RPC bolsters its International Arbitration and Disputes capabilities with heavyweight Partner hire

Lateral Partner hire Shai Wade to become RPC's head of International Arbitration

Growing client demand for commercial dispute resolution across London, Hong Kong and Singapore; 3rd Commercial Partner to join RPC in 2022

International law firm RPC has hired Shai Wade as an International Arbitration Partner. Shai will be based in London and joins RPC from Stephenson Harwood on 30 May 2022.

RPC hired London-based Arbitration Partner Tatiana Minaeva in October 2019 and Singapore-based Partners Swee Siang Boey and Yuankai Lin in April 2020.

Shai will be appointed head of RPC's International Arbitration team in London and work alongside a number of market-leading lawyers for arbitration disputes, including Jonathan Wood, Tatiana Minaeva, Charles Allen, Swee Siang Boey and Yuankai Lin. 

This latest appointment, the third Commercial Partner to join RPC since January 2022, is part of the firm's strategy to continue to invest in its market-leading disputes capabilities across London, Hong Kong and Singapore by adding high calibre, commercially minded lawyers to support clients on the growing number of high-profile, complex commercial disputes.

Shai specialises in international arbitration, serving both as counsel and arbitrator in many large-scale complex disputes. During his 25 years of practice, Shai has led on many high-profile arbitrations arising from infrastructure, to international sale of goods, upstream oil and gas and energy, joint-venture, partnership and shareholder disputes. He co-authors a book about LCIA Arbitration.

RPC's International Arbitration team supports a number of multinationals on international disputes subject to arbitration in sectors including intellectual property, technology, energy, international trade, finance, insurance and reinsurance as well as construction.

RPC's Chair of International Arbitration, Jonathan Wood is also Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and of the London Chamber of Arbitration and Mediation said: "Shai's track record in international arbitration speaks for itself; he is a leading figure among the arbitration community with significant experience in dealing with high profile commercial disputes.

"As the international arbitration market continues to grow at a record pace, Shai's arrival could not have come at a better time to continue to deliver a market-leading dispute resolution offering to our clients."

Adding to this, RPC's Head of Commercial Disputes Group Geraldine Elliott said: "Landing Shai is a major coup for us. Our market-leading Disputes Practice is known for high profile, complex commercial disputes work however our strong growth across our Commercial Group driven by client demand also means we need to continue to add high-calibre lawyers.

"Shai's wealth of experience in international arbitration will unlock new opportunities for both our team and our clients."

Jeremy Drew, RPC's Head of the Commercial Group said: "Shai's hire is of significant strategic importance to our Commercial Group: it underlines our ambitions to continue to invest in the growth in our chosen sectors and practice areas where we are known as market leading.

"The Commercial Group has welcomed 24 new Partners in the last two years across all our offices, and we will continue to invest in recruiting talented people who will support us in helping our clients with all their commercial needs."

Commenting on joining RPC, Shai Wade said: "It is an exciting time to join RPC: It is regarded as a real Disputes Powerhouse, it works on some of the largest and most high-profile disputes and includes some of the most brilliant minds who share my values of collaboration, collegiality and client-centric thinking. RPC offers the perfect Commercial platform as I look to achieve my ambitions in a people-orientated culture and bring the growth of the firm's international arbitration team to new levels."

Shai's arrival means the firm has welcomed 24 new Partners to its Commercial Group in two years across its UK, Hong Kong and Singapore offices, through a combination of strategic lateral hires and promotion of internal talent.