Tom Childs

is counsel in King & Spalding’s New York and London offices and a member of the International Arbitration Practice Group.

Mr. Childs represents clients in cross-border disputes before arbitral tribunals throughout the world and before the courts in the United States and England. He is experienced with the rules of all major arbitral institutions and with the laws of numerous jurisdictions, including New York, England, France, India and Egypt. He is admitted to the New York bar and as a solicitor of England and Wales, and holds an advanced degree in private international law from the University of Paris I.

Mr. Childs has represented clients in dozens of international arbitrations arising out of joint venture agreements, licensing agreements, financial services contracts, distribution agreements, construction contracts, and oil and gas contracts. He also regularly represents clients in proceedings to enforce foreign judgments and foreign arbitral awards in U.S. and English courts.

Mr. Childs has published many articles relating to international arbitration and has spoken at international arbitration conferences in North America, Europe, the Middle East and India.

Before joining King & Spalding, Mr. Childs practiced litigation with Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York and clerked for Chief Judge Edward R. Korman of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Recent Publications

“I Know I am Going to Win, but What About my Money? Ensuring that Arbitration is Worth the Effort,” The International Comparative Legal Guide to International Arbitration 2012, August 2012 (co-author with Tom Sprange).

“Update on Lex Petrolea: The continuing development of customary law relating to international oil and gas exploration and production,” The Journal of World Energy Law & Business, Vol 4., No. 3, September 2011.

“Challenging a Host State’s Tax Measures Through International Arbitration,” King & Spalding Energy Newsletter, July 2011.

“Crisis in Libya: What Legal Options are Available to Oil and Gas Companies?,” King & Spalding Client Alert, May 2011.

“Enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia,” Article in the International Bar Association’s Arbitration Newsletter, September 2010.

“A New Destination for Disputes,” Interview with the CEO of the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution in King & Spalding’s Middle East Quarterly Bulletin, Winter 2010.

“The Requirement of Fair and Equal Treatment with Respect to Document Production in International Arbitration,” Paper for the International Bar Association’s 12th International Arbitration Day Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, February 2009 (co-author with Doak Bishop).

Speaking Engagements

“Issue Estoppel in Post-Award Proceedings in the U.S. and England,” CPR Arbitration Committee, New York, October 2014.

“Evolution of International Energy and Minerals Arbitration,” RMMLF Conference on International Energy and Minerals Arbitration, Toronto, September 2013.

“The Fair and Equitable Treatment Standard,” IBDE/LAD Global Economic Forum: Best Practices in Trade and Investment Promotion, London, April 2013.

“Islamic Finance: Would arbitration of disputes help or hinder the industry’s growth?,” London Arbitration Club (Financial Sector Branch), London, March 2013.

“Arbitrating competition issues,” Competition Law Summit, New Delhi, July 2012.

“Lex Petrolea,” ICC/AIPN Conference on Dispute Resolution in the International Oil & Gas Business, Paris, October 2011.

“International Oil & Gas Dispute Resolution: Recent Changes in the Middle East’s Legal Landscape,” AIPN International Conference 2010 in Doha, Qatar, September 2010.