Linklaters has hired former A&O Shearman partner Matthew Hodgson as the Magic Circle firm’s next head of public international law.
Hodgson, who made partner in 2016 in legacy Allen & Overy’s Hong Kong office, will be based in London. He leaves the firm after more than 20 years, having trained and qualified there, first in England and Wales and later in Hong Kong and in New York.
Writing on LinkedIn, he paid generous tribute to his former firm, saying it was “not an easy decision to leave”, adding that over the course of two decades, he has “been privileged to work with some brilliant colleagues, many of whom are now friends”.
Hodgson is a distinguished international arbitration practitioner, who holds higher rights of audience, with expertise in complex disputes arising from cross-border investments. He has represented clients as counsel and advocate in high-stakes commercial arbitrations under all major arbitral rules.
Additionally, he has acted on behalf of investors and states in more than 20 investment treaty disputes conducted under the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and UNCITRAL rules, including states such as Azerbaijan, Bangladesh and Cambodia.
Hodgson has also served as an arbitrator in Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, ICC, London Court of International Arbitration and Singapore International Arbitration Centre cases.
Hodgson’s practice spans a broad range of sectors including energy and infrastructure, life sciences, oil and gas, mining, real estate, technology and telecommunications. He has acted for private equity and funds clients in numerous claims arising out of M&A transactions and joint venture/shareholder disputes, something that Linklaters will be keen to capitalise on.
Alison Wilson, global practice head at Linklaters, said: “With a strong track record in handling complex international arbitration cases and particular experience in complex public international law and investment treaty disputes, Matthew is a fantastic addition to our strong bench. His expertise across many sectors will be instrumental in guiding our clients through the intricacies of their most demanding international disputes.”
Hodgson added: “I am thrilled to be joining Linklaters’ distinguished and growing international arbitration team in London,” adding that the team had “always been highly regarded for its quality, but in recent years has quietly built a formidable global bench”, which he was delighted to join.
His arrival builds on a number of recent high-profile hires for Linklaters’ disputes practice, including the recent addition of three litigation partners in New York. It also added Washington DC-based global co-head of international arbitration Joseph Profaizer in 2024 to work alongside Matthew Weininger KC, himself a 2015 arrival from Herbert Smith Freehills.
Meantime, Hodgson’s former firm – A&O Shearman – recently announced its 2025 partner promotions round, in which no new partners were promoted in international arbitration, the first to be led by Alex Bevan and Marie Stoyanov as co-heads.
The firm also lost arbitration partner Chris Mainwaring-Taylor to Korean firm Bae Kim & Lee in January after 23 years, 12 of which as partner.
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