‘Able to handle the most difficult and complex international arbitration work’, Norton Rose Fulbright is best known for arbitrations in the energy, infrastructure, mining, transport, aviation, shipping and financial services sectors. Patrick Bourke is EMEA disputes head and Paul Stothard regularly appears as lead advocate in high-value arbitrations. Holly Stebbing is experienced in institutional and ad hoc commercial arbitrations, and Ruth Cowley is ’an outstanding litigator’. Simon Ramsden specialises in energy, natural resources and infrastructure-related arbitrations. Experienced international arbitration practitioners Claire Irwin and Amy Armitage were made partners in January 2024. Former EMEA international arbitration head Sherina Petit departed in late 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘They provide first-class legal advice and their disputes team is excellent. Norton Rose is without question one of the best arbitration specialists in London. They have few rivals able to match the quality of the partners, associates and the range of specialist knowledge within the firm.’
  • ‘An outstanding firm, able to handle the most difficult and complex international arbitration work.’

  • ‘Norton Rose handles complex, high-value arbitrations. The firm has a lot of experience of various different arbitral rules and seats, has lawyers who are cross-qualified, and also partner firms in multiple jurisdictions. As well as being technically sound, they are commercially minded, looking for solutions to difficult problems, but prepared to be tough when that is required.’
  • ‘The fabulous Ruth Cowley is an outstanding litigator with incredible client-care skills and attention to detail. She is a highly-sophisticated operator, who is determined to achieve the best outcomes for her clients - terrific strategic vision and a massive intellect to match.’
  • ‘Patrick Bourke is one of the best lawyers in London when it comes to anything involving numbers or high finance.’
  • ‘Claire Irwin is an enormously talented litigator, who is fully deserving of her recent promotion. She is incredibly hard-working, and with a huge brain - a star of the future.’
  • ‘Holly Stebbing is clever - a good legal brain, commercially minded, calm in a crisis, tough when necessary, and good with clients. She is utterly fantastic. A great leader who understands the client's objectives and delivers them.’

  • ‘Andrew Judkins is a superstar senior associate and a partner in waiting. An absolute workhorse, with a great legal brain and a pleasure to work with. Paul Stothard has a significant arbitration practice in both London and Dubai - one of the cleverest lawyers around...Joseph Bentley has an incredible ability to understand the complexity and detail of the case as well as the wider commercial context and implications for the client of the dispute, providing clear legal advice and offering suggestions of commercial approaches to pursue to encourage settlement.'

Key clients

  • Shell
  • Sonangol PP
  • Barrick

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Patrick Bourke

Other key lawyers

Paul Stothard, Holly Stebbing, Ruth Cowley, Simon Ramsden, Claire Irwin, Amy Armitage, Joseph Bentley, India Furse, Andrew Judkins, Donald Warnock