Patrick W. Pearsall, Former U.S. State Department Chief of Investment Arbitration and Prominent Public International Law and Arbitration Lawyer, Joins Gibson Dunn in D.C.
Firm News | March 4, 2025
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce the expansion of the firm’s International Arbitration Practice Group with the addition of Patrick W. Pearsall as a partner in Washington, D.C. Patrick is a leading lawyer in the areas of international arbitration and public international law who served in the U.S. State Department for nearly a decade working on economic diplomacy and departed as the Chief of Investment Arbitration. Since leaving government, Patrick has developed a robust practice advising multinational corporations and sovereign states on a variety of cross-border matters. He regularly appears before tribunals around the world. He is also regularly called upon by business leaders to advise on strategic political issues and disputes, or potential disputes, with governments (including the U.S. government). His practice will focus on international arbitration, complex commercial disputes, investment protection, public international law, and geopolitical crisis management.
“We are thrilled to welcome Patrick to Gibson Dunn,” said Rahim Moloo, Co-Chair of the firm’s International Arbitration Practice Group. “I have known Patrick for many years. He is well-respected because of his thoughtful counsel and rich experience. His experience includes advising and acting for businesses and states alike in their most challenging matters. That experience adds even greater depth to Gibson Dunn’s leading international disputes offering. Especially in today’s environment, Patrick will help us provide our clients with the perspective they need to effectively deal with their most challenging global disputes.”
“I am excited to join the Gibson Dunn team,” said Patrick. “We are in a moment of change unseen in our lifetimes and clients are now, more than ever, looking for strategic partners who will help them navigate this increasingly complex and dynamic environment. Gibson Dunn is a destination for clients with high-profile, high-stakes international issues that need careful thought and attention.”
Recognized leaders in the field of international arbitration, Gibson Dunn is a “go-to” firm for complex and high-value disputes. With more than 100 lawyers across 17 offices, the firm’s International Arbitration Practice Group seamlessly advises leading multinational corporations and sovereign states in proceedings before tribunals around the world. The team provides top-tier international arbitration capabilities in commercial and investor-state disputes, alongside cutting-edge arbitral award and judgment enforcement strategies and solutions.
About Patrick Pearsall
Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Patrick led the disputes practice for the western hemisphere at an international law firm. For nearly a decade (2009-2017), he was a senior lawyer at the U.S. Department of State and departed as the Chief of Investment Arbitration. In addition to his representations, Patrick was on a drafting committee for revision of the International Chamber of Commerce Rules, was advisor on the revision of the American Arbitration Association Rules, and led the negotiations of several bilateral and multilateral treaties on behalf of the U.S. Government.
Patrick has extensive experience representing Fortune 500 companies and sovereign states in complex commercial contract and investment disputes. In addition to his commercial work, he is often called upon to assist companies and executives struggling with exposure from a geopolitical crisis. Accordingly, he is ranked by various directories as a leader in both international arbitration and public international law.
In 2022, Patrick was asked to create a reparations program for Ukraine. He holds a presidential appointment from Ukraine and is recognized as the principal architect of the Register of Damage for Ukraine now operating through the Council of Europe at The Hague. Patrick directs the International Claims and Reparations Project at Columbia Law School, where he is an adjunct professor.