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John M. Townsend

Washington, DC

+1 (202) 721-4640

[email protected]
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John M. Townsend is a litigation partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Hughes Hubbard & Reed. His practice focuses on complex disputes, particularly international disputes, both in court and before arbitral tribunals. John's arbitration practice includes representing parties in international and domestic commercial arbitration, investment treaty disputes, and acting as an arbitrator.

John served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) from 2007 to 2010 and as chair of the Executive Committee of the AAA from 2004 to 2007. He was a member and a vice president of the Court of Arbitration of the LCIA from 2014 to 2019. John was the first chair of the Mediation Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA). In February 2008, he was appointed by President George W. Bush as one of the American members of the Panel of Arbitrators of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), on which he served until 2016. Chambers and Partners has consistently ranked John among the top international arbitration lawyers in the United States and has described him as "just a master," who "understands international ADR better than any other in the market."

John served as lead counsel to Canada in Canada’s entirely successful defense of two state-to-state arbitrations between the United States and Canada brought under the Softwood Lumber Agreement. He has represented Ukrainian investors in six investment treaty arbitrations against The Russian Federation arising out of its actions in Crimea and has obtained favorable awards on jurisdiction and liability in five; the sixth is still at an early stage.

John has served as an arbitrator in more than 100 arbitrations, including commercial and investment treaty cases under all major sets of arbitration rules.

John's litigation practice has included participation as a Hughes Hubbard associate in the successful defense of Ford Motor Co. on a charge of negligent homicide in the Pinto fuel tank trial in Indiana, and as a young partner in the defense of the building owner in the Kansas City Skywalk Collapse litigation. He led a Hughes Hubbard team acting as national counsel to a major pharmaceutical manufacturer in a nationwide, multi-defendant litigation challenging the use of published Average Wholesale Prices (AWPs) as a reference point in Medicaid reimbursement.

John served as trustee of the US Council for International Business and chaired the Council's European Privilege Task Force. He submitted an application on behalf of the Council to intervene in the Akzo Nobel v. European Commission case in the European Court of Justice to urge European recognition of an attorney-client privilege for company counsel.

John is a member of the American Law Institute (ALI) and served as an Advisor to the ALI's Restatement of the U.S. Law of International Commercial and Investor-State Arbitration. He has also served on the Harvard Law School Trial Advocacy Workshop faculty.

John has been with Hughes Hubbard & Reed—in New York, Paris, and Washington—since 1971. He speaks fluent French.

Recognitions

  • Ranked in the first tier by Chambers USA as one of the top international arbitration lawyers and arbitrators in the US
  • Ranked by Chambers Global as one of the top international arbitration lawyers in the world
  • Included in The Best Lawyers in America in the field of International Arbitration and recognized as the 2024 "Lawyer of the Year" in International Arbitration - Governmental in Washington, D.C.
  • Recognized in The Who's Who Legal Thought Leaders: USA, Global Elite of Arbitration Lawyers, The International Who's Who of Arbitration Lawyers, The International Who's Who of Commercial Litigation Lawyers, and The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers
  • Listed as one of the "top 20 arbitration specialists in the world" by Cross-Border Quarterly 
  • Recognized by The Legal 500 United States as one of the top lawyers in the category of international arbitration
  • Benchmark and Expert Guides Global Commercial Arbitration Awards, "Arbitrator of the Year: United States" (2014)
  • Benchmark Litigation "National Litigation Star"
  • Recognized by the BTI Consulting Group as a "Client Service All-Star"

