Jenner & Block has expanded its International Arbitration Practice on both sides of the Atlantic with the double appointments of partners Kenneth Beale and James Rogers. Ken joins the Washington, DC office, and James joins the London office, adding a combined total of 45 years of international arbitration and litigation experience.
“Our International Arbitration team takes on some of our clients’ most complex disputes around the world,” said Co-Managing Partners Katya Jestin and Randy Mehrberg. “With their wealth of experience across a diverse set of jurisdictions and sectors – spanning almost every continent – Ken and James are perfectly placed to support our clients in arbitral proceedings and to ensure the best possible outcomes.”
Ken has extensive experience first-chairing high-stakes international arbitrations and has advised clients in more than 100 such proceedings across a variety of industries including financial services, oil and gas, telecommunications, energy, and manufacturing. His recent casework includes guiding companies through breach of contract, shareholder, joint venture, and post-M&A disputes. He routinely advises hedge funds and litigation funders considering litigation and arbitration. Ken also represents clients in significant multi-jurisdictional enforcement actions and in court, often in connection with foreign judicial and arbitral proceedings.
James has particular experience in the energy, mining, infrastructure, technology and construction sectors, and his recent experience includes several arbitrations involving governments and state-controlled entities. He is qualified in New Zealand, Hong Kong and England and has also practiced law in Japan. He regularly advises clients on projects and investments in jurisdictions across the Americas, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and acts as lead counsel and as advocate before the major arbitral institutions.
Ken and James have represented clients in arbitrations before the world’s leading institutions, including the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), American Arbitration Association-International Centre for Dispute Resolution (AAA-ICDR), Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC), and Vienna International Arbitral Centre (VIAC), as well as in matters under the UNCITRAL Rules.
Charlie Lightfoot, chair of Jenner & Block’s International Arbitration Practice, said: “Our International Arbitration Practice is in high demand and adding two partners with the credentials and reputations of James and Ken is a huge boost to our practice. They bring a wealth of experience that will sit seamlessly alongside our existing teams in London, New York and Washington D.C., and will enhance our ability to service clients on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Both Ken and James join Jenner & Block from AmLaw 50 firms. Ken advised clients in international arbitrations, global enforcement actions, and national court litigation in both London and DC at his previous firm, and prior to that helped to build the international arbitration practice and served as the administrative partner in London for another firm. At his previous firm, James was an international arbitration partner in the Hong Kong and London offices where he led many of the firm’s most high profile arbitration mandates.
“As the pace and complexity of globalization continue to increase, significant cross-border, multi-jurisdictional disputes continue to proliferate. I am thrilled to be joining an exceptional team, ideally positioned to guide clients through every stage of these complex disputes and help them achieve their business objectives,” said Ken.
“I’m excited to be joining the London office of Jenner & Block and I look forward to working alongside Charlie, Ken, and the rest of this formidable team on our clients’ most business-critical international disputes,” said James.
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