HFW has expanded its international disputes offering with Geneva partner Vanessa Liborio, founder of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe’s Geneva office 10 years ago. Liborio has more than 20 years of experience acting in high-value, complex disputes across construction, infrastructure, life sciences, and telecoms. She is a member of the Swiss Arbitration Centre’s court and the ICC Commission on Arbitration & ADR (Switzerland). Liborio successfully represented the EspeRare Foundation in a case about its paediatric medicine, and served as ICC president on a case against Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier. Orrick announced the closure of its Geneva office in September, citing a desire for “strategic investment in other markets in Europe and worldwide” leading Orrick veteran Charles Adams to form his own arbitration firm. Michael Buisset, head of HFW’s Geneva office, said Liborio’s arrival is part of a strategy to establish HFW as a market leader for international arbitration in Geneva. Liborio’s clients include Swiss and international companies active in life sciences, pharma, transportation and telecoms, as well as Middle Eastern state entities, sovereign wealth funds, and construction conglomerates. Liborio said HFW's international platform, sector focus, and global disputes practice makes it well placed for international arbitration and high-value disputes involving Switzerland, Europe, and the Middle East. Last year HFW hired international arbitration partners Shuan Leong in Singapore from Withers and Elizabeth Sloane in Australia from Stephenson Harwood. Orrick said that it was grateful to Liborio’s contribution to the firm and wished her well.