Highlighted Publications

  • “Expedited Arbitration,” in The Leading Arbitrators' Guide to International Arbitration - Fourth Edition (Juris 2025)
  • Preface to the Edition of Arbitration International Published in Honour of Professor William W. Park, 2023
  • “Expert or Advocate? How to Present Foreign Law,” in Reflections on International Arbitration - Essays in Honour of Professor George Bermann, edited by Julie Bedard and Patrick Pearsall, Juris, 2022
  • “In Memoriam AF-J Ylts,” Arbitration International issue in honor of V.V. Veeder QC, 2021
  • "Advocacy Against an Absent Adversary," (with James H. Boykin), The Global Arbitration Review: The Guide to Advocacy, Fourth Edition, edited by Stephen Jagusch QC, Philippe Pinsolle, Alexander G Leventhal, 2019
  • "The Empty Chair. Arbitration with a Non-participating Party," Forward! Essays in Honour of Prof Dr Kaj Hobér, edited by Eric Bylander, Anna Jonsson Cornell, Jakob Ragnwaldh, 2019
  • “Place of the Arbitration, Jurisdiction and Applicable Law: Support for Bahrain’s Free Arbitration Zone and Current Best Practices” (with Alexander Bedrosyan), BCDR International Arbitration Review, 2018
  • Book Review of Gary Born, International Commercial Arbitration (2d Ed.), Arbitration International, 2015
  • "Protection of Communications with Company Lawyers: The Last Gap in the Common Law – Civil Law Divide in Arbitration" (with James H. Boykin), Festschrift for Siegfried H. Elsing on His 65th Birthday, edited by Werner F. Ebke, Dirk Olzen, Otto Sandrock, R&W Fachmedien Recht und Wirtschaft, 2015
  • "When the BIT hits the FAA: U.S. Courts Confront Conditions Precedent in Bilateral Investment Treaties," Contemporary Issues in International Arbitration and Mediation, the Fordham Papers, edited by Arthur W. Rovine, Brill Nijhoff, 2014
  • "Promoting Peace Before Conflict: Integrating Alternative Methods of Dispute Resolution into the Arbitration Process," Arbitration Advocacy in Changing Times, edited by Albert Jan Van Den Berg, International Council for Commercial Arbitration, Series No. 15, 2011
  • "The Rise and Fall of Class Arbitration," AAA Yearbook on Arbitration & the Law, 23rd Edition, edited by Stephen K. Huber and Ben H. Sheppard Jr., Juris Publishing Inc., 2011
  • "Arbitrating US Antitrust Law in Pharmaceuticals Markets" (with Robert Reznick), in EC and US Antitrust Arbitration, edited by G. Blanke and P. Landolt, Kluwer/Aspen, 2011
  • "The New Bahrain Arbitration Law and the Bahrain 'Free Arbitration Zone,'" Dispute Resolution Journal, February-April 2010
  • “Agency, Alter Ego and Other Identity Issues: Nonsignatories and Arbitration,” AAA Handbook on Commercial Arbitration, 2010
  • "Crossing the Hot Tub: Examining Adverse Expert Witnesses in International Arbitration," Take the Witness, Juris Publishing, 2010
  • "Extending an Arbitration Clause to a Non-Signatory Claimant or a Non-Signatory Defendant: Does it Make a Difference?" Dossiers of the Institute N° VII,ICC Institute, 2010
  • "Non-Signatories in International Arbitration – An American Perspective," International Arbitration 2006: Back to Basics, International Council for Commercial Arbitration Congress series No. 13, 2007
  • "Leave the Federal Arbitration Act Alone," ABA TIPS Section Business Litigation Committee News, 2007
  • "Class Arbitration in the United States," LCIA News, 2007
  • "State Court Enforcement of Arbitration Agreements," Report to the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, 2006
  • "Holding the Fort Until the Arbitrators Are Appointed: The New ICDR International Emergency Rule" (with Ben H. Sheppard, Jr.), Dispute Resolution Journal, 2006
  • "Arbitrator Neutrality and Disclosure: The End of the 'American Problem,'" Journal of International Dispute Resolution - IDR, 2005
  • "Clash and Convergence on Ethical Issues in International Arbitration," Inter-American Law Review, 2004
  • "The Federal Arbitration Act Is Too Important To Amend," The International Arbitration News, 2004
  • "Revised Code of Ethics for Commercial Arbitrators Explained" (with Bruce Meyerson), Dispute Resolution Journal, 2004
  • "Commentary on the July 2003 Revisions to the AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules" (with Paul D. Friedland), Dispute Resolution Journal, 2003/2004
  • "Drafting Arbitration Clauses: Avoiding the 7 Deadly Sins," Dispute Resolution Journal, 2003
  • "Arbitration Across the Civil Law – Common Law Divide" (with Siegfried Elsing), Arbitration International, 2002; included in ADR & The Law, 17th Edition
  • "Recent Developments in NAFTA Arbitration," ADR Currents, 2001
  • "Obtaining A Preliminary Injunction in Aid of Arbitration," Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, 1999
  • "Commercial Arbitration in the United States: The Legal Structure," NAFTA Advisory Committee on Private Commercial Disputes, Mexico City, 1999
  • "Commercial Mediation and Arbitration in the NAFTA Countries," JurisNet 1999
  • "What To Do Until The Arbitrator Comes: Obtaining Urgent Preliminary Relief," Corporate Counsel Magazine, 1999
  • "The Case for Site Licenses," European Competition Law Review, 1999
  • "The Initiation of Arbitration Procedures," ICSID Review – Foreign Investment Law Journal, 1998
  • "Recourse Against the Arbitrator," published in "The Status of the Arbitrator," Special Supplement to The ICC International Court of Arbitration Bulletin, 1995
  • "Provisional Remedies in Aid of Arbitration," The Preparation and Trial of a Commercial Arbitration, NYSBA, 1990
  • "Right to Trial by Jury in Declaratory Judgment Actions," 3 Connecticut Law Review 564, 1971

Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • United States District Court for the Western District of New York
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • United States District Court for the District of Columbia
  • United States District Court for the District of Colorado
  • United States Court of Federal Claims

Selected Arbitration Matters

Highlighted Matters

  • Representation of Ukrainian investors in six arbitrations against the Russian Federation under the Russia-Ukraine Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) arising out of measures carried out after the Russian annexation of Crimea, including defense of the resulting awards in the Swiss and Dutch courts and enforcement proceedings in U.S. District Court in Washington, DC
  • Representation of Canada in two arbitrations captioned United States of America v. Canada under the Softwood Lumber Agreement of 2006 and the LCIA Rules
  • Representation of a bio-pharmaceutical company in ICC arbitration against a major pharmaceutical company arising out of failure to supply a compliant product
  • Submitted an amicus curiae brief to the US Supreme Court in GE Energy Power v. Outokumpu Stainless USA
  • Representation of investor in expropriation claim against the Russian Federation in BIT arbitration in Stockholm that secured the first award holding that the Russian measures taken against Yukos Oil Company amounted to expropriation
  • Submitted two amicus curiae briefs to the US Supreme Court on behalf of professors and practitioners of arbitration law in BG Group PLC v. Argentina 
  • Representation of an American company in ICC Arbitration in Paris and related European Commission proceedings involving a chemical technology license dispute with a Spanish former joint venture partner
  • Representation of an American manufacturer in arbitration under Netherlands Arbitration Institute rules concerning a contract to build a major chemical plant in Rotterdam
  • Representation of American Arbitration Association in 11th Circuit appeal involving issues of arbitral immunity
  • Representation of a German company in AAA arbitration in Seattle concerning the validity of a patent and technology license under European competition law
  • Representation of a major New York educational institution in AAA arbitration concerning construction of its library
  • Served as advisor to the Ministry of Justice of Bahrain concerning drafting of the 2009 Arbitration Law
  • Submitted amicus curiae brief to the US Supreme Court on behalf of the American Arbitration Association in Green Tree Financial Corp. v. Randolph 
  • Testimony before the US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee in opposition to an attempt to amend the Federal Arbitration Act to permit litigation in court against a Japanese client
  • Service as arbitrator in more than 100 arbitrations seated in New York, Washington, Houston, Ann Arbor, Chicago, Savannah, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, The Hague, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Reykjavik, Paris, Stockholm, Geneva, and Singapore, including 20 investor-state arbitrations
  • Member of AAA Commercial, International and Class Arbitration panels; the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR) Panel of Distinguished Neutrals; Panel of Energy Arbitrators; LCIA panel; World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) List of Neutrals; Lists of Arbitrators of the Vienna International Arbitral Centre, CIETAC, the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, and the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association
  • Served on committees that drafted and revised the AAA’s International Arbitration Rules, Supplementary Rules for Class Arbitrations, and ICDR Guidelines for Arbitrators Concerning Exchanges of Information 
  • Represented the AAA in working with the ABA on the 2004 revision of the AAA/ABA Code of Ethics for Arbitrators in Commercial Disputes 
  • Member of CPR’s Challenge Review Board, and served on the committee that drafted the CPR Rules for Non-Administered Arbitration

