Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has appointed Rovine Chandrasekera global head of its international arbitration practice, effective 1 January 2021.

Chandrasekera brings a wealth of experience to the role. Having joined Stephenson Harwood as a trainee in 1998, he was promoted to the partnership in 2009, and three years later moved to Dubai to launch the firm’s presence in the Middle East. Since returning to the UK in April 2020, he has continued to split his time between the two regions; his practice remains focused on the Middle East and South Asia.

“Throughout his career, Rovine has built an enviable reputation for the breadth of his expertise in arbitration and for the depth of his experience in handling high value and complex disputes involving the Middle East,” said Eifion Morris, CEO, Stephenson Harwood. “His multi-disciplinary and cross-border expertise puts him in prime position to take on a role of this nature. His appointment reflects our ambitions to further develop our arbitration practice, and at a time of increasing globalisation of business – and of the associated disputes – this is an important part of our long-term strategy.”

Chandrasekera advises on a broad range of commercial disputes, with a focus on disputes with a Middle Eastern and South Asian link.

Stephenson Harwood has a recognised market-leading international arbitration practice, known for its expertise in managing complex and substantial arbitrations worldwide. In the past decade, it has handled some of the most high-profile arbitrations, as well as proceedings to enforce, or resist the enforcement of, arbitral awards in various jurisdictions, including before the English, Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore courts.