[opiniojuris] Peggy McGuinness: Chambers Lists Top Public International Law Firms

[Email subscription to blog articles]

Posted by Peggy McGuinness:
Chambers Lists Top Public International Law Firms
http://www.opiniojuris.org/posts/1197396198.shtml


   Chambers and Partners has published [1]their list of the top law firms
   for public international law. The top tier (or "band 1" as they call
   it):

     Clifford Chance
     Debevoise and Plimpton
     Eversheds Frere Cholmeley
     Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
     Latham and Watkins
     Shearman and Sterling
     White and Case

   The full post also includes a list of top PIL attorneys who are not
   affiliated with the top ranking firms.
   Chambers' description of what constitutes a PIL practice, as well as
   where to find the talent (PhD programs) may be useful for students
   considering practice in this area:

     Public international law (PIL) is not only relevant to governments
     these days, it is increasingly the concern of multinational
     corporations and individuals. International law now affects many
     corporate and financial transactions; companies need to be aware of
     the impact of such issues as sanctions, export controls,
     anti-corruption conventions, rules for combating crime and
     terrorism, and regimes of environmental accountability. PIL also
     often overlaps with WTO and human rights issues.
     Investor-state arbitrations are on the rise. Some may argue that
     this does not constitute pure PIL work, which traditionally
     involves state-to-state disputes before international courts such
     as the ICJ. However, although it involves entities other than
     governments, it does concern investment treaties that are made
     between states and there are now very few PIL lawyers who do not
     handle this type of work. Unlike border disputes or Law of the Sea
     matters, which can simmer away for years, investment treaty matters
     are fast-paced and seen by some as the new âsexyâ aspect of PIL.
     Due to the growing number of ICSID disputes relating to Bilateral
     Investment Treaties (BITs) and the call for expertise in this area,
     many firms are developing their practices in the field. However,
     there is a tendency for lawyers to come at this from a commercial
     arbitration angle rather than the more academic PIL discipline. It
     is hard to get the balance right, but one leading practitioner
     commented: âThe smart firms have gone out and hired PIL PhD
     students.â

   Hat tip: Danny Sokol.

References

   1. http://www.chambersandpartners.com/global/resultseditorial.aspx?cid=217&pid=96&solbar=1&grouptype=1