Conway Blake > Debevoise & Plimpton LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, praised for its ability to combine ‘world-class lawyers with unusual integrity and diligence’, is renowned in the market for its contentious work connected to international climate change law. The team is also well-positioned to represent corporate clients in climate and environmental disputes in domestic courts. Lord Peter Goldsmith KC heads up the team and excels in environmental class actions. Conway Blake represents both corporates and nation states and is well-versed in issues including international environmental law, human rights law and the law of the sea. Samantha Rowe‘s practice straddles contentious and advisory work and extends to matters that fall at the nexus between energy transition and international dispute resolution.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is ‘one of the few truly expert law firms for public international law’. The sizeable team in London represents states in high-stakes International Court of Justice (ICJ) proceedings, and is particularly experienced in state-to-state matters of international significance. The practice further acts for intergovernmental organisations in UN-related matters, along with representing major corporations in the domestic courts. Resuming his role as chair of the House of Lords International Agreements Committee in 2023, former UK Attorney General Lord Goldsmith KC has an enviable market reputation for his appearances before international courts; Jeffrey Sullivan KC, a July 2023 recruit from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, is a renowned Energy Charter Treaty expert; Samantha Rowe‘s track record includes disputes before the ICJ, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the International Civil Aviation Organisation, and the WTO; and investor-state arbitration specialist Conway Blake ‘rapidly cuts through the noise to identify the key issues’. The team also includes Aimee-Jane Lee, who focuses on public international law, international treaties and international arbitration; and Monika Hlavkova, who is experienced in both investment and commercial arbitrations under a wide range of rules.

‘One of the top arbitration practices in London‘, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is consistently mandated to act in big-ticket investor-state matters. It is also highly experienced in large-scale private fund, insurance and healthcare-related commercial arbitrations. Regularly sought out to act in complex commercial and investment disputes, former UK Attorney General Lord Peter Goldsmith KC is chair of the firm’s European and Asian litigation practice. Jeffrey Sullivan KC, a July 2023 recruit from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, is co-chair of international arbitration in Europe and ‘superb lawyer’ Patrick Taylor co-leads the firm’s Africa practice group. The practice further showcases construction-related commercial arbitration specialist Tony Dymond, who works across the firm’s London and Hong Kong offices and Conway Blake, who acts in international commercial and investor-state arbitrations. Samantha Rowe focuses on commercial arbitration, investor-state arbitration and public international law. The next line of experienced practitioners includes construction and engineering expert Robert Hoose, international arbitration and public international law specialist Aimee-Jane Lee, and Gavin Chesney and Shreya Aren, who are ‘responsive and well prepared’. Other key figures are Laith Najjar, Monika Hlavkova, Sonja Sreckovic, and Mark McCloskey. Maxim Osadchiy left the firm in May 2024.

Parent company liability disputes are a key focus for Debevoise & Plimpton LLP; the firm often leads the defence of mass claims. It has continued to develop its company and private equity-focused practice, representing clients in various M&A disputes. Lord Peter Goldsmith KC jointly chairs the team, alongside the ‘strategically brilliant’ Patrick Swain, who handles significant shareholder disputes, and boasts particular expertise in the private equity and insurance sectors. ‘Standout partner’ Christopher Boyne enjoys a successful track record in commercial claims, working with a host of private equity firms and companies. Promoted to partner in 2023, Conway Blake focuses his practice on disputes related to parent company liability and corporate social responsibility. Other key figures include international counsel Natasha McCarthy; Hugo Farmer, who advises a deep roster of private equity and fund clients; and Julia Caldwell.