US Executive Director At World Bank Whitney Debevoise Returns To Arnold & Porter

Reflects Firm's Continued Expansion in International Public Policy, Finance, and Arbitration

Washington, DC, April 13, 2010 -- Arnold & Porter LLP announced today that former partner Eli Whitney Debevoise, II, has rejoined the firm as a partner. Mr. Debevoise has served as US Executive Director at the World Bank since 2007.

"Whitney played a key role at the World Bank, and he made a difference there to the benefit of the international community," said Chair Tom Milch. "I believe his experience at the Bank will only enhance his skill in assisting clients with their most challenging international transactions and disputes."

"I am honored to have served the nation in my role at the World Bank, and now I look forward to working again with the strong team of Arnold & Porter colleagues involved in significant transactions, public policy initiatives, and arbitrations around the world," said Mr. Debevoise.

In the presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed Executive Director position at the World Bank, Mr. Debevoise represented the United States on the Boards of four institutions of the World Bank Group with a combined balance sheet of nearly US$500 billion: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Development Association, the International Finance Corporation, and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. He also represented the United States at the Administrative Council of the World Bank Group's fifth institution, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

During Mr. Debevoise's tenure, the World Bank Group increased its financial operations significantly in response to the successive food, fuel, and global financial crises affecting developing counties. Mr. Debevoise had a leading role in capital increase and share realignment negotiations and served on the Audit, Corporate Governance and Pension Finance Committees, as well as the Information Technology Working Group.

Mr. Debevoise joined Arnold & Porter in 1979 and became a partner in 1986. He was active in international financial transactions, public policy, international arbitration and multijurisdictional litigation, and banking and international trade. He led teams on five Brady Plan restructurings and numerous major privatizations, and handled significant ICSID arbitrations. In addition, Mr. Debevoise worked at the forefront of trade liberalization, advising with respect to the GATT accession process, GATT and WTO panel proceedings, and regional trade integration.

Mr. Debevoise is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He currently serves on the Executive Council of the American Society of International Law, and served on the Council of the International Law Section of the American Bar Association. He is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and French. He has a BA from Yale University, a JD from Harvard Law School, and an honorary degree from the Vermont Law School. He clerked for The Hon. William J. Holloway, Jr. of the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. In 1997 he was awarded the Order of Rio Branco, Brazil's highest honor for foreigners, and in 2009 he received a US Treasury Department Exceptional Service award.

Arnold & Porter LLP is an international law firm of more than 700 lawyers with offices in Brussels, Denver, New York, Northern Virginia, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. The firm, founded in 1946, maintains more than 25 practice areas spanning a broad spectrum of the law, with a primary focus on litigation, transactional matters, and regulatory issues.