King & Spalding has recruited Ben Emmerson CBE QC, a leading counsel in public international law and international corporate risk management, as a partner in the firm’s London office. Emmerson joins the firm’s Trial & Global Disputes practice as Global Head of Public International Law.

Emmerson is an accomplished courtroom advocate with 35 years’ experience representing sovereign States, as well as individual and corporate clients before international courts and tribunals, including more than 20 cases in the UK Supreme Court and its predecessor the House of Lords, and more than 30 cases at the European Court of Human Rights. Emmerson was previously a member at Doughty Street Chambers before founding Matrix Chambers in 2000, the same year he was awarded Queen’s Counsel (QC) status. He was most recently at Monckton Chambers.

“Ben is one of the UK’s best-known and respected litigators and his advocacy skills, renowned tactical insight and experience in high-profile, high-stakes cases before the English courts are unparalleled,” says Andy Bayman, chair of the Trial & Global Disputes practice. “His stellar background in public international law creates a unique offering that fits perfectly into our existing disputes work, making him an outstanding addition, both to our London office and our disputes platform around the world.”

“After more than three decades at the Bar, it’s time for a new challenge so the chance to join an expanding and ever-evolving law firm like King & Spalding was exciting, enticing and obvious,” Emmerson adds. “International disputes – arbitration, litigation and public international law – are increasingly overlapping and converging, especially when it comes to cases involving States. Clients need much more in-depth and holistic solutions to their international cases so my practice slots in perfectly with the established disputes team at King & Spalding to help us meet those requirements.”

Emmerson was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list last month for services to international law. He previously served as the UN Special Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism and as a judge of the UN International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the Former Yugoslavia. He has also served as a Deputy High Court Judge. He is a Master of the Bench of Middle Temple, a Visiting Professor of International Law and Security at the University of Oxford, and an Honorary Fellow of Mansfield College, Oxford. He also holds an honorary PhD from the University of Bristol. Emmerson is highly-ranked in Chambers & Partners and Legal 500.