Paul Barker

Paul Barker is a dual-qualified English barrister and US lawyer, and a strategic advisor who focuses his practice on complex commercial and investment disputes, international arbitration, and advisory matters for founders, investors, private equity fund sponsors, financial institutions, and companies.

Paul’s cross-border disputes and advisory engagements frequently sit at the intersection of law, policy, finance, and geopolitical risk. His practice spans a broad range of sectors and industry verticals – from growth-stage venture to infrastructure – including artificial intelligence (AI), energy transition, and private capital. He has particular experience across the private fund formation and investment lifecycle. Paul is also a member of the firm’s AI Cross-Practice Group, advising on governance, litigation risk, and the convergence of energy and tech investment.

As counsel and advocate, Paul has represented claimants and respondents in commercial and investment/investor-state disputes under all the major arbitral rules, including those of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), Permanent Court of Arbitration, Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC), Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) Convention. His experience covers a wide range of sectors and industries, such as energy, mining, commodities, healthcare, technology, intellectual property, international trade, and sovereign debt restructuring.  Paul also provides pre-dispute advice, including international investment structuring to mitigate the risk from sudden government policy change and global supply chain risks.

Complementing his work in private practice, Paul writes and speaks regularly on the legal aspects of energy transition investing and carbon markets, and has held appointments as a lecturer at Columbia University in New York and as a lecturer-in-law at Stanford Law School.

View more at: https://www.mcdermottlaw.com/people/paul-barker/

Stanford Law School, lecturer-in-law

Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge, M.A.