New York – Debevoise & Plimpton LLP announces that partners Catherine Amirfar and Mark W. Friedman are named co-chairs of the firm’s International Dispute Resolution Group. Donald Francis Donovan and David W. Rivkin, who have both served as co-chairs of the group for over 20 years and long been regarded as leading figures in the field, continue to actively serve clients as partners of the firm, and Lord Goldsmith KC continues to actively serve clients as chair of European and Asian Litigation. Ms. Amirfar, Mr. Donovan and Lord Goldsmith KC will continue as co-chairs of the firm’s Public International Law Group. Mr. Friedman will continue as co-chair of the firm’s Energy, Mining and Natural Resources Group.

“As co-chairs, Donald and David demonstrated strong and strategic leadership, spearheading the International Dispute Resolution Group’s evolution into one of the world’s most formidable groups of practitioners in their field,” said Presiding Partner Michael Blair. “Catherine and Mark, both highly accomplished leaders with remarkable track records, embody the excellence and client service that are the hallmarks of our firm, and we are confident in their success in this new role. With leaders across every generation, the group is poised to continue to deliver exceptional results for our clients.”

Ms. Amirfar was recognized by Benchmark Litigation in 2021 as International Arbitration Litigator of the Year and one of the Top 250 Women in Litigation. She currently serves as the President of the American Society of International Law. Before rejoining Debevoise in 2016, she spent two years as the Counselor on International Law to the Legal Adviser at the U.S. Department of State, for which she received the State Department’s Superior Honor Award. Clients and peers have described Ms. Amirfar as “a phenomenal lawyer” and “superb advocate.” Ms. Amirfar focuses on public international law, international commercial and treaty arbitration, and international and complex commercial litigation for clients spanning across states, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations and multinationals.

Over his thirty years of practice Mr. Friedman has been widely recognized as one of the leading international disputes lawyers globally. He has twice been awarded the International Arbitration Litigator of the Year by Benchmark Litigation and holds multiple leadership positions, including as a Vice President of the International Chamber of Commerce’s Court of Arbitration and former Chair of the International Bar Association’s Arbitration Committee. Peers and clients have praised Mr. Friedman as “one of the best counsel there is” who “achieves results that are spectacular in every case”. Mr. Friedman concentrates on international arbitration and litigation in a wide variety of complex commercial and Investor-State disputes across the energy, mining, finance, insurance, construction, media, telecommunications and manufacturing sectors.

For over 40 years, the International Dispute Resolution Group has consistently achieved for its clients some of the largest and most significant awards in international arbitration and public international law. Named Benchmark Litigation’s 2021 International Arbitration Firm of the Year and winner of Global Arbitration Review’s “International Arbitration Practice that Impressed” category in 2020, the practice handles a broad range of matters, including international commercial and treaty arbitration, public international law and complex commercial litigation across a diverse array of industries including energy, mining, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and telecommunications. Debevoise is one of the only firms in the world to be consistently ranked Band 1 in the Chambers Global international arbitration, public international law and dispute resolution guides. Lawyers in the practice are qualified in common law and civil law systems, speak more than 30 languages and work in ten offices across three continents.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a premier law firm with market-leading practices, a global perspective and strong New York roots. We deliver effective solutions to our clients’ most important legal challenges, applying clear commercial judgement and a distinctively collaborative approach.