Hogan Lovells hires Emerson Holmes, Patrick McPherson and Randall Walker to boost its arbitration practice

Hogan Lovells hires Emerson Holmes, Patrick McPherson and Randall Walker to boost its arbitration practice

They were serving as partners at King & Spalding

Global law firm Hogan Lovells has boosted its arbitration practice by hiring Emerson Holmes, Patrick McPherson, and Randall Walker. While Holmes joined in London, McPherson, and Walker will operate from Dubai.

Oliver Armas, the global practice area leader of the firm's international arbitration practice, commented, "We are delighted that our arbitration practice continues to grow tremendously – particularly in strategic markets such as London and Dubai. With their extensive experience in infrastructure, construction, and energy projects, and their well-deserved reputation as leading advocates, Holmes, McPherson, and Walker are a great complement to our global arbitration practice, which represents clients in their most challenging matters."

Holmes remarked: "I have fond memories of my time with the firm as an associate in Hong Kong earlier in my career and I am excited to have re-joined it. Hogan Lovells has an unparalleled global construction and engineering brand and there is a unique and intriguing opportunity to collaborate even more across the globe to better serve the firm's impressive client base. I am also excited to join a team that I know has a strong culture of working together collegially to service the best interests of clients."

Walker stated, "We are thrilled to be joining the firm shortly after Holmes joined in London, and look forward to working again with him and the broader Hogan Lovells' team."

McPherson added: "Construction and engineering have a hugely exciting future throughout the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. With the support of Hogan Lovells' global team, we believe this move will be enormously beneficial for clients seeking both in-depth industry knowledge and robust global capabilities."

Holmes is a market-leading international arbitration practitioner and was involved in some of the largest infrastructure projects in Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. His practice is focused on representing owners, contractors, and consultants in disputes arising out of the design and construction of LNG facilities, petrochemical plants, mines, off-shore platforms, and other infrastructure projects.

Though focused on international arbitration, Holmes also has significant experience in advising clients in adjudications and in proceedings in the English courts where, he recently led a successful team in a landmark case, obtaining an injunction on behalf of his client that prevented an expert consultant from acting adversely against the client.

McPherson focuses on disputes relating to construction, energy, and infrastructure projects across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. He acts in complex and substantial claims for employers and developers, contractors, and engineering and design consultants. He is admitted to the High Court of New Zealand, and previously was in-house counsel for one of the Middle East's largest construction companies.

Walker focuses on disputes arising in the energy and infrastructure sectors. He represents clients across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe. He advises energy producers, power and mining interests, and construction and engineering clients on disputes throughout the lifecycle of a project. His experience includes oil and gas projects, petrochemical plants, and power, and water projects. He also acts on large-scale infrastructure projects including railways and roads.