Tim Foden is co-head of the international arbitration group at Boies Schiller Flexner in London. In this episode, he joins the podcast to discuss his path into arbitration, his time at Allen & Overy and Quinn Emanuel, and why he believes specialist disputes firms offer something fundamentally different to full-service law firms.
The conversation explores the business of international arbitration, from commercial disputes between companies to high-stakes claims brought by investors against states. Tim explains how investment treaty arbitration works in practice, why resource nationalism continues to drive disputes around the world, and what it is like handling cases involving governments, mining projects and politically sensitive assets.
Tim also shares his perspective on litigation funding, pushing back on the idea that funders encourage weak claims. He explains how funding has become a critical tool for many claimants, how funded cases are assessed, and why the UK Supreme Court’s PACCAR decision has had less impact on his practice than many predicted.
Finally, we discuss London's position as a global disputes hub, the outlook for arbitration and collective actions, and Boies Schiller Flexner's growth plans in the UK as the firm continues to expand its London disputes practice.
This episode is supported by:
Chapters
00:01 Introduction
01:34 From courtroom dramas to international arbitration
03:10 Allen & Overy, Quinn Emanuel and life at a disputes boutique
05:06 Why specialist disputes firms think differently
10:48 Joining Boies Schiller and rebuilding the London office
16:16 The business of international arbitration and investor-state disputes
22:30 Litigation funding, PACCAR and access to justice
30:59 Why London remains the world's leading disputes hub
33:55 The future of disputes and Boies Schiller's growth plans in London
