Deborah Ruff leads Pillsbury’s Arbitration - U.S. & International practice. She has extensive experience in multi-jurisdiction disputes, with a focus on high-value and complex international arbitration in the energy, infrastructure and construction, telecommunications and financial sectors. Deborah conducts international arbitration disputes often over JOAs, the construction of and off-take from refineries and petrochemical plants, as well as rig, energy trading and transport, and coal and nuclear power plant disputes. She also regularly represents clients in other infrastructure, shareholder and financial disputes. Deborah conducts arbitrations under the rules of all of the major institutions and rules including the LCIA, the ICC, DIAC, the Swiss, Stockholm, Hong Kong and UNCITRAL Rules. She has also represented both investors and states in BIT and ICSID cases.
England - London • Dispute resolution
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP‘s ’first-class arbitration group‘ is particularly well known for energy-related disputes. 'One of the top arbitration lawyers in the country', practice head Deborah Ruff specialises in high-value disputes involving clients from the energy, infrastructure, construction, telecoms, banking, and corporate sectors. Ruff also represents both investors and states in bilateral investment treaty and multilateral treaty cases. At counsel level, Julia Kalinina Belcher focuses on CIS, MENA and US-related claims, while Charles Golsong is 'an extraordinary lawyer'.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'A small, but focused group that keeps costs in check, and has superior knowledge and business experience.’
‘A first-class arbitration group. They may be small in number but pack a mighty punch.'
'Hands on and gets deeply involved in cases.’
‘Deborah Ruff and Julia Kalinina Belcher are a formidable and tenacious team. They fight their clients' corner with vigour and determination.
- 'Deborah Ruff now needs to be viewed as one of the top arbitration lawyers in the country.’
- ‘Charles Golsong is a wonderful contact in London. He is efficient, responsive, and an extraordinary lawyer.’
Key clients
- Mobile Telecommunications Company KSC
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Julia Belcher is a dispute resolution counsel based in Pillsbury’s London office, focusing on international arbitration. Julia has substantial experience in complex international disputes, having advised clients in various jurisdictions (in particular, CIS and MENA) and industries (including energy, construction, petrochemicals and financial services). Julia has advised clients under the best known arbitration rules (LCIA, ICC, SCC, DIAC, UNCITRAL) and conducts her own advocacy at arbitration hearings. She also has experience in investor-state disputes and in international litigation, primarily arbitration related (interim relief, enforcement).
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Deborah Ruff