Reed Smith adds experienced Paris-based African Arbitration Lawyer

A Paris-based lawyer with expertise in international arbitrations across Europe and Francophone Africa has joined Reed Smith as a Partner.

Clément Fouchard has been recruited to the Paris office of Pittsburgh-headquartered Reed Smith’s energy and natural resources group, earning a promotion to partner in the process.

Prior to joining the firm, Fouchard was a senior associate at Linklaters, where he was a Senior Associate. He also had spells at Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier and Clifford Chance.

Among his work, he has represented clients under the rules of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the ICC International Court of Arbitration (ICC) in jurisdictions across Francophone Africa and Europe. His clients include companies in the energy, mining, construction and defense industries.

In one case, he represented an African State in a USD 600 million arbitration at the ICC, which was brought by a logistics and transport company which handled infrastructure projects.

He also appeared before ICSID for Senegal in an arbitration brought by an Australian-based oil and gas and mining company, in a case concerning the termination of two production sharing and exploration agreements.

Fouchard has also advised on a potential claim against the Democratic Republic of Congo by an international mining company and appeared in ICC arbitrations against Chad and Algeria.

Partner Peter Rosher explained in a statement: “We are seeing growing demand from our clients for dispute resolution advice as major projects continue to develop across France and Francophone Africa.”

The chair of Reed Smith’s energy and natural resources group, Praj Samant, added that Fouchard “provides further strength and depth to our arbitration capabilities and will ensure we can continue to provide the very best service to our clients”.

Other recent disputes hires include those at Morrison & Foerster, which recruited Kenyan arbitration lawyer Chriaag Shah in London this month.

In August, Clyde & Co grew its office in Johannesburg, South Africa, by adding two insurance partners from Norton Rose Fulbright and Gildenhuys Malatji.

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