Investment Law Journal, Volume 38, Issue 1, Winter 2023, S. 39–53 (together with Laura Peters)
- International Investment Agreements and the International Tax System: The Potential of Complementarity and Harmonious Interpretation, in: Bulletin for International Taxation: Vol. 75 (2021), Issue 11/12, 687-703 (together with Robert Danon)
- Editor of the book ‘Investments in Conflict Zones - The Role of International Investment Law in Armed Conflicts, Disputed Territories, and “Frozen” Conflicts’, Nijhoff International Investment Law Series, Volume 15, Brill 2020 (together with Tobias Ackermann)
- ‘Investment Tribunals Adjudicating Claims Relating to Occupied Territories - Curse or Blessing?’, in: The Legality of Economic Activities in Occupied Territories, edited by A. Duval & E. Kassoti, Routledge 2020
- Shareholders Direct Claims, in: Jus Mundi Investment Law and Arbitration Wiki, 28 January 2025
- ‘Procedural Aspects of the Obligation of Non-Recognition Before International Investment Tribunals’, in: International Investment Law and the Law of Armed Conflict (European Yearbook of International Economic Law - Special Issue), edited by K. Fach Gómez, A. Gourgourinis & C. Titi, Springer Verlag 2019
- Durch Annexion „internationalisierte“ Investitionen – eine Anomalie im Investitionsschutzrecht?, , in: Note on the judgment of the Swiss Federal Tribunal of 16 October 2018 – 4A_396/2017, in: Arbitration Journal / German Arbitration Journal 17 (2019) 2, p. 93-100
- ‘Law as a Promise: Legitimate Expectations and Domestic Legislation’, in: New Horizons of International Arbitration – Issue 5 (Collection of Papers, Russian Arbitration Day 2019), edited by A.V. Asoskov, A.N. Zhiltsov & R.M. Khodykin
- "Investment Claims and Annexation of Territory: Where General International Law and Investment Law Collide?", in: International Challenges in Investment Law and Arbitration, edited by M. Akbaba & G. Capurro, Routledge 2018
- Investment Protection and the EU after Achmea, in: Zeitschrift für Europarechtliche Studien (ZEuS), Heft 1/2018, S. 25-46
- From the Jay Treaty Commissions Towards a Multilateral Investment Court: Addressing the Enforcement Dilemma, in: Indian Journal of Arbitration Law (IJAL), Issue 6 (2017) 1, p. 113-132
- Das Investitionsschutzrecht: Rechtssicherheit für deutsche Investoren auf der Krim?, in: Ost/Letter des Ostinstituts Wismar, Issue 3/2016
- Case Comment: Tribunal Declines to Exercise Jurisdiction in Philip Morris v. Australia, in: SchiedsVZ / German Arbitration Journal, Issue 4/2016, p. 226-233
- Horror Vacui: Why Investment Treaties Should Apply to Illegally Annexed Territories, in: in: Journal of Int'l. Arbitration, Issue 3/2016, p. 245-268
- Ein Investitionsgerichtshof – Der große Wurf der EU-Kommission?, in: Zeitschrift für Europarechtliche Studien (ZEuS), Issue 2/2016, p. 153-176
- "Investment arbitration: Individual legal protection or “anti-democratic rule of corporations”?" in: Free Trade vs. Democracy, edited by S. Buszewski, H. Rathke & S. Martini, Nomos, 2016
Blog posts
- ISU v. Commission – the “Achmea moment” for sports arbitration and beyond?
- The Chile-EU Advanced Framework Agreement (AFA) – Facilitating and Protecting EU In-vestments Relevant for Energy Transition and E-Mobility
- Anniversary expropriations: On the latest developments in Crimea
- Iran-US sanctions case takes jurisdictional hurdle at the International Court of Justice
- Investment protection in EU-UK relations after Brexit
- On ISDS Reform and the ICSID-UNCITRAL Draft Code of Conduct for Adjudicators
- European Parliament approves EU-Singapore FTA and EU-Singapore IPA
- Does the ECJ slam the door in the face of intra-EU investment tribunals?
Lectures
- 10.07.2025: Deutsche Windenergieregulierung auf verfassungs- und völkerrechtlichem Prüfstand: Strabag vor dem BVerfG und ICSID, DVIR / ILA German Branch, Arbeitskreis Investitionsschutzrecht
- 10.07.2025: Moderator, Lunch DIScussion: Sanctions and Institutional Arbitration, Deutsche Institution für Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit e.V.
