New York — Sidley Austin LLP announced today that Benno Kimmelman will join Sidley’s New York office as a partner and Dana MacGrath will join as counsel. Both will be members of the firm’s prominent International Arbitration practice.
“We are very pleased Benno and Dana have made the decision to join Sidley,” said Stanimir Alexandrov, partner and co-head of Sidley’s International Arbitration practice. “Their strong capabilities in advising clients on complex international arbitration and litigation matters complement nicely those of our existing team in New York and around the world.”
“Benno and Dana are high-profile additions as we continue to expand our International Arbitration practice in the major arbitration hubs,” said Marc Palay, partner and co-head of Sidley’s International Arbitration practice. “They have strong experience in international commercial arbitration, specifically in the energy sector, which fits nicely with Sidley’s continued growth in this area.”
Mr. Kimmelman’s practice focuses on the arbitration and litigation of complex commercial, investment treaty and energy disputes. He regularly represents U.S. and foreign clients, as well as sovereign entities, in international disputes before tribunals and state and federal courts. Mr. Kimmelman has tried numerous cases before the leading international arbitration institutions and has extensive experience serving as an arbitrator in international disputes. He is listed as a leading practitioner in Chambers USA and Legal 500 United States. In addition to maintaining a substantial practice, Mr. Kimmelman serves as an adjunct professor of law at Brooklyn Law School, teaching International Commercial Arbitration and International Litigation. He also has served as chair of the International Commercial Disputes Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York for the past three years and is an adviser to the American Law Institute project on the U.S. Law of International Commercial Arbitration.
Ms. MacGrath likewise has a broad range of experience in U.S. and international arbitration and litigation, and also serves as an arbitrator. She is a member of the Finance Committee of the New York International Arbitration Center. She served as secretary of the International Commercial Disputes Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York for the last three years. Ms. MacGrath is an adjunct professor of law at Brooklyn Law School, where she teaches a seminar on international commercial arbitration and coaches the Brooklyn Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot team. Ms. MacGrath is chair of Y-ADR, the young arbitrators group of the CPR Institute. She writes and speaks frequently on the subject of international dispute resolution.
“Our practice is well-known for its global reach and strong capabilities in arbitrations involving high-stakes international business disputes,” said Steven Bierman, partner and co-head of Sidley’s New York Litigation Department. “With the addition of Benno and Dana to our already strong capability, we further enhance the level of service we provide to clients, particularly those facing complex, cross-border disputes. We are excited that these accomplished international arbitration lawyers are joining us and look forward to their many contributions.”
