David Huebner

A partner resident in the Shanghai office, Mr. Huebner heads the firm’s China Practice and International Disputes Practice. He specializes in international arbitration, mediation, and cross-border litigation, and advises clients on corporate compliance and governance issues. He serves as the firm’s Chief Representative in China.

Areas of Practice

Mr. Huebner represents governments and corporations in the construction and infrastructure, pharmaceutical, technology, entertainment/media, transportation, and energy sectors, among others, in arbitrations before various international tribunals. He has particular expertise in intellectual property, m&a, licensing, infrastructure, investment, and State entity disputes. He regularly counsels clients on structuring deals to minimize risk and to best plan for resolving potential conflicts.

An experienced arbitrator, Mr. Huebner is included on the approved panels of neutrals of several major arbitral institutions, including CIETAC, ICDR, and AAA.  He also has substantial experience in complex civil litigation arising from cross-border transactions, as well as in organizing and managing multi-jurisdictional dispute and risk portfolios for large clients.

In addition to handling disputes, Mr. Huebner has substantial Foreign Corrupt Practices Act experience, supervises the conduct of internal investigations and audits to determine compliance with various applicable laws and regulations, and advises senior management and corporate audit committees on the consequences of such investigations and audits, including the development of appropriate defenses, disclosures, disciplinary actions, and compliance policies.

He is former Chairman & CEO of Coudert Brothers LLP and former executive assistant to the Hon. Koji Kakizawa, member of the lower house of the Japanese Diet (Tokyo).

Education

• J.D., Yale Law School, 1986
• A.B., Princeton University (Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs), 1982, summa cum laude

Admissions

• England & Wales
• California
• New York
• District of Columbia

Representative Matters

Represents an Asian corporation in an ad hoc arbitration under UNCITRAL Rules against an Asian state entity in a large power project dispute

Successfully represented a multinational pharmaceutical company against an Eastern European state entity in an ICC arbitration involving licensing and expropriation disputes

Successfully represented a European telecommunications company against a European state entity in an arbitration involving investment and licensing disputes

Successfully represented a Middle Eastern state entity against a European company in an ICC arbitration involving an oil concession dispute

Successfully represented a U.S.-based telecommunications company against a Hong Kong company in an ICDR arbitration involving licensing disputes

Successfully represented a U.S.-based pharmaceutical company against a Swiss company in a CPR arbitration involving licensing disputes

Successfully represented a French entertainment conglomerate in multiple arbitration and litigation matters against various U.S. entities

Defended a Singaporean financial institution in an AAA arbitration over a real estate dispute in California

Successfully represented two Japanese financial institutions in litigation and arbitration matters arising from project development disputes in California

Successfully represented an Australian entertainment company in various U.S. licensing and intellectual property disputes

Served as an expert witness on entertainment and media law on behalf of a French film company against a U.K. company in an IFTA arbitration

Advised various publicly-traded companies in the U.S. on FCPA compliance matters involving revisions to internal policies and procedures

Advised various publicly-traded and not-for-profit corporations on corporate governance matters

Teaching

Adjunct Professor, University of Southern California Gould Law School, teaching courses in International Arbitration, International Intellectual Property Law & Policy, and International Business Transactions (Los Angeles)

Guest Lecturer, Tsinghua University, on international dispute resolution (Beijing)

Guest Lecturer, East China University of Politics and Law, on international dispute resolution and intellectual property (Shanghai)

Guest Lecturer, University of Southern California Marshall School of Business, on various dispute resolution and intellectual property issues (Los Angeles)

Honors

• Best Lawyers, IP Almanac
• California Super Lawyers
• Best Lawyers in America
• International Who’s Who of Commercial Arbitration
• AV®, Martindale-Hubbell

Memberships

• Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London)
• Panel of Arbitrators, CIETAC
• Panel of Arbitrators, International Centre for Dispute Resolution
• Panel of Arbitrators, WIPO
• Panel of Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association
• Commissioner, International Chamber of Commerce Commission on Arbitration (Paris)
• Chair, USCIB China Arbitration Committee
• Member, London Court of International Arbitration
• Former Chair, California Law Revision Commission
• Board Member or General Counsel, various civic, educational, and charitable organizations

Articles

• Sheppard Mullin Straddles Pacific With China Outpost, March 13, 2007

Hispanic/Latino Newsletter

• Enfoque Latino - Spring 2006

Speeches

• Speaker, Boao Forum for Asia International Conference on Service Industry, on Development of the Legal Sector in China
• Featured Speaker, 10th Annual Shanghai International Forum on Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Industry, on Legal and Regulatory Aspects of Clinical Trials and Growth of the Biotech Sector in China
• Sole Speaker, World Affairs Council of Connecticut, Executive Forum, on China Market Growth and Intellectual Property Issues
• Speaker, Doing Business in Mexico (conference sponsored by the Mexico Trade Representative to China), on Legal and Regulatory Opportunities and Challenges for Chinese Businesses entering the China Market
• Speaker, CCH Seminar on U.S. Product Liability Litigation and Product Recalls, and Implications for Chinese Businesses
• Speaker, CCH Seminar on Money-Laundering, Civil Fraud, and Other White Collar Business Crime, and Implications for Chinese Businesses
• Speaker, 2007 International Society of Hospitality Consultants, on Travel Industry Opportunities in China and Development of Related Infrastructure
• Presenter, at numerous in-house corporate seminars and international disputes conferences and seminars