Selected Litigation Matters

Highlighted Matters

  • Defense of a Chinese company against an attempt to enforce an arbitration award that had been set aside at the seat of arbitration in China in federal court in Washington, DC
  • Defense of a Russian rocket company in a suit by former venture partners in federal court in California
  • Lead national counsel to a pharmaceutical manufacturer in multi-defendant actions in federal and state court, including multiple state attorney general actions, challenging industry pricing practices
  • Representation of a foreign government in District Court and Court of Appeals seeking dismissal of a breach of contract claim on grounds of sovereign immunity
  • Representation of International Jurists as amicus curiae in brief to the Supreme Court in Sosa v. Alvarez-Machain (Alien Tort Statute case)
  • Representation of creators of the television program "Home Improvement" in California litigation against The Walt Disney Co. concerning terms for the license negotiated by Disney Television with its affiliate, ABC
  • Representation of a European government as amicus curiae in 2nd Circuit appeal involving extraterritorial restrictions in a trademark injunction
  • Defense of a leading greeting card manufacturer in trade dress infringement and unfair competition action in US District Court in Denver and the 10th Circuit
  • Representation of an Italian bank in a suit in Delaware Chancery Court and Delaware Supreme Court to cancel fraudulently issued shares of a Delaware corporation
  • Defense of a New York utility in Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and securities class actions and derivative suit, arising out of the arrest of a vice president
  • Representation of a greeting card manufacturer and chain of drug stores in obtaining summary judgment dismissing Robinson-Patman Act claims in Florida
  • Defense of an engine manufacturer in an antitrust suit over distribution restrictions in Milwaukee
  • Defense of a building owner and its corporate parent in litigation over collapse of the skywalks in the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City and subsequent rescuer class actions
When is a Party Required to Arbitrate?
Client Advisories
March 5, 2025 – In Dispute
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What Business Sectors Use International Arbitration and Why?
Client Advisories
Feb. 6, 2025 – In Dispute
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What’s an Emergency Arbitrator? And Should I Appoint One?
Client Advisories
January 9, 2025 - In Dispute
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Can Parties Be Required to Mediate Before Proceeding to Arbitration?
Client Advisories
December 2, 2024 - In Dispute
View News Article
What Factors Should be Considered When Choosing an Arbitrator?
Client Advisories
November 4, 2024 - In Dispute
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What is Third Party Funding? How Is It Used in International Arbitration?
Client Advisories
March 6, 2024 - In Dispute
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International Commercial Arbitration vs. U.S. Commercial Litigation – Key Differences
Client Advisories
January 11, 2024 - In Dispute
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Comparing Timelines: What Do Statistics Reveal About the Length of International Commercial Arbitration vs. U.S. Federal Litigation?
Client Advisories
November 21, 2023 - In Dispute
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Bracing for Russian Actions Against Foreign Investments
Client Advisories
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Force Majeure in the COVID-19 Era
Client Advisories
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DOJ’s First Antitrust Arbitration is Unlikely Its Last
Client Advisories
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News

