Penningtons Manches Cooper strengthens disputes team

International law firm Penningtons Manches Cooper has appointed prominent arbitration specialist Jean-François Le Gal as a partner and head of international arbitration within its commercial dispute resolution team. His arrival is expected to play a crucial role in developing the firm's international arbitration capabilities, significantly building upon its established experience in cross-border disputes and further supporting the expansion of its international offices and client base.

Jean-François joins from Pinsent Masons, bringing over twenty years of experience in international arbitration and multi-jurisdictional proceedings. His practice particularly focuses on regions including Africa and the Middle East, with sector expertise encompassing energy and natural resources, life sciences and health, financial services, infrastructure, and technology. He has recently represented a pan-African conglomerate in arbitration proceedings before the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), alongside satellite litigation in England and various African jurisdictions, securing favourable decisions for all of the client’s claims. In addition, he has served as Sole Arbitrator in expedited ICC proceedings related to a renewable-energy transaction and has acted as lead advocate in significant International Chamber of Commerce arbitration cases concerning major oil-and-gas projects across both West and North Africa.

Dual qualified in England and France, Jean-François is a barrister in England and Wales, as well as an Avocat au Barreau de Paris. He will be based in London and collaborate closely with colleagues in Penningtons Manches Cooper's Paris office to support clients across the EMEA region. His work has earned him recognition as a Leading Partner for international arbitration in The Legal 500 and in the Lexology Index. In addition to representing clients in intricate international disputes, he regularly serves as arbitrator—fulfilling roles such as sole arbitrator, co-arbitrator, and chairman of a tribunal—and is registered with prestigious arbitral institutions, including the ICC, LCIA, DIAC, CRCICA, and the CCJA-OHADA Arbitration Centre.

Kamran Rehman, Penningtons Manches Cooper's head of commercial dispute resolution, stated, "Jean-François is a highly respected international arbitration lawyer with an outstanding reputation in the market. His arrival represents a significant step forward in our ambitions to build a market-leading international disputes practice." Clare Arthurs, head of strategy for dispute resolution, noted, "International arbitration is a key strategic growth area for the firm and Jean-François brings exactly the experience and international reach we need to accelerate that growth. His expertise across key markets will enable us to deepen relationships and expand the range of high-value disputes work we can undertake."

Jean-François expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "It’s fantastic to be joining Penningtons Manches Cooper at such an exciting stage in the firm's strategic journey. The disputes team has built a reputation for handling complex, high-value matters typically associated with very large teams and is ambitious to grow further. There is a significant opportunity to build on the firm's existing cross-border expertise and develop a truly integrated international arbitration offering. I'm particularly excited about the opportunity to work with colleagues across London, Paris and the wider international network."