Akin Gump Launches London International Disputes Practice With Linklaters Hire

(London, United Kingdom) – International law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP today announced the launch of an international litigation and arbitration practice in London with the hire of Linklaters’ head of energy disputes, Justin Williams.

Rick Burdick, Akin Gump’s international managing partner, said, “The launch of a litigation and dispute resolution practice in London is a critical part of our strategy.  We are seeing, particularly in the corporate and funds sphere, clients with an increasing number of disputes with origins in the financial crisis.  Justin is a litigator with a great deal of dispute resolution and international arbitration experience, particularly in the energy, infrastructure and funds sector.”

Mr. Williams is a commercial litigator and arbitrator with wide experience in litigation, international arbitration, mediation and expert determination across a range of international commercial disputes in Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, India, China, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, North America and Latin America.  His particular focus is energy and infrastructure and he is a recognised leader in the field of energy dispute resolution (as rated by Chambers UK, Chambers Global, Legal 500). He has significant experience in disputes with states, including expropriation cases, and has worked on some of the highest profile international oil and gas (upstream, midstream and downstream) and energy infrastructure disputes.

Mr. Williams commented, “Akin Gump’s global energy practice in Europe is very highly regarded.  Launching a dispute resolution practice in London is a logical step, and will give us tremendous opportunities to advise clients globally.  It is an exciting new start, and one which will no doubt be a rewarding challenge.”  

Mr. Williams will become part of the firm’s expanding English law practice, headed by Steve Blakeley, and will provide expertise in contentious matters to clients of the office’s corporate and funds practices.  He will work closely with corporate energy partners in London, including Doug Glass and Fred Heller, and with the firm’s U.S. energy litigation team, as well as with the partner in charge of Akin Gump’s Moscow office, Rich Wilkie, and Moscow litigation partner, Marina Dumina.

Mr. Williams is one of a number of litigation partners to join the firm this year, following John Sopko, Reed Russell, Brady Dugan, Richard Welsh, Nicholas Porritt and Bill White. 

Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, a leading international law firm, numbers more than 800 lawyers in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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