Mark W. Friedman is a litigation partner, Co-Chair of the firm’s International Dispute Resolution Group and a member of the Special Situations team. His practice concentrates on international arbitration and litigation, and he also has broad experience in civil and criminal matters. Mr. Friedman has represented clients in a wide variety of complex commercial and Investor-State disputes across many industry sectors, including energy, mining, finance, insurance, construction, shareholder relationships, joint ventures, media, telecommunications and manufacturing. He has acted as counsel or arbitrator in disputes under the rules of the ICC, LCIA, AAA, ICDR, CPR, UNCITRAL and ICSID.

Among other leadership positions, Mr. Friedman is a former Vice President of the ICC Court of Arbitration and is a former Chair of the International Bar Association’s Arbitration Committee. He was previously a member of the court of the London Court of International Arbitration, Vice-Chair of the International Dispute Resolution Committee of the International Section of the American Bar Association and co-rapporteur of the International Law Association’s Commercial Arbitration Committee. Mr. Friedman is a member of the editorial board of Dispute Resolution International. Mr. Friedman regularly speaks and publishes on international arbitration topics.

As Chambers has reported, Mr. Friedman is considered by clients and peers as “one of the most talented guys in the international arbitration field,” “a great team leader and a very compelling and persuasive orator” with an “uncanny ability to focus on the details without losing the big picture.” He is said to be “an extraordinarily gifted lawyer and strategic adviser, with impeccable advocacy skills to boot,” “hugely talented as both an oral advocate and an examiner of witnesses” and according to clients, “his combination of incisiveness, tact, command of the record and the law and situational awareness is unbeatable.” He is recognized for his “great legal mind,” his “very impressive control of the facts,” his “long-term mindset” and as “an excellent advocate with brilliant legal skills.” One source enthuses “it’s really something to see him, he’s one of the most talented speakers I’ve seen.” Others have added that he has “a brilliant mind with an unpredicted lateral thinking approach that puts off any possible competitor" and he is “a terrific advocate” who “writes beautifully” and “is strong in both written work and on his feet.” One reviewer praised him as “one of the most intelligent lawyers I have ever met.” He “can handle anything” and can “translate a vast sea of facts into concise arguments.” Chambers USA (2024) also recognizes Mr. Friedman as a Band 1 practitioner for construction disputes. Who’s Who Legal (2024), which names him as a Global Elite Thought Leader for Arbitration, has reported that he is “a very experienced arbitration counsel” with “exceptional attention to detail.” According to the guide, he is “a clear thought leader” and one of “finest writers” in the arbitration community. He is said to be “smart, creative, conscientious and thorough” as a practitioner and peers say, “he has the capacity to be tough without seeming it – it’s a nice combination. He is good with witnesses, on briefs and in client service.” The guide has also noted that he is “one of the best counsel there is,” “hugely impressive,” and he “has earned his reputation in every respect.” It has called him a “lawyer who really does it all, with the ability to clearly, concisely and persuasively assert a client’s position and achieve results that are spectacular in every case.” Mr. Friedman was a member of Global Arbitration Review’s original “45 Under 45” class and was twice named Benchmark Litigation’s International Arbitration Attorney of the Year. Mr. Friedman is also ranked as a leading lawyer by The Legal 500 US (2024) and The Legal 500 Latin America (2024), which note that he is a “great leader” and “an exceptional talent” with “outstanding oral and written advocacy skills.” Clients have also said that he is a “top-class strategist” with “a brilliant mind” and have described him as “extremely knowledgeable, highly skilled, and terrific in client service.”

Mr. Friedman received his B.A. summa cum laude from the University of Massachusetts in 1988 and his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1991. He is admitted to the bars of New York and Massachusetts and in various U.S. Federal Courts.