International law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) announced today the appointment of arbitration specialist Roman Khodykin. This partner hire will further strengthen the firm’s international arbitration practice, particularly those based or with business interests in Russia and the CIS. Roman’s appointment follows the hire of projects specialist Andrei Baev who joined BLP in 2011 thereby further increasing the opportunity to develop London based Russian related international arbitration work.
Previously counsel at Clifford Chance in Moscow, Roman will be based in BLP’s London office and work closely with the Moscow team. He is an associate professor at Moscow State Institute of International Relations with a Ph.D in conflict of laws. Roman has extensive experience in national and cross-border matters, with a particular emphasis on the energy and oil and gas sectors. This includes handling complex international commercial arbitration disputes before various international tribunals appointed under the rules of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA).
In recent years Roman has advised on a multi-million dollar ICSID investment arbitration against the Republic of Kazakhstan before a tribunal sitting in Washington D.C.. He also represented a client before the European Court of Human Rights in a case against the Russian Federation arising out of alleged breach of the right to access court. In the past years Roman regularly appeared before the LCIA tribunals in London.
Following the appointment of BLP’s international arbitration team head Nic Fletcher in 2009 and the recruitment of Singapore-based Kent Phillips in 2011, the team continues to develop its global reach with partners based in London, Abu Dhabi, Moscow and Singapore.
Nic Fletcher, head of BLP’s international arbitration practice, said: “Our aim is to provide a first-rate global service for those of our clients who have recourse to international arbitration to resolve their disputes. We have built up strong regional hubs in Moscow, Singapore and Abu Dhabi, in addition to our traditional base in London, and have built up respected teams in each of these regions. Roman’s significant expertise and successful track record in international arbitration will give us even greater firepower, enabling us to offer Russian and CIS-focussed arbitration expertise from London as well as the highest level of support in Europe for our Russia and CIS-based clients and colleagues.”
Roman Khodykin said: “BLP has undergone significant international expansion in recent years. The combination of a top quality international arbitration team based in London, Singapore and Abu Dhabi, coupled with a full service offering in Moscow make it an extremely attractive place to work. I look forward to further enhancing the breadth and capabilities of BLP’s international arbitration practice and, in particular, its services to Russian and CIS-based clients.”
