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Darren Pouliot

Managing Associate

London

Darren Pouliot is a Managing Associate in the International Arbitration group who brings a trial-oriented focus to his matters. Darren has significant experience in the preparation of cases for trial across jurisdictions and understands the importance of having a trial-ready mindset from the outset. 

Darren is a dual-qualified American lawyer and solicitor of England and Wales. He represents clients in American federal and state courts as well as in English commercial disputes. He works closely with clients in the life sciences, technology, and energy industries on matters ranging from international commercial contract disputes to consumer products liability actions. He has served on several trial teams and worked on high-stakes appeals. He also maintains an active pro bono practice with a focus on criminal, habeas, and constitutional cases on appeal. 

Prior to joining Orrick, Darren attended Columbia Law School where he extensively studied federal constitutional, administrative, and criminal law. While there, he was a judicial intern in multiple levels of the federal judiciary, including the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the Southern District of New York, and the District of New Jersey. He also led the Columbia Business Law Review as its editor-in-chief for the 2017-18 academic year. 

  • Commercial Arbitrations

    ICC Arbitrations. Darren has been a member of multiple ICC trial teams, including:

    • Representing a global commodities trader in ICC London arbitration in relation to a joint venture dispute arising out of a construction matter;
    • Representing an international EPC Contractor in ICC London arbitration arising out of the construction of a power plant in the Caribbean, where acted acted as both advocates and counsel.

    LCIA Arbitrations. Darren has experience acting on behalf of clients in LCIA arbitrations from the inception of the case and in navigating matters which presented novel legal challenges.

    Mass Torts and Product Liability

    Johnson & Johnson Talc Litigation. Darren was part of the Orrick team serving as counsel for J&J in national talc litigation. In particular:

    • Member of the trial team which successfully secured a defence verdict following a month-long trial in Kentucky;
    • Member of the team which led a multi-defendant coordinated defence against a California Proposition 65 action and successfully obtained summary judgment in the defence's favour;
    • Worked on multiple high-stakes appeals defending defence wins below and elsewhere arguing for corrective relief;
    • Worked extensively on cross-disciplinary issues involving scientific, medical, economic, legal, and regulatory expertise.

    Union Carbide Corporation. Darren was part of the Orrick trial team representing Union Carbide in an Ohio product liability trial.

    Criminal, Appellate, and Pro Bono

    Criminal/Appellate. Darren combines a passion for just criminal representation with a deep interest in evidential, constitutional, and federal procedural issues to represent clients pursuing post-conviction relief. In particular:

    • Working on behalf of a Texas capital defendant at every level of state post-conviction proceedings and in seeking further federal relief;
    • Representing a client before the New York appellate courts in direct appeal proceedings, including as oral advocate before the Appellate Division;

    Immigration. Darren worked closely over a multi-year period with a client to successfully obtain asylum in the United States.