London’s busy arbitration market has seen two leadership moves, with Haynes Boone and Penningtons Manches Cooper adding partners with experience in energy disputes to head their international arbitration practices.
Louise Woods has joined Haynes Boone as chair of international disputes from Vinson & Elkins, while Penningtons has hired Jean-François Le Gal as head of international arbitration from Pinsent Masons.
Woods spent 13 years at her former firm, where she served as European co-head of international disputes, and is joined on the move by an associate. Her arrival follows the addition of arbitration partner Philipp Kurek in May, formerly of Signature Litigation.
Woods and Kurek are expected to work together on cross-border matters, expanding the London office’s international commercial and investor-state arbitration capabilities. Woods advises on international commercial, investor-state and energy-related disputes, with experience involving Francophone Africa and Latin America.
“Louise brings a strong international arbitration practice and deep experience in energy disputes that will complement our growing capabilities in London and our existing US team,” said London office managing partner, Nick Davis.
He added: “Her experience across complex international matters and her connections throughout the international arbitration community will be valuable to our clients and our team.”
“Haynes Boone’s culture really spoke to me, as did the enthusiasm I felt about growing the London office and expanding its energy disputes practice,” Woods said.
Woods is a solicitor-advocate in England and Wales and often appears at international arbitration tribunals. She is a former president of ArbitralWomen, which promotes women in arbitration, and remains on its advisory council. She also co-founded Women in Energy Connect, a London-based network for women in the energy sector.
Woods is the fifth partner to join Haynes Boone’s London office in 2026. Besides Kurek, the other arrivals have included real estate partner Angus Ford, fund finance partner Jeremy Cross and tax partner Alexandra Ueno-Park.
For his part Le Gal spent more than eight years at Pinsents and before that practised at Brown Rudnick, Gide and Hogan Lovells. He bring more than two decades of experience in arbitration and related proceedings across multiple jurisdictions.
Based in London, Le Gal will work closely with Penningtons' Paris office to support clients across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He is dual qualified in England and France, practising as a barrister in England and Wales and an avocat at the Paris Bar, and has worked in the DIFC.
Like Brooks, his practice includes matters involving Africa and the Middle East, spanning energy and natural resources, life sciences and health, financial services, infrastructure and technology.
Kamran Rehman, Penningtons' head of commercial dispute resolution, said his hire was "a significant step forward in our ambitions to build a market-leading international disputes practice.”
Clare Arthurs, head of strategy for dispute resolution, added: “International arbitration is a key strategic growth area for the firm and Jean-François brings exactly the experience and international reach we need to accelerate that growth.”
Le Gal also accepts appointments as sole arbitrator, co-arbitrator and tribunal chairman, and is registered with institutions including the ICC, LCIA, Dubai International Arbitration Centre, Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration and the CCJA-OHADA Arbitration Centre.
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