Gary Born received an honorary doctor of laws degree during the Wayne State University Law School Commencement ceremony in Detroit, Michigan on May 14. Born, who is chair of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr’s 70-person International Arbitration Practice and who has participated in more than 550 international arbitrations, also delivered the commencement address at the ceremony.
Widely regarded as the world’s preeminent authority on international commercial arbitration and international litigation, Born’s work has included four of the largest International Chamber of Commerce arbitrations and several of the most significant ad hoc arbitrations in recent history, including the representation of:
- The Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army in the Abyei arbitration, which determined part of the border between Sudan and the new country of South Sudan;
- Eritrea in an arbitration with Yemen concerning ownership of strategically important islands in the Red Sea;
- Private parties in controversies under various bilateral investment treaties; and
- A major foundation in an ad hoc arbitration against a European state, which raised novel issues of public international law.
Born has represented companies from Europe, the US, Asia and other countries in arbitrations under all leading institutional rules (ICC, LCIA, AAA, Vienna, Stockholm, ICSID) and in ad hoc arbitrations in all leading international seats (London, Paris, Geneva/Zurich, Vienna, Stockholm, New York, Washington, Singapore). He also advises on the litigation of international disputes in US courts and has specialized experience in the fields of jurisdiction, enforcement of judgments, conflict of laws and international judicial cooperation, and also serves as an expert witness on aspects of US private international law in foreign proceedings.
Born is the author of International Commercial Arbitration (2009), the leading commentary on international commercial arbitration, and multiple other works on international arbitration and litigation. Born has taught law at Harvard Law School, Stanford Law School, University of St. Gallen, Georgetown University Law Center, National University of Singapore, University of Virginia School of Law, University College London and University of Arizona College of Law. He is a member of the American Law Institute (ALI) and has served on the Executive Council of the American Society of International Law, on the Advisory Committee of the ALI's Restatement of US International Arbitration Law, and as co-chair of the American Bar Association International Section, Committee on International Aspects of Litigation.
