Biography: Arbitration

Brenda Horrigan is a partner based in Salans' Shanghai and Paris offices, and is co-head of the firm's International Arbitration Practice Group. She concentrates on international arbitration with a particular focus on disputes involving emerging markets.

Brenda has been actively involved in dozens of complex international arbitration matters at both the arbitration and enforcement stages, particularly in connection with disputes arising in connection with investments in countries of the Former Soviet Union, Central/Eastern Europe and Asia. She has acted as counsel in arbitrations conducted under various arbitration rules, including those of the ICC, SCC, CIETAC, ICAC, ICSID and UNCITRAL. She also sits as arbitrator.

She has a background as a transactional lawyer and has advised on cross-border debt and equity financings, strategic investment transactions, corporate restructurings and related transactional matters in emerging markets. Before Paris and Shanghai, Brenda was based for several years in Salans' Moscow office.

Brenda served as Chair of the NIS Task Force of the Business and Industry Advisory Council to the OECD (BIAC) from 2004-2009, and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the China Committee of the International Section of the American Bar Association. She is often published on international dispute resolution topics, particularly in relation to disputes in Asia, and frequently speaks at conferences on international arbitration.

Brenda graduated from Columbia University School of Law (JD with Stone Scholar Honors, 1992) and Grinnell College (B.A. with honors, 1988), and spent the 1990-1991 academic year as a research scholar in the Law Faculty of Moscow State University. She is fluent in English (native), Russian and French.