Charlie Lightfoot has joined WilmerHale as a partner in the firm’s International Arbitration Practice. Based in the London office, Lightfoot brings more than 25 years of experience advising companies and governments in complex, high-value international disputes. His practice focuses on international commercial arbitration, with substantial experience in investor-state arbitration, commercial litigation before the English High Court and in offshore jurisdictions, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution, including adjudication, expert determination, and mediation.
Lightfoot’s work spans a wide range of industries, with particular strengths in defense and security, infrastructure, energy and life sciences. He also has significant experience handling disputes in the mining, telecommunications and entertainment sectors. He regularly appears as an advocate in arbitrations and has appeared before the English High Court; he also sits as an arbitrator.
“Charlie is an exceptional litigator who brings deep experience handling the very kind of matters our clients need us for: complex, high-stakes disputes that span markets and jurisdictions,” said Anjan Sahni, managing partner of WilmerHale. “London is a critical part of WilmerHale’s global platform, and we are investing with conviction in its future. Charlie reflects our commitment to give clients in the UK and across Europe the depth of trial and disputes capability they have come to expect from WilmerHale.”
Lightfoot’s arrival strengthens WilmerHale’s international arbitration and contentious disputes capabilities in London and globally, and reflects the firm’s deep and continued commitment to its London office. His experience with defense contractors, infrastructure funds, and major cross-border commercial disputes aligns closely with our existing strengths. He also brings experience building and leading international arbitration teams and integrating them across a broader global platform.
“WilmerHale is known for bringing rigorous legal thinking and strategic judgement to the most complex international matters,” said Lightfoot. “The firm’s combination of first-rate trial lawyers, a deep bench of international arbitrators, especially in London, and strong expertise in public international law is rare and in great demand from clients across the globe. I am excited to help grow the London office and work with colleagues across the firm globally on the most complex matters in our field.”
Before joining WilmerHale, Lightfoot chaired the International Arbitration Practice at an international law firm and previously had senior leadership roles at two other firms. He has spent 25 years representing companies and governments in complex, high-value international disputes across sectors including defense and security, infrastructure, energy, and life sciences. He is a regular advocate in international arbitration proceedings and before the English High Court and separately sits as an arbitrator. He is consistently ranked among the leading international arbitration practitioners in Chambers UK and The Legal 500 UK.
Lightfoot earned his BA from the University of Oxford, completed his Legal Practice Course at the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice and his MA from the University of Oxford.