Dr. Roy Schondorf is the Head of International Dispute Resolution at Herzog. He represents clients in international arbitration proceedings and also accepts appointments as an arbitrator in both local and international arbitrations.

Dr. Schondorf represents in Israeli court proceedings, specializing in cross-border cases. His expertise encompasses areas such as the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitration awards, support for legal proceedings conducted abroad, simultaneous proceedings in different countries, issues related to states’ and international organizations’ immunity, matters involving international treaties and more.
In addition to his litigation work, Dr. Schondorf guides clients through complex crises, particularly those involving interactions with government or law enforcement agencies in Israel and abroad.

From October 2013 until June 2022, he served as Deputy Attorney General (International Law), the highest authority for international law in the public service. In this capacity, he oversaw all public and private international law issues across the government, and regularly advised 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.

In this role, Dr. Schondorf was also responsible for handling all international legal proceedings in which the State of Israel was involved. 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 has experience in representing in enforcement proceedings in Israel.

Dr. Schondorf was also responsible for advancing legislation and treaties in the field of International Arbitration in Israel. He initiated and led the drafting of the proposed International Commercial Arbitration Law, which, when adopted, will provide a novel regulatory framework for the field of International Arbitration in Israel in accordance with advanced international standards. He oversaw, inter alia, Israel’s negotiation and signing of the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation (the 2019 Singapore Convention); Israel’s negotiation of the United Nations Convention on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration (the 2014 Mauritius Convention); and Israel’s participation in committees of the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), including the deliberations regarding the Expedited Arbitration Rules (2021) and Israel’s initiative for Provisions for Technology-related Dispute Resolution (2022).

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

In addition to public service, Dr. Schondorf worked in the International Dispute Resolution Group in the New York office of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. During his time there, Dr. Schondorf 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. Schondorf 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.