Press Release

Haynes and Boone, LLP has significantly expanded its international arbitration and litigation capabilities with the addition of four lawyers who have experience handling disputes on behalf of clients in a wide range of industries, including energy, construction, hospitality and hotels.

Melanie Willems joins as a partner and head of international arbitration in the London office. She has arbitrated complex matters for European, Asian and African companies under the major international rules, such as ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, and ICSID. She also sits as an arbitrator and represents clients in English courts.

Markus Esly, who joins as a partner in the London office, likewise has experience arbitrating matters under major international rules and representing clients before all levels of English courts. He also advises clients in connection with public international law matters, particularly bilateral investment treaty disputes and ICSID arbitrations.

Willems and Esly will be joined in the London office by Counsel Robert Blackett, who focuses on representing energy, engineering and construction clients in international arbitrations, and Associate Ryan Deane.

The four lawyers (solicitor advocates and barristers) previously worked in the London office of Hunton Andrews Kurth.

“Melanie, Markus, Robert and Ryan have extensive experience in international arbitration, litigation and all forms of alternative dispute resolution across a range of sectors, which will greatly benefit our clients across the globe,” said Haynes and Boone Partner William Cecil, head of the firm’s dispute resolution practice in London.

“We are excited to add such wonderful colleagues and to continue our rapid expansion in the UK Legal market,” added Managing Partner Tim Powers. “Many of our clients seek to resolve their cross-borders disputes before London courts or in major international arbitral forums. We are now able to offer our clients even more robust commercial dispute resolution capabilities in nearly every major financial center around the world.”

Willems, who previously served as head of international arbitration at Andrews Kurth and the managing partner of the firm’s London office, has been recognized among the leading international arbitration lawyers in London by Chambers UK (Chambers & Partners, 2009-2018) and The Legal 500 UK (Legalease, 2015-2017). “Haynes and Boone’s growth in London and strength in the energy, finance and technology sectors perfectly complement our team’s practice,” Willems said. “We look forward to helping the firm’s clients successfully resolve their international arbitration and litigation matters.”

Haynes and Boone entered the London market in 2016 by merging with Curtis Davis Garrard LLP (CDG). Since the merger, the London office has more than doubled the number of partners and has broadened the firm’s capabilities in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, finance, energy, shipping and other practices.

Haynes and Boone is an international corporate law firm with offices in Texas, New York, California, Chicago, Denver, Washington, D.C., London, Mexico City and Shanghai, providing a full spectrum of legal services in technology, financial services, energy and private equity. With about 600 lawyers, the firm is ranked among the largest U.S.-based firms by The National Law Journal and The American Lawyer.

Haynes and Boone’s Litigation Department includes more than 100 lawyers who span the firm’s offices worldwide and handle commercial litigation and international arbitrations of all sizes.