Clifford Chance (CC) has rehired Jason Fry, the secretary general of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Court of Arbitration, as co-head of its international arbitration group in a double hire from the court.

Fry, who will co-head CC's litigation group alongside Audley Sheppard, will join the firm's Paris office in September. He was previously a CC partner from 1999 until he joined the ICC in 2007.

Simon Greenberg, the current deputy secretary general of the ICC Court, is also set to join the magic circle firm's Paris office as a counsel in February.

At the ICC, Fry has played a key role leading a number of strategic initiatives, notably establishing the ICC Secretariat's presence in Hong Kong and Singapore, the creation of the ICC's Hearing Centre in Paris and most recently the revision of the ICC Rules of Arbitration, which came into effect earlier this year.

Fry is qualified as a solicitor in the UK and a barrister in New Zealand and was also the member for New Zealand of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce from 1999 until 2007.

CC global litigation head Jeremy Sandelson commented: "Jason has a fantastic market reputation and having him back working alongside Audley and the rest of our very strong global team is excellent news for clients and the firm."

Sheppard added: "I'm looking forward to working with Jason again as we invest in further developing our global practice. The experience he has gained at the ICC and the insights he has into global arbitration developments will be invaluable to our clients."

The president of the ICC Court, John Beechey – himself also a former CC partner – said: "I hope that others of similar standing and calibre will be encouraged by Jason's demonstration that it is possible to move from a senior position in private practice to a prestigious post such as that of Secretary General of the ICC Court and back again and to excel in both."

Beechey joined the ICC in 2009, having been a CC partner since 1983.