King & Spalding’s international disputes team are specialists in enforcing international awards and judgements on behalf of a diverse range of clients - sovereign states and high-net-worth individuals, in particular. Examples of these clients include Petersen Energia, Motorolo Credit Corporation and VietJet Aviation Joint Stock Company. A recent addition to the team is Matt McGill, who is an expert in arbitral award enforcement. Other key partners in the asset recovery practice at King & Spalding are Tom Sprange, Sarah Y. Walker, and Thomas C. Childs.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • K&S has a formidable international commercial disputes practice out of London, such as ultra-high-value litigation and arbitration across the whole spectrum of business and finance. Their strength in depth means they can deliver for the biggest clients in the toughest or trickiest contests.
  • Tom Sprange KC heads the office and leads most of the frontline advocacy. He is highly effective on his feet, combining a sharp intellect with a winning charm and disarming manner. There have been two multi-day CA hearings in the last few months on high-profile, cutting-edge points of private international law and arbitration/public international law. A real star. Sarah Walker is a senior litigator with more strategic nous and procedural know-how in her little finger than most city partners have in them. She takes no nonsense and delivers for her clients in complex situations. Kabir Bhalla has a bright future. He is good on his feet and has an encyclopedic legal brain full of innovation.
  • Matt McGill and other lawyers who work in this area at the firm are top-notch advocates that offer creative approaches and strategic excellence. They also offer fair and predictable billing arrangements that are competitive and frequently better than comparative talent.
  • Matt McGill distinguishes himself based on his commitment to his clients, his creativity in resolving legal problems, and his fairness when it comes to billing.
  • Sarah Walker is exceptional. She is very astute, commercial, and attentive to detail.
  • Their experience and global reach.

Work highlights

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Secured a landmark victory for Petersen Energía against Argentina, including a SDNY judgment exceeding US$16 billion and a June 2025 order compelling Argentina to transfer its 51% stake in YPF to partially satisfy the judgment.
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Secured a landmark US$1.9 billion ICC arbitration award for Reficar against CB&I arising from the Cartagena oil refinery project, the largest construction project in Colombia’s history, resulting in a highly favorable settlement in March 2024 and confirmation of the award by the SDNY in January 2025.
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Recovered over US$1.5 billion for Motorola Credit Corporation through recognition and enforcement proceedings across 25 countries in a long-running fraud dispute against the Uzan family, while continuing asset tracing and recovery efforts through complex international structures.
Practice head

## INSERTED START: 10-04-2026 12:44:09 \n \nWade M. Coriell (Co-Head of International Disputes)Elizabeth Silbert (Co-Head of International Disputes)