Woods LLP

Partner and head of Woods LLP’s International Arbitration practice

Stephen L. Drymer heads the firm’s International Arbitration practice. A litigator and advocate by background and experience, Stephen is a leading figure in domestic and international arbitration. He serves as counsel, mediator, sole arbitrator, co-arbitrator and tribunal president in ad hoc proceedings and in cases administered by the world’s most prominent arbitral institutions.

Stephen also advises parties on a broad range of issues associated with the design, negotiation, drafting and implementation of dispute resolution agreements and strategies. The industries in which he has worked as counsel or arbitrator include manufacturing, infrastructure, construction, petrochemicals, oil and gas, mining, energy, environment, financial services, outsourcing, hospitality, transportation, aviation, IT, telecommunications, aerospace and crop science. 

Stephen is also very active in the resolution of sport-related disputes, among other, in cases before the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. In addition to extensive work as counsel, he has served as arbitrator and or in numerous cases involving a wide range of issues and sports. 

Listed in the world’s top legal directories as a leader in litigation and alternative dispute resolution, Stephen is one of the most sought-after arbitrators in Canada and internationally. 

English, French, Spanish

Institutional panels of arbitrators and mediators, including: 

American Arbitration Association (AAA) / International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR)   China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC)  Thailand Arbitration Centre (THAC)   Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA)  Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)  Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC)  ICC Canada (the Canadian National Committee of the ICC) 

Teaching and Professional Activities  

McGill University Faculty of Law, Guest Lecturer: International Dispute Resolution  McGill University Faculty of Law, Guest Lecturer: Sport Law and Arbitration  Former VP, Arbitration Committee, International Bar Association (IBA)  Former Director, Canada branch of the International Law Association ILA                                                              Former President, Montreal Branch and Honorary Adviser to the United Nations Association in Canada (UNA Canada)  Canada Delegate to United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Working Group II, Revision of the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules (2008-2010)  Governor of the Quebec Bar Foundation 

Professional Associations 

Canadian Bar Association (CBA)  American Bar Association (ABA)  International Bar Association (IBA)  International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA)  Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)  London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)  ICC Canada  CAIL/ITA Center for American and International Law (Institute for Transnational Arbitration)  College of Commercial Arbitration (CCA)   Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society (TCAS) 

McGill University, Faculty of Law, Bachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.) and Common Law (LL.B.), 1990 

Canadian Securities Institute, The Canadian Securities Course, 1983 

Yale University, Bachelor of Arts – Political Science (B.A.), 1983