Herbert Smith Freehills has hired International Arbitration Partner Thierry Tomasi and Of Counsel Emily Fox to join its Paris office, following the firm's continued expansion across Europe. 

Joining as a Partner from Parisian disputes boutique Betto Seraglini, Thierry is lauded by legal rankings such as GAR 100 and Legal 500 as being "detailed, serious and accurate" and "very sharp".

Thierry has carved out a very successful international arbitration practice, with a particular focus on aviation, energy, defence and construction as well as strong connections into Africa and Brazil. 

He is among the few Paris-based practitioners able to conduct arbitration proceedings in Portuguese and regularly acts as a sole arbitrator as well as chair of the Tribunal in ICC cases. He is also an auditor for the Institute of Higher Studies in National Defence (IHEDN - 69^th Defence Policy national session).

Thierry trained in French and Italian law and graduated in International Law and Arbitration Law from the University of Paris II (Panthéon – Assas) and King’s College London. He speaks French, English, Italian, as well as Portuguese. He is also a member of the Brazilian Arbitration Committee (CBAr) and the International Bar Association and is a visiting Lecturer at the Catholic University of Louvain.

Emily, who joins us from Quinn Emmanuel, is "home-grown" Herbert Smith Freehills talent, having been a trainee at the firm and junior associate in the Paris office until September 2011. She left to join Allen & Overy's Paris office with former Herbert Smith Freehills Partner Michael Young and moved with him to Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan in January 2017. 

Qualified as both a French Avocat and a Solicitor of England & Wales, Emily has represented clients in numerous international arbitrations under the rules of major arbitration institutions as well as in ad hoc cases under the UNCITRAL rules. 

Her experience includes commercial and investment disputes, in particular international arbitrations in the oil and gas, construction, aviation and banking sectors. 

The hire comes after Herbert Smith Freehills hired Partner Antoine Juaristi and his team of five from Hogan Lovells in Paris earlier this year. 

The firm has also more than doubled the size of its disputes practice in Germany, with the hire of two CC&I partners Dr Helmut Görling and Dr Dirk Seiler and a team of seven other lawyers and forensic experts. 

Justin D'Agostino, the Global Head of Disputes and joint Managing Partner for Asia and Australia, said: 

"Our Global Arbitration Practice is one of our world class practice areas and provides on-the-ground support for clients, helping them address complex and sensitive issues across the globe.  The substantial growth in our European footprint in recent years reflects the fact that there continues to be a strong client demand for our expertise throughout Europe. Paris has long been regarded as the home of international arbitration and, together with London, is one of Europe's most mature and popular markets.  Both Thierry and Emily's addition to our team will further grow and strengthen our Paris arbitration business."

Thierry added: "I have been drawn to Herbert Smith Freehills for its truly global arbitration practice. I am looking forward to working with a broad range of clients and further developing my practice into Latin America." 

Emily concluded: “I am delighted to be returning to Herbert Smith Freehills, where I have many friends, and I look forward to contributing to the development of the Global Arbitration Practice in Paris and beyond.”