Law firm White & Case has strengthened its global international trade practice with the addition of Jasper Wauters as a partner in Geneva.

Wauters advises private and sovereign clients on all aspects of international trade and investment law, with a particular emphasis on the law of the WTO. He joins from King & Spalding, where he was a partner in the Geneva office, and brings almost 20 years of experience. Part of his associate years were spent at White & Case.

“Having a leading international trade practice in Geneva, the home of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), is important to both our sovereign and private sector clients,” says White & Case partner Gregory Spak, who leads the firm’s global international trade practice. “Jasper joins a global team that’s perfectly positioned to advise our clients. We expect an increase in demand for trade law advice and trade litigation over the next few years following Brexit and the recent US election.”

Wauters combines an active WTO litigation practice with an advisory practice that focuses on international trade negotiations, trade remedies rules, subsidies disciplines and government regulation affecting market access.

“Jasper is recognised globally and across Europe for his advice on international trade/WTO law, which supports our position as a market leader,” says White & Case partner Brendan McGivern, the executive partner of the firm’s Geneva office. “He is a highly regarded lawyer with a global and European practice – this is an excellent fit with our existing practice and client portfolio.”

White & Case opened its office in Geneva in 2009 and was one of the first international firms to launch a WTO practice.