Gibson Dunn & Crutcher is launching a new office in Zurich led by leading international arbitration silk Christopher Harris KC, following his move over from the Bar earlier this year.
Harris, whose move to Gibson Dunn from 3VB was announced in late July, will head the new outpost as partner in charge, and will also serve as co-chair of the firm’s international arbitration practice and the judgment and arbitral award enforcement group.
The move strengthens Gibson Dunn’s wider European presence, marking its sixth European base alongside Brussels, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris and London.
The firm said that the new Zurich base would serve as a strategic hub for clients facing cross-jurisdictional legal challenges across areas including arbitration, banking and finance, private equity, M&A, white-collar defence and regulatory enforcement.
Harris is highly ranked by Legal 500 for public international law and international arbitration, and has more than two decades of experience acting in high-value investor-state and cross-border disputes before major arbitral institutions. He is also ranked for his capabilities in energy and banking & finance.
His recent cases have included representing the Republic of Kazakhstan in a successful challenge of an investor-state arbitral award, while last year he was reappointed for a second three-year term as as the UK member of the ICC’s International Court of Arbitration.
Gibson Dunn chair and managing partner Barbara Becker said that Harris’ dual qualification as a UK barrister and Swiss-admitted lawyer made him the ideal lawyer to lead the firm’s new office.
‘Christopher brings a distinctive blend of advocacy and market insight. His track record in high-stakes international arbitration and cross-border disputes makes him a natural steward for the office.’
Gibson Dunn’s most recent expansion saw it move into Riyadh and Abu Dhabi during 2023 on the back of large team hires from White & Case and legacy Shearman & Sterling. The US firm also made a high-profile double hire in London with the addition of Sullivan & Cromwell finance and restructuring duo Presley Warner and Chris Howard.
Gibson Dunn is the latest international firm to expand into Switzerland, following Squire Patton Boggs, which opened an office in Geneva in 2024 led by commodities and shipping partner Kate Sherrard. The practice focuses on international trade, dispute resolution and sanctions.
In late 2022, US employment specialist Littler Mendelson entered the Swiss market via the acquisition of Zurich practice LEL Lawyers.
