Christopher Tahbaz serves as Debevoise & Plimpton’s General Counsel. A litigator and arbitrator with a broad range of U.S. and international experience, Mr. Tahbaz is also a member of the firm’s International Dispute Resolution Group. For more than a decade, Mr. Tahbaz’s practice has focused on disputes in the Asia-Pacific region. Clients in GAR 30 (2019) note that “he was meticulous in addressing all issues and precise in giving direction and counsel,” and in Benchmark Litigation (2019), “exactly the type of guy you’d want on your side in Asia to get through a major mess.” Mr. Tahbaz is recommended by Chambers Global (2021) and Chambers USA (2020) for his international arbitration practice, with the guides highlighting his “clear, concise and focused” approach to matters, and describing him as “smart and talented,” and “exceptional.” He is also included in Who’s Who Legal (2024) as a Thought Leader for Arbitration.

Mr. Tahbaz regularly represents U.S.- and Asia-based multinational corporations in commercial arbitration before the ICC, the LCIA and other arbitral institutions. He also represents clients in investment treaty disputes in Asia and elsewhere. Current and recent assignments include representing an Asia-based global manufacturer in the solar power industry in an LCIA arbitration, representing a Japanese pharmaceutical manufacturer in a major dispute arising under a license agreement, and representing leading U.S. financial services companies in arbitration and pre-arbitration advice arising out of transactions occurring in China and Hong Kong. Mr. Tahbaz was one of the two Debevoise partners who, along with co-counsel from Bae, Kim & Lee LLC of Seoul, Korea, led a team of lawyers who obtained an award worth at least $750 million on behalf of claimants in an ICC arbitration involving disputes between the shareholders of Hyundai Oilbank (HDO), Korea’s fourth largest oil refining and marketing company. In March 2011, Global Arbitration Review designated this award as “Arbitration Win of the Year.”

In addition to his work representing clients, Mr. Tahbaz regularly serves as arbitrator in arbitrations conducted under HKIAC, UNCITRAL, ICDR/AAA and ICC rules, and he is included in the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre’s List of Arbitrators, the Singapore International Arbitration Centre’s Panel of Arbitrators, and the ICDR Roster of Neutrals. Mr. Tahbaz also frequently writes and speaks on arbitration and other topics related to dispute resolution. Among other things, he is a regular lecturer at Kobe University’s Summer School of Asian Law and Dispute Management. Recent publications include “Recognition and Enforcement of Awards,” Singapore International Arbitration: Law & Practice (LexisNexis, 2d ed. 2018), co-author; “Jurisdictional Findings on Provisional Measures Applications in International Arbitration,” Jurisdiction, Admissibility and Choice of Law in International Arbitration: Liber Amicorum Michael Pryles (Kluwer Law International 2018), co-author; “The Development of Arbitral Institutions in Asia,” 13 U. Penn. Asian L. Rev. 102 (2018), co-author; “Investment Treaty Arbitration in the Asia-Pacific,” The Asia-Pacific Arbitration Review 2019 (Global Arbitration Review 2018), co-author; and “Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Effective Advocacy in International Arbitration,” Asian Dispute Review (April 2012).

Mr. Tahbaz co-chaired Debevoise’s global Pro Bono Committee from 2002 until 2012, and he has been active in the New York pro bono community. He served as Chair of the board of directors of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Inc. from 2008 to 2010, and he has been a director of the organization since 2000. He is also a member of the board of directors of Sanctuary for Families, a former member of the board of directors of the Urban Justice Center (1999–2008), and a former member of the Pro Bono and Legal Services Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. In addition, for many years, Mr. Tahbaz led the team of Debevoise lawyers who served as class counsel in Brad H. v. City of New York, a class action, now settled, which alleged claims regarding the manner in which the City discharged from custody inmates who had received treatment for mental illness while incarcerated in city jails.

Mr. Tahbaz received his B.A. from Columbia University in 1986 and his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1990, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and served as articles editor of the Columbia Law Review. He joined Debevoise as an associate in 1994 and became a partner in 1998.