Herbert Smith Freehills' global arbitration practice ranked fifth in the world

Global Arbitration Review (GAR) has unveiled its annual ranking of the world’s leading international arbitration practices, with Herbert Smith Freehills ranked fifth in the world.

The firm's GAR 30 ranking appears in the 17th Edition of the GAR 100, which was revealed last night at the annual GAR Awards ceremony at the Hôtel Du Collectionneur in Paris.

The ranking reveals that the firm's portfolio as counsel amassed US$101.3 billion, nearly double its portfolio value in 2018, and includes 5 cases with a claim value of over $5 billion and 11 cases with a claim value of between $1-5 billion.

In the firm's GAR100 profile, GAR describes the firm's commercial arbitration group as "formidable", and it is also "well regarded for public international law and investment treaty arbitration, advising governments in state-to-state negotiations and boundary disputes".

In feedback from clients included in the GAR survey, the firm is described as having “clear strategies, cost transparency and quick reaction times”, and able to take "into account clients’ commercial imperatives”.

The prestigious GAR 30 is based on a thorough quantitative analysis, ranking firms according to factors including the number of arbitral hearings conducted by a firm over a two-year period. The research considers merits and jurisdictional hearings, the amount in dispute in those cases and the number of hours billed to arbitration over that period. The number of high value matters settled during the window and the portfolio value of a firm's active arbitration caseload is also taken into account. Of all the criteria, bet-the-company and large hearings have the greatest effect on final ranking.

Rankings are also based on the number of arbitrator appointments a firm’s members have received and the number of individuals who appear in GAR’s sister publication, Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration – a guide to the leading practitioners in the field as selected by their peers.

Also at this year's GAR Awards, Herbert Smith Freehills CEO Justin D'Agostino was nominated for Best Lecture or Speech for his keynote at the Edinburgh International Arbitration Festival 2023. In the speech last September, Justin called for arbitral institutions to be proactive in tackling ESG, outlining three ways institutions can play a crucial role in addressing these issues.

The full GAR 30 can be found here.

Paula Hodges KC, Head of Herbert Smith Freehills' Global Arbitration Practice, commented: "I am immensely proud to see our practice ranked once again in the top 10 busiest arbitration practices in the world, for the eleventh year in a row. That consistency is testament to the talent and hard work of our lawyers across the globe as well as the trust clients place in us to support them in their disputes."

For more information, please contact Paula Hodges KC, Partner and Vanessa Naish, Professional Support Consultant, or your usual Herbert Smith Freehills contact.