Joshua Simmons, Former State Department Senior Adviser, Joins Wiley’s Global Disputes and Litigation Teams

May 11, 2021

Washington, DC – Wiley is pleased to announce that Joshua B. Simmons, former Senior Adviser to the Legal Adviser at the U.S. Department of State, has joined the firm as of counsel in the Global Disputes and Litigation practices. He will represent clients in high-stakes international disputes, including commercial arbitration, complex litigation, and regulatory matters.

As companies worldwide increasingly turn to international arbitration as a preferred method of cross-border dispute resolution, Mr. Simmons brings a deep knowledge of international law and extensive advocacy experience from both government and private practice. He is also an adjunct professor in international arbitration at the University of Virginia School of Law.

“Josh is top-notch when it comes to complex arbitration and litigation matters,” said Wiley partner Ralph J. Caccia, who leads the firm’s litigation groups. “His career-long dedication and work for treaty negotiations and international investors, across a variety of industries and foreign states, has made him a leader and shaper of arbitration law. We are thrilled he is joining us at Wiley and focusing his talent on our clients.”

As Senior Adviser at the State Department from 2019-2021, Mr. Simmons represented the United States in international disputes, including before the International Court of Justice; managed responses to high-profile congressional inquiries; and advised senior officials on treaty negotiations and international law. He also previously served as an attorney-adviser at the State Department from 2013-2015, where he administered claims of U.S. nationals arising out of foreign investments and received a “Superior Honor Award” for his role in negotiating a landmark Holocaust compensation agreement.

In addition, Mr. Simmons has nearly a decade of experience in private practice, advocating for clients in treaty and commercial arbitration proceedings around the world. He has represented foreign states and international investors across a variety of industries, including energy, natural resources, technology, and financial services. He has appeared before international tribunals under the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).

“I am honored to join the exceptional team at Wiley,” said Mr. Simmons. “The firm’s unique position in DC – and its deep bench of lawyers with high-level government experience – will help clients navigate international disputes that require multiple dimensions of counsel and advocacy. I am excited to contribute to this thriving global practice.”

Wiley handles a wide array of international disputes, from commercial and treaty arbitration to complex commercial litigation involving issues of foreign and international law, across a range of industries. The firm has a track record of high-profile wins in multimillion- and multibillion-dollar matters involving international companies and sovereign entities, and has assisted multilateral companies and other clients in matters related to more than 2,400 bilateral investment treaties. Our attorneys are among the most active and well-versed in serving the needs of clients in the arena of arbitration of investor/state disputes – one of the most exciting and challenging legal practices to emerge in decades.