King & Spalding has hired leading Asia-based International Arbitration lawyer Nils Eliasson as a partner in the firm’s Trial and Global Disputes Practice Group. He will be based in the Singapore office. Eliasson was most recently a partner at Shearman & Sterling in Hong Kong, where he led the firm’s Asia International Arbitration practice.
Eliasson acts as counsel and arbitrator in commercial, construction, and investment treaty disputes in Asia, with particular experience in the energy, infrastructure, and telecommunications sectors.
“Nils is a market-leading international arbitration specialist with an excellent reputation throughout the Asia market,” said Ed Kehoe, co-head of the firm’s International Arbitration group. “His focus on energy and infrastructure disputes fits well in our top-ranked Asia disputes platform, and his experience in Northeast Asia and China provides further depth to our team.”
Eliasson has acted in cases before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), the Vienna International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), the German International Arbitration Institute (DIS), and the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC), as well as in ad hoc proceedings under the UNCITRAL arbitration rules.
Eliasson has been named “Lawyer of the Year” for Arbitration and Mediation (International Firms) in Beijing by Best Lawyers in China 1st edition (2020), a Global Leader in Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration, and is ranked in both Chambers Asia-Pacific and Legal 500 Asia-Pacific. Eliasson also serves as a Vice-Chair of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre.
“Nils’ arrival further boosts our existing international arbitration practice in Asia, as well as our Singapore office,” added Kelly Malone, Office Managing Partner in Singapore. “Nils represents the latest addition to our team in Asia as we continue to expand, joining recent hires Parveet Singh Gandoak, Anthony Patten and Lachlan Clancy.”
“K&S is not only one of the best global arbitration practices, its depth and relationships in the energy sector and beyond make the firm a compelling next step for me,” said Eliasson. “I am excited to work with my new partners to build out the firm’s disputes practice in Asia.”
