Cy Benson is a U.S. and English qualified partner in the London office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and chairs the Firm’s International Arbitration Practice Group.
Mr. Benson focuses on international arbitration and represents clients from a wide variety of sectors before arbitral tribunals, including the ICC, LCIA and AAA/ICDR, with particular emphasis in telecoms, oil & gas and financial services. He is experienced in complex litigation and has significant trial and appellate experience in U.S. federal and state courts.
His representations include advising a major European financial institution in an ICC arbitration arising out of the termination of services and technology agreements for the establishment of a structured derivatives business; a joint venture contractor in a $1 billion ICC arbitration arising out of a refinery upgrade and crude oil pipeline project in Latin America; a telecommunications joint venture in a $1.1 billion ICC arbitration in Stockholm arising out of an Eastern European privatization of telecommunications services; and a major oil company in a $1.5 billion ICC arbitration arising from the divestment of an Eastern European refinery.
Mr. Benson has represented financial institutions in disputes concerning derivatives, alleged predatory mortgage lending practices, and the demise of Enron. He has represented corporate clients in shareholder class action litigation and represented an individual involved in U.S. government investigations into accounting irregularities at a major insurance company.
Mr. Benson is ranked as a leading lawyer for International Arbitration in the 2007-2012 Chambers and Partners UK Guides, in the 2006-2010 Chambers and Partners Global Guides, and in the 2009-2012 editions of Best Lawyers International (the first UK edition was published in 2009). The 2012 edition of Legal 500 UK also ranked him among the leading lawyers for the area (the publication has recently stated that Mr. Benson is “among the best-regarded practitioners in the market”) as well as recommending Gibson Dunn’s International Arbitration Practice in general. He is "highly recommended" for Dispute Resolution: Arbitration in Practical Law Company's Which Lawyer? (2007-2012), and is identified by UK Legal Experts 2012 as an expert in the field of Arbitration. He has also been recommended for Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration in Chambers Europe. Mr. Benson is a frequent speaker and writer on arbitration topics and also sits as an arbitrator.
Mr. Benson is a frequent speaker and writer on arbitration topics and active in bar activities, including as a member of the IBA Arbitration Committee Task Force on Ethics for Counsel. Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Mr. Benson was co-head of the London international arbitration group at a U.S. law firm.