Richard Deutsch, a preeminent Texas-based international arbitration practitioner, has joined Pillsbury’s Houston office, further bolstering the firm’s disputes capabilities in the region. He comes to the firm from McGuire Woods, where he led the U.S. international arbitration practice. Deutsch currently serves as the President of the Houston International Arbitration Club and teaches international arbitration at The University of Texas School of Law in Austin.
Deutsch advises companies, primarily in the energy & natural resources and financial services industries, in international commercial arbitrations and investor-state arbitrations worldwide. For clients investing in foreign jurisdictions, he also advises on risk mitigation through arbitration provisions, international investment treaties and political risk insurance.
In addition, Deutsch provides counsel regarding corporate and government investigations, including advising on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and federal and state securities laws.
“Rich is a natural fit for Pillsbury, representing clients in three of our core industry focus areas—energy, real estate & construction, and financial services— and bringing even more firepower to our disputes practice in Texas,” said Deborah Baum, leader of the firm’s Litigation group. “Building out our international arbitration offering has been a strategic focus of the firm, as many of our clients increasingly need sophisticated representation in cross-border disputes. Rich certainly fits that bill as well, expanding the team’s on-the-ground presence in another critical market.”
Pillsbury has been successfully expanding its international arbitration footprint in recent years. Important additions to the group have included Deborah Ruff in London, Robert Sills in New York and June Yeum, who has a significant practice in Asia.
Deutsch expands the team’s presence further by establishing an international arbitration base for the firm in Texas, a geography where the firm has experienced substantial growth in recent years building on the strength of several of its nationally ranked practice areas.
“Because of Pillsbury’s longstanding connections and reputation in the energy, construction, and financial services industries, I have known and respected several of the professionals at Pillsbury for many years,” Deutsch said. “I foresee immediate opportunities for collaboration with my new colleagues to support our clients and look forward to expanding our services in Texas and beyond.”
Pillsbury’s International Arbitration lawyers have decades of experience representing parties before arbitral institutions worldwide. Team members have appeared before arbitral tribunals for governments, investors, developers, equipment manufacturers, construction companies and others. The firm has handled disputes involving energy and power projects, construction and infrastructure, defense industry procurements, intellectual property, environmental issues, supplier-distributor issues, international trade, real estate, life sciences, financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions and all sorts of commercial matters. The proceedings have been conducted in the Latin America, Middle East, Europe, North America, South America and Asia.
