Hogan Lovells has strengthened its international litigation and arbitration practice with the lateral partner hire of Patric McGonigal in Tokyo.  Patric, an experienced litigator, will join Hogan Lovells on 31 October 2011 and will be based in the firm’s Tokyo office.

Patric was formerly a partner in Barlow Lyde & Gilbert’s international commercial arbitration practice, leading a team in Singapore where he acted on a broad range of commercial, insurance, international trade and trade finance disputes.  Prior to that Patric had spent nine years in London and over five years in Hong Kong and Shanghai, where he gained a detailed understanding of regional dynamics and issues impacting disputes in Asia generally.  He has extensive regional experience of conducting arbitration cases before SIAC, HKIAC, CIETAC as well as in London and Europe before LCIA, LMAA, ICC, RSA, GAFTA and FOSFA.

In recent years, Patric has been involved in the Elektrim/Vivendi dispute, one of the highest value arbitrations reported in Europe. He has also worked on several recent trade arbitrations arising out of the grain and flour export ban in Russia as well as a series of recovery proceedings in Asia and London involving defective submarine telecommunication cables.

Patric is ranked as a leading lawyer in several legal directories, including in Chambers Asia 2011 and Asia Pacific Legal 500, and is a sought after speaker at energy, insurance, marine and trade industry sector conferences.

Commenting on Patric’s arrival, David Harris, co-CEO of Hogan Lovells said: 

“Patric is a seasoned partner with a strong track record in international litigation and arbitration, particularly on the ground in Asia.  

This experience combined with his close personal connections to Japan, make him the ideal partner to support the needs of our Japanese client base and to lead our established team on the ground in Tokyo”.

Patric McGonigal said:

“Hogan Lovells is one of the leading global litigation and arbitration practices, with strength and depth across Asia and a presence in Japan which is one of the most established amongst international firms based in the country. 

The firm’s industry focus was also a major attraction, providing a perfect platform to leverage my track record acting on major energy, insurance, marine and trade related disputes.  I look forward to working with the team in Tokyo, across the region and the international offices, to further consolidate the firm’s status as one of the leading litigation and arbitration practices in Asia.”