Profile

A prominent presence in international arbitration forums, Paul H. Cohen represents global clients in arbitrations under the rules of the ICC, LCIA, ICDR, ICSID and other arbitral institutions, as well as in ad hoc proceedings.

His clients have included sovereign governments, international manufacturers, major pharmaceutical makers, financial institutions, airlines, international insurance companies and professional services firms located in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Paul is admitted to the bar in New York, England and Wales (Middle Temple).

Arbitrations involving oil and gas disputes, both commercial and investor-state conflicts, are a practice emphasis for Paul. He guides clients through the resolution of a range of disputes, including contract breaches, failed mergers and investment disputes. Paul co-founded, along with Arthur Marriott QC, 12 Gray's Inn Square Chambers in London, which is devoted to international arbitration and global dispute resolution. In addition, Paul is the author of "International Energy Arbitration," a book covering the world of international energy arbitrations and is an editor of the "Journal of Technology in International Arbitration".

Paul also maintains an active practice counseling clients in the areas of international corruption and high-stakes litigation. His experience includes managing inquiries from such authorities as the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.K. Financial Services Authority, and France's Autorité des Marchés Financiers. He regularly manages matters involving allegations related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, U.K. Bribery Act implementation and U.S. trade sanctions.

Highlights of Paul's commercial and criminal litigation achievements include his defense of major financial institutions in securities litigation related to the collapse of WorldCom; representing a California regulatory agency in landmark bankruptcy litigation involving Pacific Gas & Electric; and advising a major tobacco company in a historic multistate settlement agreement.

Paul is a director of the New York International Arbitration Center and the author of International Corruption, a book presenting a multijurisdictional look at bribery and antibribery compliance. In addition to earning his J.D. from Columbia Law School, Paul received a Ph.D. from Oxford University and was a post-doctoral research fellow at Harvard University in the area of political science. His previous employment experience includes working in The Hague in the Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

Education

• Columbia University School of Law, J.D., 1998
• University of Paris, Sorbonne, Advanced Studies, Private International Law, 1998
• Harvard University, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, 1995
• University of Oxford, Ph.D., 1994
• University of Pennsylvania, B.A., summa cum laude, 1988

Languages

• French
• Russian
• Spanish