Mr Robert Spano > Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Offices
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Mr Robert Spano
Work Department
Artificial Intelligence; Transnational Litigation; International Arbitration; ESG; Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation; Technology Regulatory and Litigation; Public Policy
Position
Robert Spano is a partner in the London and Paris offices and the co-chair of the firm’s Artificial Intelligence Practice Group. He practices in the field of EU litigation, international dispute resolution and advises on regulatory matters. He is a member of the Transnational Litigation, International Arbitration, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation, Technology Regulatory and Litigation, and Public Policy Practice Groups.
He is a leading expert in public international law, business and human rights, EU law and the law of the European Convention on Human Rights, bringing unparalleled experience from senior roles in the judiciary, private practice and academia.
Career
He is the former president of the European Court of Human Rights, the youngest judge ever to be elected to the presidency in the Court’s 60 year history. When leaving the Court his colleagues published a Liber Amicorum in his honour stating that ‘during his term as president he demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, showing creativity and imagination in improving the functioning of the Strasbourg institution”.
Memberships
Robert sits on the Panel of Arbitrators and Conciliators of the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), and is an honorary bencher of the Middle Temple.
Lawyer Rankings
London > Dispute resolution > International arbitration
With ‘deep international arbitration experience across the board‘, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher is best known for large-scale, complex disputes. The London practice is jointly headed by ‘superb advocate‘ Cyrus Benson, who regularly appears before commercial and investment treaty tribunals in telecoms, mining, infrastructure, and oil and gas claims; and ‘superb arbitration practitioner‘ Penny Madden KC, an expert in shareholder, telecoms, energy, international trade, and insurance disputes. The next line of experienced practitioners comprises former UK Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer KC, who focuses on commercial litigation, international arbitration and investigations; Osma Hudda, who maintains a broad disputes practice; and Doug Watson, who conducts arbitrations under a range of rules and arbitral institutions. In late 2022, former President of the European Court of Human Rights, Robert Spano, was recruited, while Piers Plumptre, who ‘takes a very commercial and practical approach‘, was made partner. Former partner Jeffrey Sullivan KC joined Debevoise & Plimpton LLP in July 2023.
London > Dispute resolution > Public international law
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher‘s ‘first-rate public international law practice‘ is routinely sought out to act in heavyweight investment treaty claims. The team is jointly headed by Penny Madden KC, whose international arbitration expertise covers shareholder, telecoms energy, international trade, and insurance disputes; and Cyrus Benson, who ‘argues points of public international law with great skill‘. In late 2022, former President of the European Court of Human Rights, Robert Spano, joined the practice, while Piers Plumptre, who ‘has wide experience in public international law issues‘, was elevated to partner. Former partner Jeffrey Sullivan KC joined Debevoise & Plimpton LLP in July 2023.
Lawyer Rankings
- International arbitration London > Dispute resolution
- Public international law London > Dispute resolution
Top Tier Firm Rankings
Firm Rankings
- Real estate > Commercial property: investment
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
- Real estate > Property finance
- Corporate and commercial > VAT and indirect tax
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – mid-large cap
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: M&A and acquisition financing
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Oil and gas
- Dispute resolution > Public international law
- Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates)
- Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail
- Dispute resolution > Competition litigation
- Corporate and commercial > EU and competition
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Upper Mid-Market And Premium Deals, £750m+
- Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions – high-value deals (£250m+)
- Public sector > Administrative and public law
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: premium
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory
- Employment > Employers
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables)