Pinsent Masons expands global arbitration offering with strategic partner hire in London

17 Feb 2026 | 10:03 am |

Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has strengthened its international arbitration practice with the appointment of Cem Kalelioglu as a partner in London, reinforcing the firm's growing presence in high-value investor-state and commercial disputes.

Cem joins the firm from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr where he last held the position of Counsel. He has a particular expertise in complex, high-stakes investor-state and commercial arbitrations, advising clients across the energy, construction, aerospace, manufacturing, and agriculture sectors.
Triple-qualified in England & Wales, Ireland and Turkey, Cem combines technical expertise with a deep knowledge of the different arbitration frameworks across Turkey, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and francophone Africa.

Sylvia Tonova, Co-head of International Arbitration and Investor–State Dispute Settlement, said, “Cem has a very impressive skillset and international network. In light of the widespread legislative reform across the major international arbitration seats, our clients need advisers who can combine technical expertise with regional knowledge to navigate the global pivot towards reduced formalism and greater procedural flexibility. Cem is the perfect hire to enhance our capabilities in this area.”

Cem added, “Pinsent Masons’ global reach, sector expertise and comprehensive offering provide a strong platform from which I can continue to grow my practice. Geopolitical instability, stricter environmental regulations, and the globalisation of arbitration hubs are combining to increase arbitration usage. I look forward to working with the Pinsent Masons team to meet this growing demand among governments, international corporations, and foreign investors.”

This appointment follows former Closer Brothers litigation head Jessica Wicker joining Pinsent Masons’ disputes team in London in January and the firm ranking for the first time in The Lawyer’s prestigious Global Litigation 50, reflecting the firm’s continued investment in its global disputes capabilities.

Key Contacts

Sylvia Tonova

Sylvia Tonova

Partner, Co-head of International Arbitration and ISDS

View Profile

Latest press releases

Show me all press releases

Pinsent Masons advises on Victorian government-owned wind farm project

Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has advised global wind turbine manufacturer Vestas on its role in the Delburn Wind Farm in the Australian state of Victoria.

Pinsent Masons advises Scottish Friendly on proposed merger with OneFamily

Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has advised Scottish Friendly on its proposed merger with OneFamily, a combination that would create one of the UK’s largest mutual life assurance groups with 2.3 million members and nearly £10 billion in assets under management.

Pinsent Masons announces new partner hire to London employment team

International law firm Pinsent Masons has today announced that the firm has bolstered its London Employment & Incentives team with the hire of Ian Shaw from Korn Ferry.

People who viewed this press release also viewed

Show me all press releases

Pinsent Masons hires new litigation and arbitration partner in Madrid

Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has today announced the hire of Fernando Tallón Martínez in its litigation and arbitration team in Madrid.

Pinsent Masons lawyers appointed to the ICC International Court of Arbitration

Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons’ partner Sylvia Tonova and senior associate Chloé De Jager have been appointed as Members of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, as representatives for Bulgaria and South Africa respectively. Both new appointments are for a three-year term set to commence on 1 July 2024.

Pinsent Masons advises Euroins on landmark Romanian investment dispute

Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons is advising one of the largest Bulgarian publicly traded companies in Bulgaria, Eurohold, and its insurance business Euroins Insurance Group (EIG) on their EUR500 million investment dispute with the Government of Romania.

For all media enquiries, including arranging an interview with one of our spokespeople, please contact the press office on

+44 (0)20 7418 8199 or 

Location contacts

We are processing your request. \n Thank you for your patience. An error occurred. This could be due to inactivity on the page - please try again.