Gibson Dunn opens in Switzerland with hire of top arbitration lawyer

Gibson Dunn has made its Swiss debut, opening in Zurich with an office led by arbitration star Christopher Harris KC who joins from leading London-based commercial set 3VB.

Harris, whose move was first announced in July, also joins as co-chair of the US firm's global arbitration and arbitral award enforcement practices.

A top-ranked barrister with more than two decades’ experience, he is recognised for his work on investor-state disputes and cross-border commercial cases across major arbitral institutions. Harris’s practice spans energy and natural resources as well as banking and financial services. He is also admitted in Switzerland.

European build

The Zurich launch underscores Gibson Dunn’s European expansion drive, where it now counts six offices across Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland and the UK.

In a high-profile move earlier this year, the firm recruited London-based Sullivan & Cromwell partners Chris Howard and Presley Warner - S&C’s former European heads of restructuring and credit/leveraged finance, respectively - while last week it added competition partner Adam Dawson in Brussels from Baker Botts.

What they said

Chair and managing partner Barbara Becker said: "Christopher brings a distinctive blend of advocacy and market insight as both a UK-qualified barrister and Swiss-admitted lawyer.

"His track record in high-stakes international arbitration and cross-border disputes makes him a natural steward for our Zurich office, which will serve as a strategic hub for clients navigating complex, multijurisdictional matters."