International law firm Gowling WLG is continuing its development strategy by growing its International Arbitration practice in Paris.
As part of a global expansion strategy, the firm is delighted to welcome partner Marie-Aude Ziadé into its International Arbitration team. Marie-Aude joins Gowling WLG alongside a senior team of associates, having previously headed the dispute resolution department at ORANO (formerly AREVA) and practiced international arbitration with great success in her own co-founded boutique firm in France for four years.
Marie-Aude has 18 years of experience as an international arbitration lawyer and litigation general counsel and has distinguished herself in the context of various complex cases, both in terms of their technicality and their reputational issues. She advises domestic and international groups, investment funds, directors & officers, public entities and international organisations before domestic and international arbitration tribunals. She also represents her clients before court judges in high-stakes cases, has significant experience in mediation to resolve multi-jurisdictional disputes and also sits as an arbitrator.
Marie-Aude said: "I am absolutely thrilled to be joining Gowling WLG. Leading the firm's International Arbitration practice in France is a magnificent opportunity and a challenge that I am delighted to take up. In addition to joining a global international arbitration team of very strong practitioners, Gowling WLG offers me countless synergies with the firm's other practices, notably in the energy sector, where it is the one of the leaders on the global market.
"The values held by the firm, centred on people, respect for everyone in their diversity and the collective were also key in me joining Gowling WLG. I am very proud to join a firm that has been recognised every year, for 23 years, for the well-being at work that it offers to its members in addition to the excellence of the legal services that it provides."
Marie-Aude is joined by senior associate Sophia Allouache and associate Hadrien Torron, who will also be based at Gowling WLG's Paris office.
Gowling WLG's International Arbitration team advises clients across multiple sectors including construction, energy, infrastructure, nuclear, life sciences, mining, tech and aviation, aerospace and defence.
Gordon Bell, head of International Arbitration at Gowling WLG, said: "We are extremely pleased to have Marie-Aude and her team join us. Paris is such an important market for international arbitration and Marie-Aude's expertise is highly regarded in that market. She brings with her a wealth of experience both in-house and in private practice and she will add real strength to our growing international arbitration practice, not just in Paris, but globally."
Céline Bey and Patrick Mousset, co-managing partners of Gowling WLG's Paris office said: "We are delighted to welcome Marie-Aude and her team. Their expertise in international arbitration and ADR allows us to now meet all of our clients' needs when it comes to dispute resolution. Their approach entirely focused on client satisfaction and strong collective values are perfectly aligned with what Gowling WLG places at the centre of its concerns. The arrival of Marie-Aude and her team is part of the policy of redeployment and active development of the Paris office that we intend to carry out in the coming months, with the recruitment of other partners and teams, in co-operation with our offices in the United Kingdom, Canada, the Middle East and Asia."
The expansion follows the firm taking the next steps in executing its growth strategy in Germany by welcoming a new team in Frankfurt earlier this year.
Gowling WLG is an international sector focused law firm with more than 1,500 legal professionals worldwide in cities across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia.