David Rivkin > Debevoise & Plimpton LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

In the ultimate accolade, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP‘s international arbitration team is commended as having ‘no weak link’. As one of the largest dedicated groups in the market, the New York-based practice fields an impressive combination of senior specialists together with next-generation partners; all of whom bring to bear experience in representing the full scope of clients, including multinational corporations and sovereign states, in cross-border arbitral proceedings. A regular fixture on commercial, investment treaty and public international law-related matters, the group is a destination practice for complex cases under all major institutional rules. Co-chairing both the international dispute resolution and public international law departments, Catherine Amirfar enjoys a prominent global reputation for her record in landmark disputes. Amirfar recently paired up with Ina Popova to represent the Republic of Iraq in an ICSID case brought by Orange Telecom under the France-Iraq bilateral investment treaty (BIT), among other proceedings. Mark W. Friedman, who splits his time between New York and London, is sought after for his expertise in complex mining and natural resources cases; he teamed up with Latin America practice co-chair Dietmar Prager and Caribbean practice co-chair Natalie Reid to successful represent Tethyan Copper Company in its $6bn arbitration win against the Islamic Republic of Pakistan–the second-largest ICSID award ever rendered. Seasoned litigator David W. Rivkin is also widely recognized as a leading light, while newly promoted partner Laura Sinisterra and counsel Floriane Lavaud are highly regarded up-and-coming names.

Arbitration Chambers consists of a number of leading international arbitrators, who have experience as barristers and leading solicitors. Sarah Lancaster runs the practice that has grown significantly in the last year, with Donald Francis Donovan  arriving from Debevoise & Plimpton LLP in August 2022, and in January 2023, Utku Cosar, Karyl Nairn KC, David W. Rivkin, and Eduardo Zuleta from Cosar Avukatlik Burosu, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, and ZULETA Abogados Asociados S.A.S respectively.