Squire Patton Boggs has expanded its International Dispute Resolution (IDR) Practice with the addition of two partners in Paris. Sabrina Aïnouz and Jérôme Lehucher spent the last 13 years practicing international arbitration together, first at Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP, and later at DWF. Their arrival follows an earlier announcement this week that Michelle Glassman Bock joined the firm’s IDR Practice as a partner from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, splitting her time between its Brussels and Washington DC offices.

“Sabrina and Jérôme have substantial experience in high-stakes investor-state arbitrations and are excellent additions to our rapidly growing, dynamic team,” said Stephen Anway, global co-leader of the IDR Practice. “With their specialism in investor-state cases – an area of particular focus within our IDR group – their arrival will allow us to keep pace with our increasing case load, provide us access to new clients and, importantly, add to the strength of our market-leading team.”

Ms. Aïnouz and Mr. Lehucher have represented states in Africa, Europe, Central Asia and Africa, as well as state-owned entities and private sector companies, under most of the leading international arbitration institutions, including ICC, ICSID and UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules in the energy, mining, agricultural, pharmaceutical, automotive and technology sectors.

A dual French-Algerian national, Ms. Aïnouz was appointed by Algeria to the ICC International Court of Arbitration in 2018, while Mr. Lehucher, ranked as a Future Leader in Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration 2021, is a French national fluent in English and Spanish.

“We have continued to grow our global practice, particularly in locations of strategic importance, such as New York, Singapore, Dubai and Paris,” said George von Mehren, co-leader. “Sabrina and Jérôme are well known to our team, we rate them highly, and we believe they will play an important role in the further growth of our preeminent investment treaty arbitration team.”

IDR partner Carole Sportes, who leads the firm’s Paris office, commented, “We are excited to welcome Sabrina and Jérôme. Alongside our highly experienced team in Paris, we have great ambitions for the continued development of our practice and the services we provide to clients.”

Squire Patton Boggs is recognized as a GAR 30 firm in the Global Arbitration Review’s prestigious annual ranking of the top 30 international arbitration practices. With a team of more than 140 practitioners across 20 countries, the IDR Practice is a leader in international commercial and bilateral investment treaty arbitrations.