Joshua M. Robbins adds global trial experience to growing International Arbitration and Litigation team

BakerHostetler is pleased to announce that Joshua M. Robbins has joined the firm’s International Arbitration and Litigation team, resident in the Washington office, as counsel. Robbins comes to the firm from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, where he served as a white collar crime prosecutor for more than six years. Prior to his government service, he represented clients in international arbitration, litigation, and government enforcement matters at Sidley Austin LLP. Earlier in his career, Robbins worked at the U.S. State Department, representing the U.S. government in international arbitration under Chapter 11 of NAFTA.

With a unique background as both a prosecutor and an international lawyer, Robbins is particularly well-equipped to handle the growing volume of cross-border disputes involving business, regulatory and criminal enforcement issues. He will focus his practice on international investor-state, state-to-state, commercial arbitration and litigation, and counseling regarding the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), white collar defense, corporate investigations and regulatory enforcement.

Before joining the government, Robbins represented Global 500 and Fortune 500 corporations and sovereign governments in international arbitrations under International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and other arbitral rules, including disputes involving investments in Europe, Central America, Latin America and Asia in industries such as financial services, energy, agriculture and utilities. In addition, he advised corporate, sovereign and individual clients in litigation in federal district courts, appeals before federal circuit courts and the United States Supreme Court, and investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

As an Assistant United States Attorney, Robbins served as lead counsel in 10 federal jury trials and in 20 appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, many of them concerning securities and commodities fraud, healthcare fraud, tax evasion, money laundering, and public corruption, and a number of them involving hundreds of millions of dollars in losses. Among other matters, he prosecuted a $580 million healthcare kickback case described by the state of California as the largest insurance fraud case in the state’s history. Robbins also has investigated and prosecuted cybercrime and intellectual property crime matters.

“Clients facing complex issues arising from cross-border disputes rely on our firm for the kind of specialized experience Josh has,” said Ray Whitman, Chair of the Litigation Group. “He joins a growing slate of international disputes attorneys, as well as state and federal prosecutors and SEC enforcement attorneys, as we continue to grow the firm’s Litigation practice.”

“Josh is a great addition to our growing international arbitration and litigation team; his experience before arbitral tribunals and in the courtroom adds depth that will be of immense benefit to our clients from around the world,” said Mark Cymrot, leader of BakerHostetler’s International Arbitration and Litigation team.

“The global economy necessitates a deep understanding of the international rules of business that drive commerce around the world,” said Jeffrey Paravano, Managing Partner of the Washington office. “Josh’s addition to the D.C. office will provide our clients with the knowledge to continue to grow their businesses in other parts of the world.”

“We increasingly are retained by claimant companies or respondent governments in international investment treaty disputes arising from alleged government misconduct in criminal and regulatory investigations or proceedings, including our current engagement on behalf of a Julius Meinl Group affiliate against the Republic of Austria at the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID),” said Kenneth B. Reisenfeld, Partner on the International Arbitration and Litigation team. “We are delighted that Josh will add further depth to our distinctive and substantial capabilities to handle the largest arbitrations and enforcement cases involving governments and state-controlled entities.”

“BakerHostetler has an exceptional group of litigators, including both former prosecutors and top-tier international arbitration lawyers,” said Robbins. “When I looked to rejoin private practice, I was struck by the critical mass the firm had achieved in its International Arbitration team, and I’m excited to be part of the growth.”

Robbins earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School, cum laude, in 2004 and served as the editor of the Harvard International Law Journal and as team captain for the Vis International Arbitration Moot Court Competition. He also earned his M.A.L.D. in 2004 from Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. In 1999, Robbins earned his A.B. in Government, graduating from Harvard College, magna cum laude, as a John Harvard Scholar. Immediately after law school, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Stanley Marcus of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.