Ben Juratowitch quits Freshfields for practice at Essex Court Chambers

Ben Juratowitch quits Freshfields for practice at Essex Court Chambers

The Freshfields' public international law team head will join the set in November

Ben Juratowitch QC, the Paris-based head of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's public international law team, has decided to end his 13-year long association with one of the oldest and biggest law firms in the world.

Juratowitch is all set to join Essex Courts Chambers in London and begin his fresh stint as a full-time barrister in November this year. He had joined Freshfields in 2008 and became a partner in 2015.

Juratowitch's has largely to do with the attraction the set holds for City solicitors seeking to maximise their advocacy careers and develop their arbitrator-only work.

"International arbitration and public international law have always formed an important part of the work of members of chambers, which fit with and support the enormous range of international litigation in which members of chambers are involved. Ben is a well-known and highly respected advocate and scholar who stands out for his expertise in a variety of fields," Joe Smouha QC and Huw Davies QC, Essex Court's joint heads of chambers, said.

Juratowitch focuses on disputes between states, investor-state disputes and commercial arbitrations. It is his work for states and in public international law (PIL). His fields of specialization justify his move to join Essex Court Chambers.

Slovenia, Belize and Chile are among his long list of clients. Juratowitch also acted for Italy in the infamous 'Italian Marines' case, which was heard before both the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

He has also represented Romania and Egypt in investor-state dispute cases on various occasions besides South Africa and Kenya.

His commercial arbitration practice spans various recognised arbitral institutions, including the English and Caribbean courts and international bodies like the International Court of Justice.

Essex Court's senior clerk Joe Ferrigno termed Juratowitch a versatile practitioner with an excellent reputation and caseload and said, "Taking on Ben provides chambers with an exceptional opportunity to grow our already well-established international disputes and PIL practices." Ferrigno further added that Juratowitch will contribute considerably to the breadth and depth of expertise offered to Essex Court's clients.

"Essex Court Chambers are fortunate to be joined by such an accomplished advocate, and we look forward to collaborating with Ben in his new role," Freshfields' arbitration co-head Nigel Blackaby QC and Juratowitch's designated replacement as head of the firm's PIL group Will Thomas QC, said.

Juratowitch is credited for having played a key role in developing Freshfields' PIL team.