One of the leaders of Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe's global international arbitration practice has left the firm to kickstart a 'new professional journey' in his private practice.

Michael Bühler, an international arbitrator, joined Orrick's Paris office as a partner in 2019, co-leading the international arbitration practice with the former U.S. Ambassador Charles Adams.

He disclosed his latest move on Thursday after a career spanning over three decades.

"I am thrilled to announce the start of a new professional journey with the launch of Bühler Arbitration, focusing on my work as an arbitrator, while continuing to serve my clients by resolving their disputes," he wrote on LinkedIn.

Prior to joining Orrick, Bühler spent 20 years at U.S. firm Jones Day, where he was a partner in the Paris office. At the start of his career in the 80s, the lawyer said he worked at Frere Cholmeley Bischoff (now Eversheds Sutherland) and White & Case.

Further commenting on his move in a statement sent to Law.com International, Bühler stated that he had received an increasing number of requests to act as an arbitrator which he turned down because of his previous position.

"As a partner of an international firm, you are constantly confronted with issues of conflicts of interest," he explained.

According to his profile, Bühler had acted as lead counsel in over 150 arbitrations and disputes including complex ones across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. His areas of practice range from civil construction, engineering, industrial and power plants, oil and gas projects to the food and leisure industries.

He is also a prominent figure in the arbitration community having co-chaired the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) commission on the revision of the 2012 ICC arbitration rules and served as lead consultant for the Organization for the Harmonization of African Business Law in the reform of the region's arbitration law.

Orrick partner Charles Adams, told Law.com International's that Bühler's reason for opting out is justified.

"Now that Michael at this stage of his career has decided to concentrate on service as an arbitrator rather than counsel in major cases, it is only natural that he should seek to do so from a platform free of the conflicts concerns that are endemic in large firms. I will miss having occasion to speak with him every day, but wish him Godspeed and every success in his new solo venture."