International Dispute Resolution Group Adds New York Partner
NEW YORK (January 5, 2007) — The Trial Department and the New York office of McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to announce the appointment of partner Pieter H.F. Bekker as a member of the Firm's International Dispute Resolution (IDR) Practice Group. Dr. Bekker, who has extensive experience in major international dispute forums, will concentrate on international arbitrations.
"Pieter will work hand-in-hand with the head of our IDR Practice Group Juliet Blanch in London, and will help drive the continued development of our IDR practice in New York," commented Jeffrey Stone, head of the Firm's Trial Department. "Complemented by Juliet's practice in London, our IDR practice will significantly benefit from Pieter's experience and background while further bolstering the U.S. component of this global practice."
Fluent in Dutch, English, French and German and educated in both Civil Law and Common Law, Dr. Bekker counsels private and public sector clients on a wide range of international law issues, including jurisdiction, immunity, enforcement, expropriation, and treaty law. He is particularly experienced in matters involving sovereign parties, including states, state-owned entities and international organizations. Dr. Bekker has been involved in a variety of arbitration procedures, including those of the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the American Arbitration Association (AAA) (where he is listed on the Panel of International Arbitrators), the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration, and arbitrations based on the rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). He regularly counsels clients in the drafting of arbitration clauses for international contracts.
"Pieter is a significant addition to our New York office, and we look forward to his role not only as a member of our team but as a leader within the office," commented Peter Sacripanti, head of the Firm's New York office. "We are committed to the continued growth of our IDR practice internationally in line with our clients' needs, and Pieter is a key part of our expansion strategy," continued Ms. Blanch.
A native of The Netherlands, Dr. Bekker was in private practice in Amsterdam before serving for nearly three years as a staff lawyer in the Registry of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations located in The Hague. He has been involved in some 20 ICJ cases between sovereign states, as well as advisory proceedings. He has also advised clients in pro bono matters arising under international law (such as genocide and other human rights issues).
Dr. Bekker earned his Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from Harvard Law School on a Fulbright grant. He earned his Dutch Civil Law degree and his Ph.D. (doctorate in international law) from Leiden University in The Netherlands. The author of more than 100 articles and three books, Dr. Bekker teaches International Arbitration at Fordham University in New York. He is an elected member of the Executive Council of the American Society of International Law and serves on the Board of Reporters of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration. He received a Burton Award for Excellence in Legal Writing in 2005 and was peer-selected as a New York "Super Lawyer" in 2006.
McDermott has extensive international arbitration and dispute resolution capability. The Firm's lawyers are experienced in resolving disputes by arbitration and litigation throughout the world, and under a variety of governing bodies, including the International Chamber of Commerce, the London Court of International Arbitration, and the American Arbitration Association.
The New York office of McDermott has more than 150 lawyers representing a broad range of regional, U.S. and international clients, including some of the world's largest publicly and privately held companies, financial institutions, private equity and hedge funds, venture capital-backed start-ups and individuals. As part of its international practice, the Firm's New York office represents a wide range of multinationals and financial services institutions based in Korea, Israel, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and other countries.
