People

Siegfried Elsing, Prof. Dr. LL.M. (Yale) Partner

Düsseldorf

He has acted as counsel, presiding arbitrator, sole arbitrator, or chairman in more than 300 arbitration proceedings, including ad hoc proceedings and arbitrations under the rules of the leading arbitration institutions.

As counsel, he represents private investors, international corporations, sovereign states, and state-owned enterprises in a range of significant, complex, and often cross-border disputes.

In addition to counsel work and acting as an arbitrator, Siegfried also acts as an expert witness before German courts as well as courts in the United States and the United Kingdom and before regulatory institutions.

His experience includes disputes in the areas of M&A, energy, investment protection, engineering and construction, financing, joint ventures, and intellectual property.

He is admitted to practice as an attorney-at-law in both Germany and New York.

Chambers Global 2024 describes Siegfried as a "star individual" who is "often appointed as arbitrator in complex international arbitrations" and is also "a leading practitioner in the field of investment arbitration" with "extensive experience as an arbitrator in investment law cases".

Siegfried was a member of the Advisory Board of the American Arbitration Association (2009 to 2020) and a member of the Panel of Conciliators of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) (2011 to 2017). He was a member of the Board of the German Arbitration Institute (DIS) (2012 to 2022) and has been a member of the DIS Council (since 2022). He was also Chairman of the Mediation Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA) (2007-2008).

He is co-editor of the German Arbitration Journal (Zeitschrift für Schiedsverfahren (SchiedsVZ)). He regularly lectures and publishes on international arbitration and comparative law. Siegfried is also honorary professor at the Faculty of Law at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, where he has been teaching international commercial arbitration and international civil procedure law for 25 years. Since 2013, he represents the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg as Honorary Consul in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Siegfried Elsing co-founded the German law firm Hölters & Elsing in 1989 and has overseen the merger with Orrick in 2008.

Hagit Muriel Elul Partner

New York

Hagit represents clients in international arbitrations across the world under the rules of all the major arbitral institutions including the ICDR/AAA, ICC and LCIA, SIAC, HKIAC, JAMS and CPR and in cross-border disputes in courts across the United States. She has also served as an expert witness on New York law in proceedings in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Hagit is recognised as ‘a force to be reckoned with’ (Legal 500) who ‘thinks ten steps ahead’’ (Chambers) and has “astonishing legal skills”, including the ability “to analyze and sharpen arguments”. She was recognized as one of a select group of "Distinguished Leaders" by New York Law Journal (2021).

Hagit regularly teaches courses on arbitration and advocacy skills, sits as arbitrator and frequently writes and lectures on topics related to international business disputes. She is a member of the ICC Court of International Arbitration Commission, former chair of the Arbitration Committee of the International Institute of Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR), a current member of the CPR Council, ICC Commission, and a founding Board Member of the New York International Arbitration Center.

Dr. Karsten Faulhaber Partner

Düsseldorf

Karsten represents clients in international arbitrations under all the main arbitral institutions, including the ICC and DIS, frequently acts as sole and party-appointed arbitrator and also represents clients before national courts in Germany with experience in setting aside and enforcement actions.

As a former M&A transactional lawyer Karsten has solid grounding in pre-contractual and contractual negotiations and advises among others, energy producers and distributors, both traditional (oil and gas) and renewables (solar, wind) construction conglomerates, financial institutions, JVs and biotech companies.

Karsten is praised for his "proactive and skillful" approach (Chambers Global) and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in Germany 2020 and Legal 500.

Harriet Foster Senior Associate

Londra

Harriet represents domestic and international clients from across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia across a variety of different forums, including the LCIA, ICC, SIAC, ICSID and under the UNCITRAL Rules.  As well as arbitration, Harriet also has experience in cross-border litigation, involving courts in England & Wales, Tanzania and the British Virgin Islands and has represented clients in a range of public international law matters, including before the International Court of Justice and on maritime boundary issues. Harriet is admitted as a solicitor-advocate and currently on the Young ITA leadership team.

Franziska Gräfin Grote, LL.M. Partner

Düsseldorf

Franziska acts as counsel and arbitrator in arbitration proceedings under various rules, including the ICC, DIS, ICSID, UNCITRAL and in ad hoc proceedings. She also deals with issues relating to the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards. Franziska also advices on all stages of dispute resolution and acts as counsel for global enterprises in disputes before the national German courts. Her cases span a variety of industries including infrastructure projects, renewables, oil and gas, automotive, construction, technology and life science.

