WilmerHale is pleased to announce that Jeremy Kosky and Charlie Lightfoot have joined the firm as partners in London. Lightfoot, a renowned international arbitrator, has joined as partner in the international arbitration practice. Industry-leading litigator Jeremy Kosky joins as head of the firm’s Disputes Practice in London. Together, the two hires deepen WilmerHale’s bench in the UK where it has advised clients on complex cross-border disputes for decades and reflects the firm’s continued investment in the growth of its London office.
“Jeremy and Charlie are exceptional litigators who bring 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 and Jeremy reflect 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.”
WilmerHale’s London office, established more than 40 years ago, has built its reputation handling matters of the highest legal and commercial consequence for clients spanning international arbitration, white-collar investigations, intellectual property and competition proceedings. Its lawyers, qualified in the UK, the US, and multiple European jurisdictions, work seamlessly in cross-border teams with colleagues in the firm’s US, Brussels and German offices to provide interdisciplinary support to clients on global disputes and matters.
“WilmerHale’s London office has long been recognized for its pre-eminent disputes practice, built over decades through landmark cases before international arbitral tribunals, the UK courts and regulatory authorities” said Annsley Ward, co-partner in charge of WilmerHale’s London office. “The arrival of Jeremy and Charlie builds on that formidable foundation, enhancing the integrated support we can provide clients facing their most complex, cross-functional disputes in London and globally.”
Jeremy Kosky Strengthens Commercial Disputes Practice in London
The Commercial Disputes Practice in London builds on WilmerHale’s established disputes capabilities and extends the firm’s litigation platform before the English courts, reinforcing a disputes practice already recognized among the world’s leading platforms.
The firm’s trial, appellate and international arbitration lawyers are relied upon to handle the highest stakes matters for global companies, financial institutions and sovereign clients, and Jeremy Kosky’s arrival expands the firm’s ability to support clients in complex commercial claims in London and coordinate strategy across borders. Under Kosky’s leadership, the practice will focus on high-value complex commercial litigation for public and private companies, private capital sponsors, financial institutions, family offices and corporate boards.
“When it comes to handling matters of the highest legal and commercial consequence, WilmerHale’s reputation is second to none,” said Kosky. “The opportunity to head the firm’s Disputes Practice in London, while drawing on the exceptional capabilities it already has in the UK, Europe and globally, is a compelling one. I look forward to continuing to build the practice, adding other skilled practitioners, and working with colleagues from across the firm to advise clients on their most significant disputes and business-critical challenges.”
Kosky brings more than 30 years of experience in high-stakes international commercial litigation, with cases taken to trial in England, France, Italy, and Luxembourg, as well as Bermuda, BVI, the Cayman Islands, and the Channel Islands. He joins WilmerHale from another international law firm, where he specialized in cross-border disputes and crisis advisory for private capital sponsors, corporate boards and family offices, leading the London commercial litigation team for nearly a decade and sitting on the firm's global financial investors committee. Chambers UK have ranked Kosky for 18 consecutive years, and recognized him individually in both Commercial and Corporate Litigation and Private Wealth Disputes.
Charlie Lightfoot Adds Senior International Arbitration Experience
WilmerHale’s International Arbitration Practice has handled some of the largest commercial and investor-state arbitrations of the past two decades. Lightfoot’s arrival adds a leading advocate and reinforces the practice’s capacity to run large, multi-party cases and to serve clients in sectors where geopolitical and regulatory pressures are driving a new wave of disputes.
“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.