McDermott Will & Emery has appointed New York partner Ted Howes as head of the firm's international arbitration group, replacing recently-departed head Juliet Blanch.

Howes has worked in international arbitration for the past 20 years, arbitrating cases both in the United States and abroad, including France, England, Switzerland and Hong Kong. He currently heads the firm's Chinese litigation and dispute resolution practice.

McDermott's international arbitration group comprises a team of lawyers from its US and European offices and China alliance with local firm MWE China to represent foreign companies in international disputes.

Howes said: "I am honoured to be leading McDermott's international arbitration practice. Our emphasis is, and has always been, on working as a team to creatively and efficiently resolve the often complicated issues that arise in international disputes. I hope to build on that track record."

Blanch left the firm in April to join Weil Gotshal & Manges' two-partner London disputes group, headed up by partner Matt Shankland. Blanch joined McDermott in 2005 from Norton Rose, where she headed up the UK firm's arbitration practice. She has a broad arbitration and commercial litigation practice with a particular focus on the energy sector.

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