Franziska is a dual trained lawyer in Germany and France. She gained further experience by working in international arbitration hubs such as Paris and London and is active in various arbitration associations and was the regional co-chair of the DIS40, the young practitioners group of the German Arbitration Institution (DIS), until 2021. She teaches a seminar at the Beck Academy on Post M&A Disputes and regularly speaks at conferences on international arbitration topics.

James Hargrove Partner

Ginevra; Londra

James has a particular specialization in arbitrations relating to energy, commodities, trading, finance and technology (he is particularly active in thought leadership on tech and arbitration issues).

Prior to joining Orrick, James practiced international arbitration and litigation at several international law firms in Geneva and London. James was, among other things, head of the Russia and CIS dispute resolution practice and has deep proficiency in Russia related-disputes and investigations and associated offshore litigation, applications and asset identification, tracing and enforcement.

Harriet Horswell Managing Associate

Londra

In addition to her core experience in ICC and LCIA arbitrations representing clients in the oil and gas, technology and airline industries, Harriet also has experience acting in sports-related arbitrations and representing clients in English High Court and Court of Appeal litigation and enforcement proceedings.

Konstantin Kasyan Special Legal Consultant

Washington, D.C.

Dr. Nicholas Kessler, LL.M., EMBA Partner

Düsseldorf

Nicholas has extensive experience with arbitral proceedings under the auspices of all of the major arbitral institutions and rules (e.g., ICC, DIS, SCC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, ICSID, ad hoc).

Nicholas graduated from law school in 2003 (University of Munster), earned a PhD in law and an Executive Master of Business Administration (M&A) in 2005 and was allowed to the German bar in 2007. In 2008 he received a Master of Laws diploma from the University of Cambridge (UK) and was entered on the roll as Solicitor of England & Wales in 2010.

Dr. Kessler is a visiting lecturer at the University of Münster and teaches the international arbitration and mediation in the university's post graduate program on mergers and acquisitions. He frequently publishes and holds speeches on arbitration and litigation-related topics.

Frederic Lalance Partner

Parigi

Frédéric assists his clients in litigation arising from commercial, industrial and financial disputes, corporate law and insolvency proceedings, both before the French courts and in multi-jurisdictional cases – notably in Africa before the courts of OHADA jurisdictions.

He also assists his clients in international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution proceedings.

Frédéric advises French and foreign groups in investigations by administrative or judicial authorities involving bribery and corruption issues. He has deep experience in internal investigations (national and cross-border), and in the implementation of compliance programs.

Frédéric is serving a three-year term (2025-2027) as a member of the Paris Bar Council. He is consistently ranked as a leading litigator in France by the major legal benchmarking directories. He is the author of several publications on developments in litigation and anti-corruption regulation.

Vanessa Liborio Partner

Ginevra

Vanessa is “a leading arbitration practitioner…well known for her consistently excellent dispute resolution work” (Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration), and acts as counsel in international arbitration proceedings before the ICC, LCIA, the Swiss Arbitration Centre and other international fora and subject to a variety of procedural and substantive laws (including English, French, Italian, Qatari, New York, Mexican, Swiss and Tunisian law). Vanessa's experience spans a variety of industries including construction, life sciences, food and beverages, financial services, insurance and aviation. Most recently, Vanessa has conducted an arbitration on behalf of a sub-contractor involved in the construction of part of an international airport and was successful in representing a Swiss not-for-profit foundation supporting advanced clinical research in rare pediatric diseases. 

Described by clients as an "excellent" lawyer who delivers "very high-quality legal services" (Legal 500), Vanessa has also represented parties in setting aside proceedings before the Swiss Supreme Court and regularly acts as party-appointed arbitrator, sole arbitrator of chair in arbitrations worldwide.

Vanessa serves as a member of the ICC's Commission on Arbitration & ADR and in addition to her activities in the field of arbitration, Vanessa advises on export control regulations and economic sanctions administered by the U.S., the European Union and Switzerland, including matters relating to customs regulations, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, anti-money laundering rules and anti-boycott requirements and regularly provides advice to clients on Swiss substantive law, particularly in contract law.

Prior to joining Orrick, Vanessa practiced for Swiss and international firms based in Geneva and Miami.

Christopher Lippert Associate

Londra

Chris is a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales with experience acting for and against States, commercial parties and individuals in commercial arbitration and litigation. He often works on cross-border disputes, spanning the UK, Canada, Peru, Brazil, Romania, Italy and France.