Herbert Smith Freehills’ Paula Hodges and Matthew Weiniger appointed Queen’s Counsel

We are very proud to announce that Paula Hodges, Head of Global Arbitration, and Matthew Weiniger, international arbitration partner, have been appointed Queen’s Counsel.

The award of Queen’s Counsel is for excellence in both written and oral advocacy before the higher courts and arbitration tribunals.  Paula and Matthew are two of only 5 solicitors amongst the 100 QCs appointed this year.  Since 2006, only 18 solicitor advocates have been appointed to the rank of QC, with Paula and Matthew being the only two solicitors from the same law firm to ever be awarded silk in one year.

Paula has over 20 years' experience of advising on international disputes, and has represented clients in many jurisdictions (including London, Paris, Geneva, Zurich, Stockholm, the US, Canada, Dubai, Africa, Asia, Russia and the CIS) in ad hoc arbitration and proceedings under the auspices of the major arbitral institutions.  She also sits as an arbitrator.  Paula has also been closely involved in several high profile cases before the High Court in London, and has appeared before the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Matthew Weiniger specialises in international arbitration and public international law. He regularly appears as an advocate before arbitral tribunals in many different jurisdictions and has experience in arbitrations under all major institutions and rules. He is a Visiting Professorial Fellow of the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary, University of London and a co-author, together with Professor Campbell McLachlan QC and Laurence Shore, of a leading work  "International Investment Arbitration: Substantive Principles" published by OUP. Matthew also acts in follow on damages cases arising out of competition law infringements and has appeared in leading cases before the Court of Appeal, the High Court, and the Competition Appeal Tribunal. 

Global Head of Dispute Resolution, Sonya Leydecker, said:

"The appointment to the rank of Queen's Counsel is a prestigious and honourable award and we are very proud of Paula and Mathew for receiving this richly deserved professional appointment. It is a reflection not only of their outstanding legal talent and professional competence, but also the esteem in which they are held by their peers, colleagues and clients. It also a tribute to the strength of our international arbitration practice and to the culture of excellence in advocacy which we have nurtured over many years."

Paula and Matthew will officially take silk at a ceremony on 14 April 2014.