London, (26 September 2007) — LAWFUEL – The Legal Newswire – Debevoise & Plimpton LLP today announced that Lord Goldsmith QC, PC, who served as the United Kingdom’s Attorney General for six years until June 2007, will be joining the firm on Thursday, 27 September 2007 as European Chair of Litigation. He will be based in the firm’s London office.
Lord Goldsmith, who before his public service was one of England’s leading commercial litigation barristers, will be involved in all aspects of the firm’s global litigation practice, leading a wide range of matters including international arbitration, internal investigations, English court litigations and public international law. He will work extensively with lawyers across the firm’s offices and will also bring his legal problem solving expertise to other areas of practice.
Martin Frederic Evans, Presiding Partner of Debevoise, said: “We are delighted to have such a distinguished and accomplished individual join our firm and our thriving global litigation practice. Peter Goldsmith joins an outstanding team of litigators and his unique experience and reputation as one of the UK’s most prominent commercial litigation QCs and as the top government law officer will be a distinctive asset to our international offering, both in Europe and globally.”
Mary Jo White, Chair of Debevoise’s Litigation Department, said: “We are honored that Peter Goldsmith, one of the world’s finest advocates and public servants, will join our global litigation practice as European Chair of Litigation. His arrival gives the firm an unrivaled capacity in cross border disputes in Europe, solidifying our leading position internationally, as well as the opportunity to enhance our preeminent position in international arbitration and internal and governmental investigations. Peter’s commitment to public service and pro bono work is also perfectly aligned with the firm’s longstanding traditions.”
Lord Goldsmith said: “I am delighted to be joining one of the world’s leading international law firms and to be heading up Debevoise’s high quality global litigation practice from Europe. The prospect of working as part of a global team on such high profile multi-jurisdictional cases, from inception through to resolution, is an exciting one. Debevoise is a firm whose values I share and admire and its longstanding commitment to pro bono and public service will also enable me to continue my work in these key areas.”
James A. Kiernan, Managing Partner for Europe, said: “To be able to add a lawyer of Peter Goldsmith’s quality and stature to our European practice is a fantastic opportunity. Peter’s capabilities and interests will further our goal to provide the highest quality of legal services in all areas to clients in Europe.”
David W. Rivkin, Chair of Debevoise’s International Dispute Resolution Group, based in the firm’s New York and London offices, said: “Peter Goldsmith’s strong advocacy skills, hands-on approach, collaborative style and commitment to clients make him the perfect fit for our firm.” Mr. Rivkin, who is also Chair of the Legal Practice Division of the International Bar Association (IBA), also said: “I very much look forward to working with him and am delighted to have him as part of our international disputes team.”
Debevoise has one of the world’s preeminent international dispute resolution groups, described by Chambers Global 2006 as “a towering presence” in the field. The firm advises both US and European clients on transatlantic and pan-European cases and handles all aspects of complex litigation in a wide range of practice areas including international arbitration, general commercial disputes, regulatory matters and public international law.
Debevoise also has a deep and longstanding commitment to pro bono and public service, evidenced not only by the large number and extensive range of matters handled each year, but also by the firm’s consistent ranking among top law firms for pro bono work.
Lord Goldsmith has had a high profile career as a QC and more recently as Attorney General. He was a graduate in law with double first class honours from Cambridge University with a Master’s from University College London and was admitted to the Bar of England and Wales in 1972. He practised from Fountain Court Chambers, focusing principally in commercial, corporate and international litigation and appellate work. In 1987, at the age of 37, he became Queens’ Counsel. He has judicial experience as a Crown Court recorder and a Deputy High Court Judge. He was elected the youngest ever Chairman of the Bar of England and Wales in 1995 and has held a number of positions in international legal organisations, including Council Member of the International Bar Association (IBA) and of the Union Internationale des Avocats. He was the Chairman of the Financial Reporting Review Panel from 1997 to 2000 (the City of London regulator responsible for policing compliance with accounting and financial standards of UK listed companies and others) as well as the co-Chairman of the IBA’s Human Rights Institute from 1998 until 2001. In 1997, he was elected to membership of the American Law Institute and made a member of the Paris Bar. In 1996 he founded the Bar of England and Wales’ Pro Bono Unit, of which he is now President. He is a Bencher of Gray’s Inn.
Lord Goldsmith was appointed Attorney General in June 2001, the chief legal advisor to the government. He was raised to the peerage in 1999 and having stepped down from the government in June of this year, he remains a member of the House of Lords and a Privy Councillor. During his time as Attorney General he was the chief legal adviser to Government on matters of domestic, European and international law and represented the Government in many cases in Court in the UK and internationally. He was responsible for the public prosecution services and pursued an agenda of reform of the prosecution services which resulted in a transformation of the Crown Prosecution Service and the creation of two new prosecuting authorities in England & Wales and Northern Ireland – of which he was also Attorney General.
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a leading international law firm, representing a wide range of clients around the world. Founded in 1931, the firm has offices in New York, Washington, D.C., London, Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow, Hong Kong and Shanghai. The firm has over 650 lawyers. For more information, please visit our website at www.debevoise.com.
