Ruth Cowley is a partner based in London who works internationally. Ruth co-heads our global international arbitration group.  She is a Solicitor-Advocate (English courts) and is dual-qualified in England and Hong Kong, having spent six years in our Singapore and Hong Kong dispute resolution teams.

Ruth is experienced in international disputes and investigations and has worked on many complex international arbitrations. Ruth has worked internationally, first in Singapore helping to build our well regarded international arbitration practice and then leading our Hong Kong disputes practice before returning to London to head our corporate and commercial disputes group. This means she has worked in multiple jurisdictions, liaising with many different arbitral institutions and handling arbitrations with a range of seats and arbitral rules. The Legal 500 UK has recognized Ruth for her international disputes work. She brings experience from major corporate and M&A disputes, international shareholder and joint venture disputes, and complex international arbitration with state elements as well as disputes arising out of fraud and corruption issues.

She also has significant investigations experience, sensitively handling internal and external investigations into corporate conduct, and fraud and corruption issues.

Ruth has been ranked in Legal 500 UK 2025 as a Leading Partner in Commercial Litigation (premium), she is described as an “outstanding litigator with incredible client care skills and attention to detail. She is a highly sophisticated operator determined to achieve the best outcomes for her clients, with terrific strategic vision and a massive intellect to match.”

She is also recognized for her investigations experience and as one of GIR's Top 100 Women in Investigations (2018).