Gibson Dunn has hired Freshfields arbitration heavyweight Nicholas Lingard as co-chair of its international arbitration practice.
Lingard joined Freshfields in 2011 from Cravath, making partner in the move. Most recently, he led the firm’s arbitration practice in Asia and served as managing partner of its Singapore office.
‘Our strategy across the firm is to build destination practices in everything we do, all connected across our platform to serve our global clients seamlessly,’ Gibson Dunn chair and managing partner Barbara Becker said.
She added that Lingard’s hire ‘deepens what we offer clients in private equity, M&A, finance, financial regulation, and now international arbitration,’ and concluded: ‘We plan to keep investing in the region with intention.’
His arrival marks the latest partner hire the US firm has made from Freshfields in the region, following the arrival of private equity trio Nigel Gleeson, Jon Bowden and Alice Boughton in February.
A Legal 500 leading partner for international arbitration in Singapore, Lingard has represented clients including multinational corporations, financial sponsors, and investors in a range of commercial and construction disputes under all major arbitral rules.
He is qualified in New York, England and Wales, New South Wales, and the Singapore International Commercial Court as a registered foreign lawyer, and also advises on high-stakes litigation in disputes around the Indo-Pacific.
Commenting on the hire, co-chair of Gibson Dunn’s international arbitration practice Rahim Moloo said: ‘Expanding our arbitration and disputes offering in Asia is a clear strategic priority for us, and there is no one better placed to anchor it than Nick.
‘He is one of the best arbitration lawyers I know, and his practice aligns perfectly with our client base and industry strengths. He will immediately enhance our ability to represent clients in complex cross-border disputes across Asia and around the world.’
Lingard’s arrival sees the firm continue to rebuild in Singapore after four partner departures in 2024, including former Asia arbitration head Paul Tan, who moved to become an independent counsel and arbitrator at One Essex Court.
Since then, Gibson Dunn has gradually expanded its headcount in the region, which will now number nine, and covers financial regulatory, M&A, PE, projects and white collar and investigations, as well as disputes.
Lingard’s appointment also builds on a broader disputes push for the firm, which this summer made a standout six-partner litigation team hire from Wachtell, led by the firm’s former litigation co-chair William Savitt.
Their arrival followed hires including Christopher Harris KC, who joined the firm from the Bar last summer to launch its new Zurich office and now serves as global co-chair of the international arbitration practice group, and international disputes partner Patrick Pearsall, who joined in Washington DC last year, and is now global co-chair of the geopolitical strategy and international law practice.
The departure leaves Freshfields with two disputes partners in Singapore: Samantha Tan and Rohit Bhat.
