WilmerHale handles a broad range of public international law work, including treaty accession issues, issues of territoriality and sovereignty, human rights violations, and investor-state disputes. Gary Born, Franz Schwarz, and Steven Finizio jointly lead the team. Born is a seasoned expert whose practice covers investment law, international dispute resolution, and state-to-state arbitration; Schwarz has a focus on arbitrations in the financial services space as well as issues relating to foreign investments; and Finizio has experience appearing before the ECHR and the AfCHPR. The team also includes the ‘extremely strategic’ Jonathan Lim, triple-qualified in England, Singapore, and New York.
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Accolades
Client satisfaction
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team has the know-how and legal understanding in the public international law space. What sets them apart is their understanding of situations on the ground in the different jurisdictions where their cases arise.’
‘Steven Finizio is the main partner I have experience with in the team. His willingness to physically go to places where disputes arise and deploy his knowledge and expertise directly with clients, witnesses, and local counsel sets him apart.’
‘Communication and attention to detail in advising and drafting are excellent.’
‘Steven Finizio is friendly and great to work with.’
‘The team is exceptional - the best disputes lawyers that I have worked with in the sphere of public international law. They leave no stone unturned, and have the sharpest strategic minds.’
‘Jonathan Lim is a standout in the team.'
Key clients
- Asian Development Bank/Government of Fiji, Government of Palau, Government of Papua New Guinea, Government of Timor Leste, Government of Tonga.
- Institute for Integrated Transitions (“IFIT”)
- Media Legal Defence Initiative - MALKIEWICZ and Others
- United States Council for International Business (USCIB)
Work highlights
Representing the Asian Development Bank (“ADB”) to advise and support several of its Member States in the Pacific region, including Fiji, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Tonga on various international law issues.
Retained by the Institute for Integrated Transitions (“IFIT”) to provide advice and feedback regarding IFIT’s Peace Treaty Initiative.
Representing the parents of a Ukrainian journalist against Russia in the European Court of Human Rights relating to breaches of various ECHR rights, including violations of Articles 2, 10, 13 and 17 in respect of her killing while reporting on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
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Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Jonathan Lim
Practice head
Gary Born; Franz Schwarz; Steven Finizio
Other key lawyers
Jonathan Lim