Tim Foden, Partner at Boies Schiller Flexner — On International Arbitration, Crisis Management and Building a Global Legal Career

In this episode, Tim Foden, partner at Boies Schiller Flexner in London, shares his unconventional journey from a blue-collar upbringing in Philadelphia to becoming a leading international arbitration lawyer working on high-stakes disputes around the world.Tim discusses his early career experiences, including working in the mailroom at Sullivan & Cromwell while at university, gaining exposure to law firm life before even qualifying, and later developing hands-on advocacy skills as an insurance defence litigator arguing cases in US courts almost immediately after being called to the bar.He reflects on the challenges of breaking into Big Law after initially pursuing public interest law, and how roles in the US federal courts helped him build core skills in legal writing, advocacy and international disputes.He now practises at Boies Schiller Flexner, a disputes-only firm founded by David Boies, Jonathan Schiller and Donald Flexner, where he focuses on international arbitration and investor-state disputes.Tim’s practice centres on representing companies whose investments have been interfered with by foreign governments, often involving disputes under bilateral investment treaties and proceedings before World Bank arbitration bodies. His work spans regions including Africa, the Americas, Australia and Central Europe, often involving politically sensitive and high-risk situations.A significant part of the conversation focuses on career development — from mastering the fundamentals of drafting and legal analysis to building long-term client relationships. Tim shares candid insights into business development, emphasising that trust, authenticity and consistency matter far more than superficial networking.He also discusses the importance of autonomy in legal careers, how building a personal client base can transform both professional and personal life and why adaptability is essential in a rapidly changing global legal landscape.Finally, Tim offers practical advice for junior lawyers: focus on mastering your craft, develop genuine relationships early in your career and understand that long-term success in law requires a combination of technical excellence, commercial awareness and human skills.00:00 Introduction  00:20 Meet Tim Foden: Career Overview  02:00 Qualifying in the US & Move to London  03:30 Early Career: Mailroom at Sullivan & Cromwell  07:30 First Legal Roles & Courtroom Experience  10:00 Public Interest Law & Career Pivot  13:00 Federal Court Experience & Legal Writing  14:30 Joining Crowell & Moring  16:00 Moving into International Arbitration  17:30 Move to London & Allen & Overy  20:00 Training, Structure & Learning English Law  23:30 Move to Quinn Emanuel  25:00 Business Development & Client Relationships  26:30 Launching LALIVE London Office  27:30 Joining Boies Schiller Flexner  29:00 Disputes-Only Model & Trial Strategy  32:00 What is Investor-State Arbitration?  34:00 Global Practice & Client Base  36:00 Arbitration vs Litigation & Transparency  38:30 Enforcement of Awards Against States  41:00 Geopolitics & Natural Resource Disputes  44:00 Crisis Management in Practice  46:30 Business Development Philosophy  50:00 Building Long-Term Relationships  52:30 Advice for Junior Lawyers  56:00 Autonomy, Career Progression & Lifestyle  59:00 Final Reflections & What’s Next