Michael Socarras Joins Chadbourne & Parke Commercial Litigation, International Dispute Resolution and Investigations Practices in Washington D.C.

NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The international law firm Chadbourne & Parke LLP announced today that Michael Socarras has joined the firm as a partner in the Washington, D.C. office.

Mr. Socarras has extensive experience in resolving disputes through negotiation, arbitration, litigation and, when appropriate, the use of focused investigations throughout the United States and in other jurisdictions.  He has served as lead counsel addressing disputes in a wide range of complex public international law, commercial, intellectual property and regulatory matters on behalf of U.S., Latin American, Asian and European clients.  Mr. Socarras represents clients in multiple industry sectors, including consumer goods, energy, oil and gas, and defense.  He was a partner at McDermott Will & Emery LLP in that firm's Washington office before joining Chadbourne & Parke.

"We are very pleased to welcome Mike to the firm.  His combination of skills and international experience will provide meaningful insights to our clients and litigation practice generally," said Chadbourne Managing Partner Andrew A. Giaccia.  "The breadth of Mike's professional experience is an important addition to our U.S. and international dispute resolution and investigations practices."

In addition to U.S.-based clients, Mr. Socarras takes advantage of his language skills to act for Latin American and African clients, as well as large Russian state-owned companies in the aviation sector.  He has also worked on China-related compliance matters and investigations involving tax, foreign exchange and anti-corruption regulations.  Mr. Socarras also advises clients on corporate governance matters, joint venture disputes and international legal compliance.

"Mike is an outstanding litigator.  We are particularly impressed with his ability to successfully defend clients in regions where the firm is growing, including Latin America, Russia and China," said Thomas E. Riley, chair of Chadbourne's Litigation Department.  "With his strong professional background and deep client relationships, Mike strengthens the firm's litigation capabilities and enhances its reputation in major markets around the globe."

Mr. Socarras earned his B.A., summa cum laude, from Brandeis University in 1983, and his J.D. in 1986 from Yale Law School.

Mr. Socarras is a past chair of the International Law Committee of the Missouri Bar Association, and a member of the American Bar Association Sections on Litigation and International Law.  He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, Missouri and various federal courts and speaks Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Socarras served as a law clerk to the Hon. James L. Buckley in the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.  He then worked in the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice.

About Chadbourne & Parke LLP

Chadbourne & Parke LLP, an international law firm headquartered in New York City, provides a full range of legal services, including mergers and acquisitions, securities, project finance, private funds, corporate finance, venture capital and emerging companies, energy/renewable energy, communications and technology, commercial and products liability litigation, arbitration/IDR, securities litigation and regulatory enforcement, special investigations and litigation, intellectual property, antitrust, domestic and international tax, insurance and reinsurance, environmental, real estate, bankruptcy and financial restructuring, executive compensation and employee benefits, employment law and ERISA, trusts and estates, and government contract matters. Major geographical areas of concentration include Russia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Turkey and Latin America. The firm has offices in New York, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Mexico City, São Paulo, London, Moscow, Warsaw, Kyiv, Almaty, Dubai and Beijing. For additional information, visit www.chadbourne.com.

SOURCE Chadbourne & Parke LLP