Foreign Claims Settlement Commission Chairman Timothy Feighery Joins Arent Fox

“Tim is highly regarded among international arbitration practitioners after years of exceptional work at the Justice and State Departments,” said Chairman Mark M. Katz. “We are confident his unique experience and first-rate legal skills will be a great resource to clients.”

Mr. Feighery was sworn in as chairman of the FCSC in March 2011 after being nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the US Senate. The FCSC is a quasi-judicial, independent agency within the Justice Department that adjudicates the claims of US nationals against foreign governments. The funds awarded by the FCSC are secured by international claims settlements, Congressional appropriations, or through the liquidation of foreign assets by the Justice Department or the US Department of the Treasury.

“The expansion of our international arbitration and dispute resolution capabilities is a priority for the firm,” said Managing Partner Matthew J. Clark. “Tim’s addition is a key strategic hire and his unique background in government service will be an important asset to our team.”

Prior to his appointment to the FCSC, Mr. Feighery served as an attorney adviser in the Office of the Legal Adviser at the US Department of State. There he defended US interests in international arbitration and foreign investment disputes. From 2003 to 2004, Mr. Feighery was a deputy special master for the September 11^th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001, where he was responsible for assessing compensation claims by victims of the 9/11 attacks.

Mr. Feighery previously served as Chief of Section of the Legal Services Branch of the United Nations Compensation Commission in Geneva, which was established to address claims arising out of Iraq’s 1990 invasion and occupation of Kuwait. He also worked as a senior attorney in the Bureau of Competition at the Federal Trade Commission. Mr. Feighery was in private practice with a major law firm before entering government service.

Mr. Feighery served as co-vice chair of the American Bar Association Committee on International Courts and has taught International and European Union Law as an adjunct professor at the George Mason University School of Law and Webster University in Geneva, Switzerland. He received his JD from Fordham University School of Law.

Chambers Global, Chambers USA, and Legal 500 have recognized Arent Fox’s International Trade practice and its attorneys as industry leaders. The group represents and advises domestic and foreign companies and government entities in a broad range of cross-border matters, including customs/import compliance, global trade policy, international trade litigation, international anti-corruption, dispute resolutions, international arbitration, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and export controls and sanctions.