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Baker McKenzie published an announcement on its corporate newsroom detailing the appointment of Kate Corby to the global leadership position in its dispute resolution practice. The statement titled Baker McKenzie appoints Kate Corby as Global Head of International Arbitration highlighted Corby’s extensive experience in the field. The firm indicated that Corby will assume the role immediately, overseeing a team active in all major arbitration centers. This leadership transition was framed around strengthening the group’s capabilities in construction and infrastructure related matters.
Kate Corby brings more than 20 years of experience representing clients in complex international arbitrations, according to the firm’s profile. A Chambers and Partners assessment places her in band three for construction international arbitration in the UK, noting her work on cases involving project delays, cost overruns and defective work. She has managed arbitrations under ICC, LCIA and other institutional rules as well as ad hoc proceedings seated in various jurisdictions. Corby also maintains a practice in product liability and regulatory compliance issues.
The partner co-leads Baker McKenzie’s Industrials, Manufacturing and Transportation Industry Group in the EMEA region, the biography shows. She has built a reputation for advancing inclusion and diversity within the arbitration community through initiatives such as the London chapter of Arbitration Lunch Match and her position on the Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge executive committee. Legal directories including Legal 500 have praised her strategic thinking and client focus in their assessments of her performance.
Baker McKenzie maintains one of the largest international arbitration practices globally with more than 350 practitioners, according to figures the firm has previously released. Global Arbitration Review statistics the firm cites indicate it has handled twice as many merits hearings as any other law firm. In the Lexology Index Arbitration 2026, co-published with Global Arbitration Review, 29 of the firm’s lawyers received recognition including Kate Corby who was listed as highly recommended.
The appointment arrives at a time when international arbitration continues to see rising case volumes, particularly in the energy, infrastructure and construction sectors that form a core part of Corby’s expertise. The International Chamber of Commerce has reported a steady increase in new arbitration cases in recent years, reflecting the mechanism’s popularity for resolving complex multinational disagreements. Baker McKenzie’s global footprint spanning more than 70 offices enables seamless cross-border coordination on such matters.
Corby’s representative cases include acting in a USD 500 million ICC arbitration concerning the construction of a major airport under Saudi law, Baker McKenzie’s matter list records. She has also represented parties in disputes over major pipeline projects in the Middle East. The new global role will see her guide the practice’s strategy as competition among leading law firms intensifies for high-value arbitration mandates.
