Disputes And International Arbitration Lawyer Laurence Lieberman Joins Pillsbury As Partner

In a move that further enhances Pillsbury’s strong cross-border litigation and disputes capabilities and adds to its growing roster of leading practitioners in London, the firm has welcomed Laurence Lieberman as a partner. Lieberman joins the firm from Taylor Wessing, where he was a senior partner in the Disputes and Investigations team, head of the Life Sciences Commercial Disputes group and India practice head.

“As clients expand into new markets and across borders, their need for seasoned lawyers who can help them navigate complex international disputes and investigations only becomes more acute,” said Firm Chair David Dekker. “Laurence fills that need and more, bringing particular experience with a number of important industries and jurisdictions, and reinforcing the strong litigation team already in place, in London and globally.”

With more than 25 years of experience, Lieberman has deep expertise in complex commercial litigation and international arbitration, with a particular emphasis on matters connected to the digital health & life sciences, financial services, and technology sectors. He has successfully represented clients in both court litigation and arbitrations under the rules of major institutions, including the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC).

Lieberman works extensively with international life sciences companies including in the pharmaceutical and biotech space on their commercial disputes, and frequently for those based in India. These matters most often relate to royalty payments and licensing; joint venture and collaboration agreements; marketing approvals and market entry for medicines; distribution and supply of products; and regulatory and compliance investigations and breaches. He also has extensive experience in commercial disputes for and involving technology companies, including a growing portfolio of cryptocurrency-related disputes, as well as litigation matters for Israeli technology and other clients.  Lieberman has also acted for a range of international banks and other financial institutions as well as their senior executives, in connection with high profile, often transatlantic, regulatory investigations. He is ranked by Legal 500 in the Commercial Litigation; Premium, Fintech: Corporate and Commercial and International Arbitration categories.

“Laurence adds both depth and new dimensions to our global litigation, international arbitration, and corporate investigations capabilities,” said Global Head of Litigation Debby Baum. “His leadership in large-scale investigations and cross-border disputes, along with his expertise in arbitration and deep relationships in international markets, will be invaluable to our clients.”

In the past 12 months, Pillsbury’s London office has welcomed four partners and nearly a dozen total lawyers. In addition to Lieberman, the firm has grown its UK partner ranks by bringing on Audrey Koh—whose arrival established the firm’s Corporate Investigations & White Collar Defence practice in London—as well as International Trade practitioner Sungbum Lee and investment funds lawyer Gawain Hughes, both of whom are Chambers-ranked.

“Pillsbury’s London office plays a critical role in meeting the multijurisdictional needs of our global clients, and Laurence’s practice and expertise complement that role perfectly,” said London office managing partner Matthew Oresman. “He has a diverse litigation skill set and an established reputation within some of the industries and geographies that are of the greatest interest to those we represent. We are thrilled to welcome him to the firm.”

Pillsbury has seen substantial growth in its international disputes team outside of London as well. Pillsbury recently welcomed a China-based team led by partner Jia Yan that is regularly engaged to advise on cross-border investigations and Washington, D.C.-based litigator Waleed Nassar, who operates a diverse Middle East practice. Other recent joiners with noteworthy cross-border disputes credentials include Richard Donoghue, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and former U.S. Acting Deputy Attorney General; international commercial litigator Willie Wood in Houston; former federal prosecutor Kimberly Jaimez; Ronald Cheng, a former U.S. Attorney’s Office Division Chief and] U.S. Department of Justice Resident Advisor in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing; and Adam Goldberg, who has extensive experience in Asia-related investigations, litigation and arbitrations.

“I am delighted to be joining Pillsbury and its growing team of world-class litigators and disputes practitioners,” Lieberman said. “I look forward to helping further solidify Pillsbury’s standing as a go-to firm for complex litigation and arbitration expertise.”