England - London • Dispute resolution

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

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'A go-to firm for international arbitration', Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s London group is routinely instructed on high-stakes mandates. Former UK Attorney General Lord Peter Goldsmith KC has longstanding experience in representing private parties and sovereign states in groundbreaking international arbitrations; London and Hong Kong-based Tony Dymond is 'excellent for construction-related disputes'; and commercial and investor-state arbitration expert Samantha Rowe and the 'very impressive' Patrick Taylor both work between the firm's London and Paris offices. Within the firm's international counsel pool, Gavin Chesney 'handles very sophisticated commercial arbitration issues', while Robert HooseAimee-Jane Lee and Conway Blake are also integral to the firm's international arbitration offering. Laith NajjarShreya ArenMaxim Osadchiy, Sonja Sreckovic and Monika Hlavkova are the associates to note. In a major boost to the practice Jeffrey Sullivan KC, in July 2023, joined as partner and co-chair of international arbitration in Europe from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team led by Lord Goldsmith is formed by outstanding lawyers from different backgrounds with different levels of seniority.'

  • 'Lord Goldsmith is by far one of the leading lawyers in international arbitration - infinitely knowledgeable and experienced, and a brilliant cross-examiner.'

  • 'Their knowledge of the law and involvement in the particularities of cases is very unique. They are also flexible with the fee structure, which is praised by clients.’

  • ‘The Debevoise & Plimpton team is almost unrivalled in its experience, expertise, depth and overall performance. They have exceptional lawyers and are not only client oriented, but also results driven, which makes them a go-to firm for international arbitration.’

  • 'Patrick Taylor - very impressive. Business savvy, extremely smart, and very responsive.'

  • 'Tony Dymond -is excellent for construction-related disputes.'

  • 'Samantha Rowe is a brilliant lawyer.'

  • ‘Gavin Chesney handles very sophisticated commercial arbitration issues.’

Key clients

  • Tethyan Copper Company Pty
  • CH2M Hill
  • Eutelsat
  • Bechtel Group
  • The Nova Group Investments
  • Shell Petroleum
  • The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria
  • Hydro
  • Costruzioni

Work highlights

  • Defending Tethyan against an arbitration claim brought by the Province of Balochistan (Pakistan).
  • Representing Nova in an ICSID claim against the Romanian Government, in respect of the purported expropriation of assets and breaches of treaty protections.
  • Representing Shell against the Federal Republic of Nigeria in an ICSID case brought under the Netherlands-Nigeria bilateral investment treaty, in relation to breaches of protections.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Rising stars

Shreya Aren

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Shreya Aren is an associate in the firm’s International Dispute Resolution Group and is based in the London office. Her practice focuses on international commercial and investment treaty arbitration. Ms. Aren joined Debevoise in 2019, prior to which she was an associate in the International Arbitration department of a magic circle firm.

Aimee-Jane Lee

Aimee-Jane Lee

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Aimee-Jane Lee is an international counsel in the firm’s International Dispute Resolution Group and is based in the London office. Her practice focuses on international commercial arbitration and litigation, and public international law. Ms. Lee has advised private clients and states across multiple jurisdictions (notably in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe) and a number of industries, including mining, construction, hospitality, advertising and, especially, energy. She has represented clients in arbitrations conducted under the auspices of the main institutions and governed by a variety of substantive and procedural legal systems. Ms. Lee advises on the international protection of investments (notably under bilateral investment treaties, the Energy Charter Treaty and investor-state contracts) and represents her clients in associated disputes. She has also advised extensively on maritime boundary issues, treaty drafting and interpretation, the interaction between public international law and domestic law, international sanctions and human rights. Following a six-month secondment to the legal department of Liberty, the human rights organisation, she has continued to work, pro bono, on human rights issues, notably in relation to proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights and submissions to the United Nations.

Laith Najjar

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Laith Najjar is an associate based in the London office. He is a member of the International Dispute Resolution Group, where his practice focuses on international arbitration, both commercial and investor-state. Mr. Najjar has a particular focus on disputes arising in the energy and natural resources and infrastructure sectors and has acted for a broad range of clients, including oil & gas majors, mining companies, contractors, agribusinesses, independent trading houses, financial institutions and state-owned entities, under most of the major arbitral rules as well as in the English High Court. His representations include acting for clients in a number of different jurisdictions and in disputes that have been governed by a variety of substantive laws.

Leading individuals

Patrick Taylor

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Mr. Taylor’s practice focuses on commercial and investment treaty arbitration, with particular experience in the upstream oil & gas, energy and telecommunications sectors, and tax-related disputes. A UK-qualified solicitor and solicitor-advocate, Mr. Taylor has advised and represented clients in disputes throughout the world, most frequently in Africa, Eastern Europe, Russia and the CIS. Mr. Taylor has acted in arbitrations under the rules of ICSID, the LCIA, the ICC, UNCITRAL, the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, the Nigerian Arbitration and Conciliation Act and the Milan Chamber of Arbitration.

Next Generation Partners

Samantha Rowe

Samantha Rowe

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Samantha J. Rowe is a partner in the International Dispute Resolution and Business Integrity Groups whose practice focuses on international arbitration and public international law. Ms. Rowe has represented private clients and States across multiple jurisdictions (most notably, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe) in arbitrations governed by various substantive laws and conducted under the rules of the ICSID, UNCITRAL, SIAC, the ICC and the LCIA. She has experience across a broad range of industries and sectors, including energy, mining, construction, financial services and pharmaceuticals. She advises clients on a broad range of international law issues, including the international protection of investments, and represents her clients in associated disputes.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Lord Goldsmith KC

Other key lawyers

Tony Dymond, Samantha Rowe, Patrick Taylor, Gavin Chesney, Robert Hoose, Aimee-Jane Lee, Conway Blake, Laith Najjar, Shreya Aren, Maxim Osadchiy, Sonja Sreckovic, Monika Hlavkova, Jeffrey Sullivan KC