Charline Yim is a partner in the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. She is a member of the International Arbitration and Litigation Practice Groups. She also serves on the firm’s Pro Bono and Hiring Committees.
Charline specializes in international arbitration and has extensive experience representing clients in investment treaty and international commercial disputes. She has advised clients in disputes arising under many of the major arbitration rules including ICSID, ICSID Additional Facility, UNCITRAL, AAA, ICDR, ICC, LCIA, SCC, SIAC, AIAC, DIA, OCC, TAI and DIAC, as well as in ad hoc proceedings. Her clients operate in a wide range of industries, and she has particular experience guiding clients through complex, high-stakes disputes relating to the energy, telecommunications, construction, pharmaceutical, consumer products, financial services and banking industries.
Law360 named Charline a 2024 International Arbitration “Rising Star,” recognizing her as an “[attorney] under 40 whose legal accomplishments belie their age" and Benchmark Litigation named her to its 2024 40 & Under list, which identifies “the best and brightest litigators across the US.” Charline is recognized by Chambers USA and Chambers Global in the International Arbitration Counsel category, by Lawdragon500 X – The Next Generation for International Arbitration, Lexology as an Arbitration Future Leader, and by The Best Lawyers in America® for Alternative Dispute Resolution. She has been described by her clients as an “exceptional lawyer who undertakes deep preparation for cases” and “a real legal expert, who drives problem-solving smoothly in a complex environment and picks up new issues quickly."
In addition to representing clients in international arbitration proceedings, Charline has represented clients in major global investigations, white collar and civil litigation matters. Her experience includes representing clients in investigations by state and national enforcement authorities including the DOJ, the CFTC and the European Commission, as well as securing the acquittal of an individual defendant in a federal jury trial. She also represents clients in litigation matters relating to international arbitration proceedings including the enforcement of arbitral awards in multiple jurisdictions.
Charline maintains a significant pro bono practice and advises individuals and organizations on public international law and international human rights matters. Her most recent matters include representing human rights defenders before United Nations organs, advising leading international human rights organizations on questions of international criminal law, advising clients with international treaty negotiations, advising clients on the development of transitional justice mechanisms in various countries, and presenting various training courses on public international law, international dispute resolution, transitional justice, and media freedom. In addition, she frequently represents clients in asylum and immigration proceedings. For her commitment to pro bono work, she has been awarded Gibson Dunn’s Frank Wheat Memorial Award and Legal Aid Society’s Pro Bono Publico Award.
Charline regularly publishes, speaks and lectures on topics relating to international arbitration, public international law and international justice. Recent topics include developments under the Energy Charter Treaty, transitional justice processes and racial injustice in the US, and the importance of diversity in international arbitration.
Charline serves on the Board of Directors for the Center for Justice and Accountability and International Senior Lawyers Project, and as a member of the Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge’s USA Sub-Committee. She has previously served on committees for the American Society of International Law and the New York City Bar Association.
Charline earned her law degree in 2011 from Harvard Law School, where she was the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard International Law Journal, Co-President of the HLS Advocates for Human Rights and recipient of the Class of 2011 Dean’s Award for Community Leadership. She graduated summa cum laude in 2008 from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she studied Economics, English and Political Science, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Prior to joining the firm, she was an associate in the dispute resolution group of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP and a fellow to the President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
Charline is admitted to practice in the State of New York, and before the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. She has working knowledge of Spanish and Portuguese.
Capabilities
- International Arbitration
- Energy and Infrastructure
- Judgment and Arbitral Award Enforcement
- Latin America
- Litigation
- Oil and Gas
- Power and Renewables
- Transnational Litigation
- Trials
Credentials
Education:
- Harvard University - 2011 Juris Doctor
- University of California, Los Angeles - 2008 Bachelor of Arts
Admissions:
- New York Bar