Hughes Hubbard Named to Global Arbitration Review’s Annual Ranking of World’s Leading International Arbitration Practices
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Litigation Wrap: Fourth Quarter 2024
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Russia Must Oppose Confirmation of Arbitration Award in U.S. Court
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Firm Highly Recommended by Latin Lawyer for Third Consecutive Year
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Litigation Wrap: Winter 2023-2024
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Hughes Hubbard Continues Fight for Ukrainian Gasoline Companies in U.S. Court
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Litigation Wrap: Third Quarter 2022
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HHR's Crimea Team Wins Two Major Cases in Dutch Court
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Litigation Wrap: Second Quarter 2022
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Firm Scores Unanimous Appellate Win for American Arbitration Association Over Uber
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Firm Helps Client Avoid Enforcement of Arbitration Award Set Aside in China
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Firm Helps AAA Block Uber’s Bid to Cancel $10M Arbitration Bill
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Hughes Hubbard Lawyers Named to 2020 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll
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HHR Practice Named a Law360 ‘International Arbitration Group of the Year’
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Litigation Wrap: Fourth Quarter 2019
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Major Victory in Crimea Arbitrations Upheld
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In GAR's Guide to Advocacy: Advocacy Against an Absent Adversary Chapter
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Firm Shortlisted as Finalist for 2019 American Lawyer Industry Awards
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Litigation Wrap: Second Quarter 2019
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Hughes Hubbard Wins Two More Crimea Awards Against Russia
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Litigation Wrap: First Quarter 2019
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Hughes Hubbard Ranked Again Among Global Arbitration Review's Top 30 Arbitration Firms
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​Firm Helps Advance Crimea Arbitrations Against Russia
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Firm's International Arbitration Group Named to Elite GAR 30 for Third Straight Year
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Litigation Wrap: Second Quarter 2018
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Firm Wins Major Victory in Crimea Arbitrations
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Litigation Wrap: Third Quarter 2017
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Litigation Wrap: Second Quarter 2017
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​Firm Wins Last Two Jurisdiction Decisions in Crimea Arbitrations
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Litigation Wrap: First Quarter 2017
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In GAR: Crimea Real Estate Claim Goes Forward
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Hughes Hubbard's International Arbitration Group Named to Elite GAR 30 for Second Consecutive Year
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Hughes Hubbard Wins Jurisdiction Decisions in Crimea Arbitration
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Litigation Roundup: Fourth Quarter 2016
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Permanent Court of Arbitration Announces Update in Cases Involving Hughes Hubbard
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Hughes Hubbard Recognized By GAR 100 2016
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Hughes Hubbard's International Arbitration Group Named to Elite GAR 30
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Ukrainians Hit Russia with Multimillion-Dollar Claims
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Hughes Hubbard Recognized by GAR 100 2015
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Hughes Hubbard's International Arbitration Team Wins Legal 500 US Award
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John Townsend Elected Vice President of the LCIA Court
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Hughes Hubbard Leads Canada to Another Softwood Lumber Victory
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Supreme Court Cites Hughes Hubbard Brief in BG Group Ruling
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Townsend Appointed to London Court of International Arbitration
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Co-Chief of Hughes Hubbard's Arbitration and ADR Practice, John M. Townsend, Appointed to LCIA Court
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Firm Delivers Clean Sweep for Canada in Softwood Lumber Dispute
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Hughes Hubbard Advises the Central Bank of Paraguay In Landmark Swap Agreement
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The New Bahrain Arbitration Law and the Bahrain "Free Arbitration Zone"
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Hughes Hubbard Represents Fortune Tobacco in Joint Venture with Philip Morris
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Bush Appoints Townsend To World Bank's ICSID Arbitration Panel
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Holding the Fort Until the Arbitrators Are Appointed: The New ICDR International Emergency Rule
Articles & Press
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Non-signatories in International Arbitration: An American Perspective
Articles & Press
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Drafting Arbitration Clauses: Avoiding the 7 Deadly Sins
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Bridging the Common Law Civil Law Divide in Arbitration
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Education
  • Yale Law School, J.D., 1971, Class Secretary
  • Yale University, B.A., 1968, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Bar Admissions
  • District of Columbia, 1990
  • New York, 1972
Languages
  • French
Areas of Focus
Arbitration
Investment Treaty Arbitration
Litigation

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP

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