CMS strengthens international arbitration practice with partner hire
CMS is pleased to announce that George Burn is joining the firm from 1 June as a partner in its International Arbitration practice, based in London.
George joins CMS from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP), where he was a partner and global co-leader of international arbitration. With over 25 years’ experience, George’s practice spans both investment treaty and international commercial arbitration, with experience acting as both arbitrator and counsel in complex cross-border disputes. He regularly advises on jurisdictional issues and questions of public and private international law.
George has a distinguished track record of representing and advising clients across a broad spectrum of disputes covering multiple sectors, including energy and natural resources, infrastructure, banking and finance, mining, construction and defence. These disputes have been seated throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas and governed by the principal arbitral rules, including the ICC, LCIA, ICSID, UNCITRAL, SIAC, SCC, HKIAC, AAA-ICDR and PCA.
He is recognised as a leading practitioner by the major legal directories, having featured in the Legal 500's Hall of Fame for International Arbitration since 2022. He is also recognised as a Thought Leader by the Lexology Index for Arbitration.
Philip Norman, Head of International Arbitration at CMS, comments: "We are delighted to welcome George to CMS. He is a highly respected international arbitration practitioner with an exceptional track record in both commercial and investor-state disputes. His arrival further strengthens our global arbitration offering at a time of real momentum for the practice. Having recently been ranked 13th in the GAR100, with CMS named as the year's highest climber, George's appointment is a clear statement of our ambition to continue building one of the world's leading international arbitration teams. His deep experience across jurisdictions, sectors and arbitral rules will be a tremendous asset to our clients and to our teams around the world."
Luke Pardey, Co-Head of Litigation & Arbitration at CMS, comments: "George's hire is a strong strategic fit for our Litigation and Arbitration practice and for our clients. With his extensive experience in energy, infrastructure and emerging markets, and his established reputation in both commercial and investment treaty arbitration, George brings capabilities that will complement and enhance our existing offering. Businesses operating in complex or high-risk markets increasingly need advisers who can combine deep arbitration expertise with a genuinely global platform, and CMS is uniquely positioned to deliver that."
George Burn adds: "I'm thrilled to be joining CMS. With colleagues on the ground in key markets across Central and Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East, CMS offers exactly the kind of platform that international arbitration work demands. I look forward to working with my new colleagues to build on the firm's momentum and to delivering the highest quality representation to clients in their most complex cross-border disputes."
CMS has one of the largest international arbitration teams of any law firm, with dedicated arbitration lawyers in over 35 offices worldwide, comprising around 350 lawyers including more than 100 partners. The team advises on disputes across a broad range of industries and arbitral institutions, regularly acting in arbitrations under all the major rules including LCIA, ICC, HKIAC, SIAC, CIETAC, LMAA, UNCITRAL and AAA. In April 2026, CMS was ranked 13th in the GAR100, up from 22nd the previous year, and was named the year's highest climber.
