Norton Rose Fulbright appoints Ruth Cowley and Kevin O’Gorman as Global Co-Heads of International Arbitration

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright today announced the appointment of London-based partner Ruth Cowley and Houston-based partner Kevin O’Gorman as its Global Co-Heads of International Arbitration. Ruth and Kevin succeed Mark Baker, who served in this leadership role for more than a decade.

Jeff Cody, who is Norton Rose Fulbright’s Global Managing Partner alongside Peter Scott as well as the firm’s US Managing Partner, said:

“Ruth and Kevin possess the leadership credentials and global experience that make them well suited to guide our international arbitration team. This global team has an impressive track record of delivering positive results for clients in complex and sensitive high-value, cross-border disputes.”

Ruth, who is qualified in England and Wales (Solicitor Advocate) as well as Hong Kong, said:

“Kevin and I are excited to lead this outstanding global team, which is known for acting on the world’s largest commercial arbitration matters. We have a diverse team who work internationally together to provide top quality services to our clients on noteworthy commercial and investment treaty arbitrations around the world.”

Kevin, who is qualified to practice in Texas, New York and England and Wales (Solicitor), said:

“Seventy lawyers globally comprise our renowned international arbitration group, and more than 200 other disputes lawyers within our firm have arbitration experience. We have international arbitration practitioners in every major jurisdiction across the globe, making us one of the very few firms in the world with the experience and resources to assist clients whenever and wherever they find themselves in international arbitration.”

Ruth has worked on many complex international arbitrations. During her career, Ruth has worked internationally, first in Singapore helping to build the firm’s highly regarded international arbitration practice and then leading its Hong Kong disputes practice before returning to London to head its corporate and commercial disputes group. While working in multiple jurisdictions, Ruth has liaised with many different arbitral institutions and handled arbitrations with a range of seats and arbitral rules, including ICC, LCIA, HKIAC, SIAC and the UNCITRAL arbitration rules. The Legal 500 United Kingdom has recognized Ruth for her extensive international disputes experience.

Kevin is the Partner-in-Charge of the firm’s Houston office and, most recently, headed the firm’s US arbitration team. He serves on the executive committee of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration and as a US delegate on the ICC Commission for Arbitration and ADR along with chairing the southern subcommittee of ICC USA. Kevin is consistently listed in the Lexology Index (previously Who’s Who Legal), Chambers (Global, USA and Latin America) and The Legal 500 (United States and Latin America) as a leader in international arbitration. He is experienced in both commercial and investor-state arbitration and has handled international arbitration cases under the major arbitral rules, including AAA, CPR, DIAC, ICC, ICDR, ICSID, JAMS, LCIA, SIAC and the UNCITRAL arbitration rules.

Norton Rose Fulbright’s international arbitration team is currently working on more than 70 active cases with a combined total value of more than US$240 billion.