People
Ken Beale is an international litigation and arbitration partner who splits his time between King & Spalding’s Washington, D.C. and London offices. He has represented clients for more than 15 years in numerous bet-the-company international commercial and investor-state proceedings throughout the world, including against multiple foreign governments.
Described as “one of the best” in the field, “very experienced in handling large cases”, and as standing out for his “insightful and great oral arguments”, Ken has first-chaired many high-stakes hearings and acted as counsel under the auspices of most leading institutions, including the ICC, LCIA, AAA-ICDR, HKIAC, SCC, and VIAC, as well as in matters under the UNCITRAL Rules.
Ken represents clients in disputes governed by the laws of numerous jurisdictions and at all major arbitral seats as well as in court in the United States. Ken has particular experience with disputes in the financial services, oil and gas, telecommunications, energy, and manufacturing sectors, as well as with breach of contract, shareholder, joint venture, and post-M&A disputes. Ken also represents clients in complex enforcement proceedings and in litigation in support of judicial and arbitral proceedings. In addition, he routinely advises hedge funds and litigation funders considering litigations and arbitrations.
Ken has taught international arbitration as an adjunct professor of law at numerous universities, most recently at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences. He also has taught as part of the Foundation for International Advocacy in Arbitration’s oral advocacy program. He frequently speaks and writes on topics related to international arbitration.
J.D., Yale Law School
Master, University of Cambridge, U.K
B.A., Pomona College, Valedictorian , summa cum laude
District of Columbia
Maryland
Law Clerk, Chief Judge Carolyn Dineen King, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Law Clerk, Hon. Peter J. Messitte, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
June 8, 2022
Legal 500 United States 2022 Recognizes King & Spalding Practices and Lawyers Among the Top in the Nation
February 18, 2022
Chambers Global 2022 Recognizes King & Spalding as a Leading International Law Firm
October 21, 2021
King & Spalding Earns Multiple Rankings in Chambers UK 2022 Guide
Representing one of the world’s largest manufacturing companies in a shareholder dispute worth in excess of €1 billion.
Representing one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies in three parallel VIAC arbitral proceedings sited in Europe in connection with a shareholder dispute related to one of Eastern Europe’s largest telecommunication operators, with in excess of €1 billion in dispute
Representing financial services firms, in an ICC arbitration pertaining to a shareholder dispute over control of a European company.
See more
March 9, 2022
The United States Signs the 2019 Hague Judgments Convention
June 8, 2022
Legal 500 United States 2022 Recognizes King & Spalding Practices and Lawyers Among the Top in the Nation
February 18, 2022
Chambers Global 2022 Recognizes King & Spalding as a Leading International Law Firm
October 21, 2021
King & Spalding Earns Multiple Rankings in Chambers UK 2022 Guide
Representing one of the world’s largest manufacturing companies in a shareholder dispute worth in excess of €1 billion.
Representing one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies in three parallel VIAC arbitral proceedings sited in Europe in connection with a shareholder dispute related to one of Eastern Europe’s largest telecommunication operators, with in excess of €1 billion in dispute
Representing financial services firms, in an ICC arbitration pertaining to a shareholder dispute over control of a European company.
See more
March 9, 2022
The United States Signs the 2019 Hague Judgments Convention
June 8, 2022
Legal 500 United States 2022 Recognizes King & Spalding Practices and Lawyers Among the Top in the Nation
February 18, 2022
Chambers Global 2022 Recognizes King & Spalding as a Leading International Law Firm
October 21, 2021
King & Spalding Earns Multiple Rankings in Chambers UK 2022 Guide
J.D., Yale Law School
Master, University of Cambridge, U.K
B.A., Pomona College, Valedictorian , summa cum laude
District of Columbia
Maryland
Law Clerk, Chief Judge Carolyn Dineen King, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Law Clerk, Hon. Peter J. Messitte, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland