New York and Paris (February 6, 2006) – LAWFUEL – The Law news network – Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is pleased to announce that Frederick T. Davis, a leading international arbitration and litigation lawyer, has joined the firm as a partner and will be resident in the firm’s Paris office. He will focus his practice on international arbitration and criminal, regulatory and civil litigation and investigations involving U.S. law. Mr. Davis joins the firm from Shearman & Sterling LLP, where he was a litigation partner.
Mr. Davis has tried numerous cases in private practice and has represented clients in high profile matters in both French- and English-language tribunals. He has represented major U.S., French and multinational companies in international arbitrations administered by the ICC, AAA and other institutions, and has also served as an arbitrator in ICC arbitrations. The French government has named him a “Chevalier” of the National Order of Merit of France.
“We are delighted that Fred has decided to join the firm. His experience as an international litigator and arbitrator will be invaluable to our clients and will fit seamlessly with our practice. Fred is a superb lawyer who is well recognized for his representation of clients in large, high-risk matters with a global dimension. Fred’s broad experience in criminal, regulatory and civil matters, and in international matters makes him a natural fit for our thriving European-sited litigation and regulatory practice,” said Mary Jo White, Chair of Debevoise & Plimpton’s Litigation Group.
“Fred will add depth and experience to the European base of our international arbitration and litigation practice. He joins an outstanding group of litigators and international arbitration counsel in Europe, including Antoine Kirry, Noelle Lenoir, Bart Legum and Michael Ostrove in Paris, and Mark Friedman in London,” said David W. Rivkin,
who leads the firm’s International Disputes Practice.
Ms. Lenoir became Of Counsel to the firm after serving as the French Minister of European Affairs, and Mr. Legum recently rejoined the firm after serving as chief of the NAFTA Arbitration Division at the U.S.
Department of State.
Mr. Davis said, “I am thrilled to join one of the world’s premier international dispute resolution and litigation practices and to have the opportunity to work with a superb group of lawyers in Europe and the United States. I am looking forward to being resident in France, having spent several years representing the major French banks with regard to World War II claims as well as advising the French government on the matter. Working from the firm’s Paris office will provide me with an excellent platform from which to further develop the European-American nexus of my practice.”
Based in New York, Washington, D.C., London, Paris and Frankfurt, the firm’s litigators have produced a string of exceptional results of national and international importance. Debevoise sets “the gold standard for international arbitration” in terms of size, quality and scope of clients (Chambers USA 2004-2005), representing clients such as leading multinationals, international organizations, sovereigns and non-governmental organizations in the most complex international disputes.
Mr. Davis served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York (1974 – 78) where he was Chief of Appeals (1977 – 78). He was a litigation partner with Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler (1980 – 91). He served as a law clerk to Henry J. Friendly, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit and to Justice Potter Stewart, United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the New York City Bar Association (Chair, European Affairs Committee), International Bar Association, American Bar Association, Federal Bar Council, and the American Law Institute and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a leading international law firm, representing a wide range of clients around the world. Founded in 1931, the firm has offices in New York, Washington, D.C., London, Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow, Hong Kong and Shanghai. The Paris office is part of an integrated European practice, and the firm’s Paris-based lawyers work in close collaboration with their colleagues in London, Frankfurt and Moscow, as well as New York, Washington, D.C. and China. The firm now has over 640 lawyers, including more than 100 lawyers in Europe.
