backSINGAPORE, May 23, 2016 — King & Spalding announced today that partner Wade Coriell, deputy head of the firm’s global international arbitration practice, will relocate from Houston to Singapore later this year to lead the firm’s disputes practice in Asia. With Coriell’s move to Singapore, John Savage, managing partner of the firm’s Singapore office and head of the Asia disputes practices, will split his time between the firm’s Singapore and London offices.
Savage said, “I’m delighted Wade’s moving to Asia, and our clients will be too. I’ve worked closely with him for years and know he’s got what it takes to lead our team out here to the next level.”
Coriell’s practice focuses on the oil and gas industry, where he acts in both commercial and investment treaty arbitrations, as well as litigation. He has particular expertise in representing foreign investors in high-stakes disputes with host states and state-owned companies. He recently served as a lead partner on the King & Spalding team that won a $50 million award for ConocoPhillips China in an SIAC arbitration concerning Chinese gas fields, and on the team that secured a $70 million award for a large independent oil company in an UNCITRAL arbitration concerning a gas pipeline in Indonesia. His current work includes:
Representing leading energy companies in a number of cases situated in Asia, including four with more than a billion dollars in dispute.
Representing Chevron in its high-profile $10 billion BIT arbitration against Ecuador. Coriell was also a member of the team that secured a $100 million award for Chevron in an earlier BIT case against Ecuador.
Ed Kehoe, head of King & Spalding’s international arbitration practice, said “Wade brings a wealth of experience in investor-state and energy-related disputes and is no stranger to Asia. He will be a huge asset in a region where arbitration still has enormous potential for growth and clients are very discerning.”
“My practice has become increasingly Asia-oriented over the last few years, and I see my relocation to Singapore as a natural extension of that work,” said Coriell. “We have a fantastic group in Asia, with great clients and large, complex cases. I look forward to being part of the team and building on its success with my colleagues in Singapore and Tokyo.”
Dagfinn Nygaard, Managing Counsel of ConocoPhillips in Asia, said: “We’ve worked with Wade on several recent cases in Asia with excellent results. He provides wise counsel and forceful advocacy, and it’s great news that he will now be based in the region.”
Coriell will be the fifth partner on King & Spalding's Singapore disputes team, which is the only practice ranked in Band 1 for International Arbitration in Singapore by the influential Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2016. His move is subject to the approval of Singapore’s authorities.
About King & Spalding
Celebrating more than 130 years of service, King & Spalding is an international law firm that represents a broad array of clients, including half of the Fortune Global 100, with 900 lawyers in 18 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm has handled matters in over 160 countries on six continents and is consistently recognized for the results it obtains, uncompromising commitment to quality, and dedication to understanding the business and culture of its clients. More information is available at www.kslaw.com.