Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce leading commercial and international dispute litigator Kurt Lindquist will be joining as a shareholder in the rapidly expanding Commercial Litigation practice based in Washington, D.C. A highly respected and venerated trial lawyer, he brings a depth of experience resolving commercial matters on a global basis. His hire reflects the continued growth of Cozen O’Connor’s nationally recognized Commercial Litigation practice and the strategic expansion of the Washington, D.C. office. Lindquist joins the firm from the International Arbitration and Commercial Litigation group of Womble Bond Dickinson.
“Demonstrating such a depth of experience with global enforcement and arbitration strategies in so many disparate legal venues, makes Kurt an ideal addition to our Commercial Litigation Department,” said Barry Boss, co-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Commercial Litigation Department. “We anticipate a significant increase in activity both domestically and internationally, and Kurt’s experience in this arena is a welcome and robust addition.”
Commercial litigation has been a strategic focus for Cozen O’Connor and Kurt joins a group of nearly 10 veteran litigators who have joined Cozen O’Connor in 2020. Kurt is admitted to practice in North Carolina.
According to a recent Gallup Survey, Lindquist was recently ranked within the top 1 percent of all litigators in terms of his substantive knowledge, experience, and client service and satisfaction. He has been a member of the board of directors for the Charlotte International Arbitration Society since 2015, and an International Practice Law Section (NCBA) council member since 2015. Dedicated to his community, he has served on the board of trustees for the Woodlawn School, the board of advisors for the Wake Forest School of Business, and the Board of Visitors for the Wake Forest School of Law. His international arbitration experience has afforded him the honor of speaking in Kyoto, Japan on “Recent Developments in Investor /State Arbitrations,” and as a co-author in “Expedited/Fast Track Procedures in International Arbitration” at the 10th Biennial Arbitration Symposium in Salzburg, Austria.
Lindquist has had the distinction of representing the Lao People’s Democratic Republic against an alleged $1 billion expropriation claim under the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The government settled the investment claims with the claimant without payment and successfully defeated material breach applications from the claimant, with all claims having been dismissed and the settlement remaining in force.
Under the auspices of the Singapore International Arbitration Center, he prosecuted a $500 million breach of contract case. His international arbitration experience includes several cases before the International Chamber of Commerce in Germany, Switzerland, and Hong Kong and other arbitral regimes including the SCIA, PCA and HKIAC. In the United States, he helped negotiate the acquisition of the third-largest textile manufacturer in the United States by the largest European hosiery manufacturer and successfully defending the European firm in a $600 million breach of contract action.
“Bringing on a talented international arbitrator and commercial litigator of Kurt’s caliber will be an invaluable asset to our clients,” said Jonathan M. Grossman, Cozen O’Connor’s office managing partner of the Washington, D.C., office. “Kurt has been a tremendous advocate in international disputes and as an arbitrator for domestic cases for some of the largest public and private entities worldwide. We are excited to have a top-rated litigator such as Kurt join as our newest member in the D.C. office as we continue to grow and strengthen our presence both at home and abroad.”
“Cozen O’Connor offers a tremendous platform across the United States, Canada, and London. For many of my clients, issues commonly arise in these jurisdictions, and I am now able to assist them with a “boots on the ground” approach and experienced legal support — in litigation and transactional issues — on a much broader basis than previously possible,” Lindquist stated. “I look forward to supporting clients’ needs encompassing international and domestic dispute resolution practices, in addition to helping build a globally recognized international arbitration team. It is truly a compelling space to be involved in, and I expect it will be at the forefront of significant growth to come.”
Lindquist is the newest member to join the firm’s rapidly growing Washington, D.C., office this fall. In late October, the D.C. office welcomed Jeffrey T. Gendzwill and Keith D. Fredlake to the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice, and John D. Shire to the Health Care Practice. The firm has been focused on expanding this office in recent years, growing from 12 attorneys in 2010 to more than 75 attorneys and government relations professionals today. Lindquist earned his J.D. at the Wake Forest School of Law and his A.B. in Economics from Duke University, where he graduated cum laude.
