Justin D'Agostino, Herbert Smith Freehills

Herbert Smith Freehills has appointed disputes heavyweight Justin D'Agostino as the leader of its U.S. arm.

He has taken on the role of executive partner, which will see him head its U.S. operations as well as retaining his existing roles as head of Asia and the firm's global dispute resolution group.

D'Agostino replaces partner Ian Cox in the U.S. role, who remains with the firm as executive partner for the U.K. and Europe, Middle East and Africa.

D'Agostino joined legacy firm Herbert Smith more than two decades ago as a trainee and has held various leadership positions at the firm since making partner in 2007.

He became managing partner of HSF's Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai offices in 2013, and was appointed global head of dispute resolution the following year. He also previously led the firm's Australian arm.

HSF opened its New York office in 2012, with the hire of a five-partner team from Chadbourne & Parke. The office has historically focused on dispute resolution and arbitration matters, but hired its first corporate partner in 2017.

Scott Balber, who has led the New York office as managing partner since 2018, will be working closely with D'Agostino in his new role. Balber also remains the U.S. head of investigations and financial services litigation for the firm.

Earlier this year, the firm bolstered the offering with the hire of Hogan Lovells' global employment head Barbara Roth to spearhead practice growth.

It also recently doubled its office space in the city and expanded its alternative legal services arm to the base.