People
Tom Childs specializes in international arbitration and litigation. He represents companies from the finance, pharmaceutical, and oil and gas industries in commercial and investment arbitration and in U.S. litigation involving cross-border discovery, award enforcement, and post-judgment execution.
Tom has represented clients in numerous high-stakes arbitrations seated around the world, under all major arbitration rules. He also has extensive experience litigating post-award and post-judgment proceedings before the U.S. courts, with a focus on matters involving foreign sovereigns.
Tom is admitted to the New York bar, holds an advanced law degree from the University of Paris I, and regularly handles disputes under both common law and civil law systems. He speaks French fluently and has conversational ability in both German and Arabic.
Before joining King & Spalding, Tom practiced litigation with Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York and clerked for Chief Judge Edward R. Korman of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Recent Publications
Speaking Engagements
Associations
D.E.A., University of Paris I, Paris, France, with honors
J.D., Columbia University, Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
B.A., Yale University, with distinction
England and Wales
New York
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Law Clerk, Chief Judge Edward R. Korman, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
French
German
November 3, 2020
James Berger, Tom Childs and Charlene Sun advise Unión Fenosa Gas in a fund transfer dispute with Egypt and The Bank of New York Mellon
July 10, 2020
King & Spalding Earns Top Spot on Global Arbitration Review’s GAR 30 Ranking
January 17, 2020
Legal 500 Asia-Pacific Recognizes King & Spalding Among Region’s Top Law Firms
International Commercial Arbitrations: International mining company in an ICSID arbitration arising under a mining contract. Law of African state applies.
Indian pharmaceutical company in an ICC arbitration in New York arising under a licensing agreement. New York law applies.
International oil company in several UNCITRAL arbitrations involving claims arising under a production sharing contract. Claims relate to cost recovery, gas pricing and other matters. Indian law applies.
See more
January 29, 2020
Tokyo Dispute Resolution & Crisis Management Newsletter – January 2020
October 10, 2019
Second Circuit Affirms Broad International Discovery
April 1, 2018
Summary of Report of the New York City Bar on Awards of Interest in International Commercial Arbitration
November 3, 2020
James Berger, Tom Childs and Charlene Sun advise Unión Fenosa Gas in a fund transfer dispute with Egypt and The Bank of New York Mellon
July 10, 2020
King & Spalding Earns Top Spot on Global Arbitration Review’s GAR 30 Ranking
January 17, 2020
Legal 500 Asia-Pacific Recognizes King & Spalding Among Region’s Top Law Firms
International Commercial Arbitrations: International mining company in an ICSID arbitration arising under a mining contract. Law of African state applies.
Indian pharmaceutical company in an ICC arbitration in New York arising under a licensing agreement. New York law applies.
International oil company in several UNCITRAL arbitrations involving claims arising under a production sharing contract. Claims relate to cost recovery, gas pricing and other matters. Indian law applies.
See more
January 29, 2020
Tokyo Dispute Resolution & Crisis Management Newsletter – January 2020
October 10, 2019
Second Circuit Affirms Broad International Discovery
April 1, 2018
Summary of Report of the New York City Bar on Awards of Interest in International Commercial Arbitration
November 3, 2020
James Berger, Tom Childs and Charlene Sun advise Unión Fenosa Gas in a fund transfer dispute with Egypt and The Bank of New York Mellon
July 10, 2020
King & Spalding Earns Top Spot on Global Arbitration Review’s GAR 30 Ranking
January 17, 2020
Legal 500 Asia-Pacific Recognizes King & Spalding Among Region’s Top Law Firms
D.E.A., University of Paris I, Paris, France, with honors
J.D., Columbia University, Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
B.A., Yale University, with distinction
England and Wales
New York
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Law Clerk, Chief Judge Edward R. Korman, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
French
German