Robert H. Pees
Partner and Senior Legal Advisor
rpees@akingump.com
Areas of Focus
- Professional Liability
- Complex Commercial Litigation
- International Arbitration
- Investment Funds Litigation
- Disputes & Investigations
Biography
- Senior in-house legal advisor to the firm.
- Litigator with experience leading teams in high-profile, complex, multidistrict litigation, cross-border disputes, arbitration and mediation.
As the firm’s general counsel from 2021 through 2025, Bob led the firm’s risk management functions across Akin’s offices worldwide. He continues to work closely with firm leadership to address risk mitigation in alignment with key strategic initiatives.
Bob provides advice across a broad array of matters, including risk management, professional liability, legal ethics, litigation, compliance, insurance and training.
Prior to his general counsel role, Bob handled commercial litigation and domestic and international arbitration arising from securities offerings and corporate transactions.
Representative Work
- As Akin’s general counsel from 2021 to 2025, oversaw the firm’s risk management functions, including disputes resolution, legal ethics, risk and compliance services, including anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance, information governance and cybersecurity.
- A partner at the firm since 1996, Bob has represented clients in a variety of high-profile matters, including lawsuits against major financial institutions and multinational corporations.
- Has also represented companies in the financial services, technology and insurance industries in litigation, international and domestic arbitration, and mediation.
- Has acted as an advisor to boards of directors, special committees, and investment fund founders and CEOs.
- Pro bono experience includes the authorship of amicus briefs before the Supreme Court of the United States on subject matters ranging from the right of counsel in death penalty collateral proceedings to the interpretation of federal education statutes. He has acted pro bono as lead counsel in two trials under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
EducationJ.D., Harvard Law School, cum laude, 1987
B.A., University of Texas at Austin, summa cum laude, 1984
J.D., Harvard Law School, cum laude, 1987
B.A., University of Texas at Austin, summa cum laude, 1984
Bar AdmissionsNew York
New York
Recognitions
- The Legal 500 US, Dispute Resolution, Securities Litigation: Defense, 2018-2019.
- BTI Consulting, Client Service All-Star and MVP, 2014 and 2015.
Speeches and Publications
- “How Should Educational Institutions Prepare for the Wave of Lawsuits from COVID-19?” Akin Webinar, May 21, 2020.