- 01.11.2024: Third-party Funding in Investor-state Arbitration: A Tool for Access to Justice or Abuse of the ISDS System?| Panel discussion hosted by Squire Patton Boggs
- 31.10.2024: Investment Dispute Settlement in the 21st Century | DIS / DIHK / HU Berlin Conference: The Rule of Law and the Future of Investment Protection
- 10.09.2024: Compensation in Tax-related Investment Disputes: Invitational Seminar "Tax Issues in International Investment Arbitration", Université de Lausanne
- 12.12.2023: Das Investitionsschutzrecht in der anwaltlichen Praxis
- 13.10.2023: Disputes and Arbitration in Armed Conflicts – New Global and Regional Developments
- 31.08.2023: The attractiveness of Germany as arbitral seat in view of recent developments
- 26.07.2023: „Zurück in die Vergangenheit? Russland startet Enteignungen"
- 26.07.2023: unyer Webinar I Back to the past? Russia starts expropriations
- 23.06.2023: Die Rolle des Investitionsschutzrechts im Rahmen des russischen Angriffskriegs gegen die Ukraine
- 22.06.2023: Internationale Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit in der anwaltlichen Praxis
- 05.05.2023: The role of international courts and tribunals amidst the conflict in Ukraine: Avenues for justice and peace?
- 27.03.2023: Force Majeure and State Action: Lessons from the Rolimpex Case and Beyond
- 29.09.2022: World Arbitration Update
- 14.09.2022: DIS40 Autumn Conference 2022: ESG – Dawn of A New Era of Disputes in International Arbitration?
- 08.09.2022: ITA-ALARB Americas Workshop - Environmental vs Investment Protection: Are They Mutually Exclusive?
- 06.12.2021: The FET Standard’s Interpretation in Light of the Cairn Energy Award, Webinar: The Fair and Equitable Treatment (FET) Standard and Tax Measures, University of Lausanne
- 24.09.2021: Climate Change Regulations in Investment Arbitration, Conference: International Dispute Settlement in Times of Crises, Graduate Institute Geneva
- 28.05.2021: Panelist, International Disputes Settlement – Perspectives from Young Practitioners, University of Hamburg
- 07.09.2019: Panel "Human Rights, Process and Remedies: Universal and Regional Inter-State Procedures and Their Untapped Potential", Association of Human Rights Institutes Annual Conference 2019 - Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law: Challenges Ahead
- 19.01.2019: Neuere Entwicklungen bzgl. Schadensersatz für durch ausländische Investoren verursachte Umweltschäden, 11. Tagung des Krickenbecker Kreises des Internationalen Investitionsrechts (IILC Cologne)
- 17.10.2018: Investment Tribunals Adjudicating Claims Relating to Occupied Territories – Curse or Blessing?, The International Legality of Economic Activities in Occupied Territories, Colloquium, T.M.C. Asser Institute
- 21.08.2018: The Crimea Claims - Internationalization of Investments by Way of Annexation?, 78th Biennial Conference of the International Law Association, Sydney, 19. - 24. August 2018
- 05.10.2017: The Obligation of Non-Recognition of Situations Created by an Illegal Use of Force before International Investment Tribunals, International Investment Law & the Law of Armed Conflict
- 03.02.2017: Review of Jurisdiction Ex Officio: An ICSID Tribunal's Duty?, ASIL & University of Missouri Works-in-Progress Conference: Issues in International Dispute Resolution
- 21.01.2017: Besteht eine Pflicht zur Zuständigkeitsprüfung ex officio für ICSID-Schiedsgerichte?, 9. Tagung des Krickenbecker Kreises zum Internationalen Investitionsrecht (IILC Cologne)
Memberships
- Deutsch-Amerikanische Juristen-Vereinigung (DAJV)
- International Law Association (ILA)
- Deutsche Vereinigung für internationales Recht (DVIR)
- American Society of International Law (ASIL)
- Young ICCA
- German Arbitration Institute (DIS) and DIS40 (Co-Chair since 2024)
- ICC YAF
- Young ICSID
- LCIA Young International Arbitration Group (YIAG)
- Foreign Direct Investment International Arbitration Moot Practitioner Review Board
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Dr Stephan Bausch, D.U.
Partner
Cologne
Jutta Wittler
Partner
Cologne
Anne Caroline Wegner, LL.M. (European University Institute)
Partner
Dusseldorf
Volker Steimle
Partner
Cologne
Dr Steffen Gaber, LL.M. (Sydney)
Partner
Stuttgart
Benjamin Schwenker
Counsel
Dusseldorf
Prof Dr Florian Schulz M.B.A. (Nimbas)
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Richard Happ
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Barbara Schmidt
Partner
Leipzig
Fabienne Scharfe, LL.M. (Tulane, New Orleans)
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Tim Rauschning
Partner
Hamburg
Sebastian Wuschka LL.M. (Geneva MIDS)
Of Counsel
Hamburg
Katharina Klenk-Wernitzki, Dipl. Reg.-Wiss
Partner
Berlin, Cologne
Stephanie Quaß
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Maxim Oertel
Senior Associate
Berlin
Dr Frederic Tewes
Partner
Dusseldorf