Herbert Smith and Freehills announce New York office opening: focus includes international arbitration

International law firms and merger partners Herbert Smith LLP and Freehills announced today the official office opening in New York. The office opens for business today, 4 September 2012, and will initially operate as Herbert Smith New York. On 1 October 2012, the official launch date of the new firm Herbert Smith Freehills, it will become part of the Herbert Smith Freehills' international network.

Designed to offer global assistance to international clients with US-related contentious issues, the New York office will focus solely on complex cross–border disputes work, specifically focused on the following three areas:

• International arbitration
• Anti-corruption and cross-border investigations
• Litigation capability to support the investigations and arbitration offering and to handle the US end of cross-border litigation for network clients

International arbitration partner Chris Parker and associate Robert Rothkopf have relocated from Herbert Smith's London office to New York to spearhead the international arbitration practice in the US, which will be further expanded in 2013.  

The New York office will service US-based companies and financial institutions and the US arbitration practice will also offer a full service to those outside the US engaged in arbitrations governed by New York law and/or seated in New York, plus other US-related arbitration work.

The addition of an international arbitration practice in New York is also significant, given that New York is a prevalent choice of seat for many Latin American companies. The international arbitration group has extensive experience in Latin American disputes. 

Overall, the New York office opens with 6 partners, 14 fee-earners, and 9 business services members of staff. It will be headed by partner Thomas Riley, who will take on the role of the managing partner. For more information, please see the Press Release.