HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS PROMOTES TWO ARBITRATION SPECIALISTS TO ITS GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP

Herbert Smith Freehills has promoted seven disputes lawyers to its partnership, out of a total of 26 worldwide. The promotions in the disputes practice, which take effect on 1 May, 2020, span right across the firm's global network.

Of these new partners, two are arbitration specialists, reflecting the strength and importance of this ever growing practice area to the firm.

The new arbitration partners are:

Gitta Satryani, Singapore:

Gitta is a member of the firm's market-leading Asia dispute resolution practice, based in Singapore. She specialises in complex cross-border disputes with particular expertise in international commercial arbitration, investment treaty arbitration, and public international law. Gitta advises commercial entities, states and SOEs on a broad range of issues relating to cross-border projects including dispute avoidance strategies and investment structuring.

Gitta has a particular focus on disputes involving Indonesia, and works closely with Herbert Smith Freehills' associated firm Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung, to advise clients on disputes and dispute-related aspects of transactional work relating to their investments in Indonesia.

Gitta is ranked as an Arbitration Future Leader by Who's Who Legal (2017-19) and an up and coming / next generation lawyer by other leading directories. She has been described as "an impressive lawyer with unique skills in the market" and "very pragmatic and business-oriented in terms of suggesting strategies to resolve a problem and providing good practical guidance" (Chambers & Partners 2020 (Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (Singapore)).

Chad Catterwell, Melbourne:

Chad specialises in cross-border disputes and international arbitration across the Asia-Pacific region. Chad acts as Counsel in cross-border disputes and international arbitrations seated across the Asia-Pacific region. He has advised clients on arbitrations under the HKIAC, ICC, SIAC, CIETAC and UNCITRAL Rules.  He has particular expertise with respect to disputes arising from M&A activity and joint ventures in Asia, particularly China.  He assists clients in a number of sectors, with a strong interest in the energy and resources,  and technology sectors. Chad also advises clients on structuring transactions and drafting dispute resolution provisions to best protect clients engaging in international investment and cross-border transactions.

Now based in Melbourne, Chad was previously based in Hong Kong and his current practice sees him working on matters across Asia, collaborating seamlessly with colleagues in the region and elsewhere.

Chad has well-rounded disputes experience. In his formative years as a disputes lawyer he advised clients on fast track litigation, class actions litigation, Royal Commissions and interactions with regulators whilst under investigation. He acted for electricity distributor SP AusNet in the Royal Commission and long running class actions arising from the 2009 bushfires in Victoria. He also completed an 8 month secondment to Morgan Stanley’s Asia Pacific Litigation and Contentious Regulatory team based in Hong Kong.

Chad regularly speaks and writes on issues relating to international arbitration. He is a founding steering committee member for ACICA 45, the young practitioner’s arm of local arbitration institution, ACICA.

Paula Hodges QC comments, “I am very proud to welcome Gitta and Chad as partners into our global arbitration practice. They are both excellent lawyers, who each possess a deep understanding of our clients across the Asia Pacific region. Gitta and Chad have also undertaken secondments in other offices within the HSF network and embody the cross-fertilisation of arbitration knowhow and legal cultures that enables our global arbitration practice to provide a truly international service to clients all over the world across a range of sectors.”

For more information, please contact Gitta Satryani, Partner, Chad Catterwell, Partner, or your usual Herbert Smith Freehills contact.