King & Spalding has hit WilmerHale for a five-partner arbitration team across London, Washington DC and New York led by renowned practitioner Gary Born.
Born spent nearly 40 years at his former firm, where he was chair of international arbitration. Joining him for the move are London duo Franz Schwarz and Marleen Krueger and Washington DC-based partners Rachael Kent and Danielle Morris.
The partners have practised together for two decades and bring extensive experience handling international disputes in common law and civil law jurisdictions worldwide across sectors including energy, financial services, pharmaceuticals and technology, as well as disputes involving public international law and investment protections.
King & Spalding's chair, Robert Hays, said the hire made the firm “peerless in the international arbitration and litigation space and adds a market-leading team to our London office, which continues to be a high-priority growth target for the firm".
Born will co-lead King & Spalding's international disputes practice alongside Atlanta-based partner Elizabeth Silbert, working out of London and New York.
Born is recognised as one of the world's leading international arbitration advocates. He has participated as counsel in more than 750 international arbitrations, including four of the largest ICC arbitrations and several of the most significant ad hoc arbitrations in recent history. His practice covers joint venture, investor-state, M&A, financial services, project finance, energy, IP, construction and insurance disputes.
Meanwhile, Schwarz, who has been involved in more than 300 arbitrations as counsel and arbitrator, will lead King & Spalding's civil law team.
“King & Spalding’s international office footprint, combined with its depth in commercial litigation and special matters and strong cross-practice collaboration, complements our team’s strengths as advocates," Born said. "Together, we have created what is clearly the preeminent platform for international disputes globally.”
A WilmerHale spokesperson commented: “We thank our former colleagues for their contributions to our clients and the firm and wish them well in their future endeavours.”
The team's move comes just a few weeks after King & Spalding expanded its London office at 8 Bishopsgate for the second time in two years to accommodate growing headcount.
Over the past 18 months, the firm has added partners across areas including tax, finance, private equity M&A and energy and projects. In May, corporate real estate partner Ray Fang and competition specialist Jade-Alexandra Fearns joined from Goodwin and Paul Hastings respectively.
The office, which grew revenue 48% to $148.2m in the last financial year, now houses around 50 partners.
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