Paris – Global law firm K&L Gates welcomes Maria Kostytska as a partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice. She joins the firm’s Paris office from Winston & Strawn, where she served as Head of Arbitration in Paris, and will play a key role in the firm’s International Arbitration practice group.
With more than 18 years of experience, Kostytska has acted as lead counsel in investor-state and commercial arbitration and litigation across both civil and common law jurisdictions. Her experience spans a wide range of sectors, including oil and gas, renewable energy, utilities, infrastructure, banking, aviation, and manufacturing. She also regularly serves as an arbitrator.
Kostytska is admitted to practice in the United States (New York and Washington, DC), France (Paris), and England and Wales (Barrister). She is fluent in English, French, Ukrainian, Russian, and Spanish.
Previously, she served as a Court Member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris and as a founding Council Member of the Georgian International Arbitration Centre (GIAC) in Tbilisi. Additionally, she is a member of the Panel of Arbitrators of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC).
“Maria’s arrival is a significant enhancement to our international arbitration practice, regionally and globally,” said Melissa Tea, leader of K&L Gates' global Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice. “She is the third international arbitration partner to join our team this year with extensive experience in the energy, infrastructure, and resources sector, following additions in Washington, DC and Perth. Together, they reflect our continued investment in building a globally integrated team that can meet the evolving needs of clients who are increasingly facing complex, high-stakes disputes.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome Maria to the firm,” stated Louis Degos, Paris office managing partner. “Her leadership skills and arbitration experience, especially her knowledge of the energy and infrastructure sectors, further strengthen our ability to advise clients on sophisticated disputes across Europe and beyond. Her arrival bolsters our regional and international practice credentials, underscoring our commitment to delivering exceptional legal advice from Paris.”
Kostytska’s arrival follows the additions of Perth partner Rodolphe Ruffié-Farrugia, Washington, DC partner Thomas Allen, Wilmington partner Robert Beste, New York partner Todd Fishman, Orange County partner Eva Weiler, and Seattle partner John Bender to the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice in the last year.
The firm’s International Arbitration practice group comprises more than 100 lawyers in key arbitration centers, including New York, Miami, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Sydney. The group is active in domestic and international arbitrations across a wide range of sectors, from construction and engineering to insurance coverage to sports to securities, administered by arbitration institutions around the world.