GENEVA, SWITZERLAND--(Marketwired - Oct 1, 2013) - Alejandro Jara, former deputy director general of the World Trade Organization, has joined King & Spalding as senior counsel in the WTO and international trade practice of its Geneva office, as the firm continues to expand its international trade policy capabilities and its global disputes group.
"King & Spalding sets itself apart by providing the very best resources to our clients who work in global markets, and we are pleased to have Alejandro as the latest addition to our exceptional international team," said Steve Orava, head of the firm's international trade group.
Jara had served as WTO deputy director general since 2005. A native of Santiago, Chile, he obtained his law degree from the Universidad de Chile and, as a Fulbright scholar, pursued graduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. He joined Chile's Foreign Service in 1976, where he specialized in trade policy. His career covered a wide range of regional and multilateral trade policy posts, and he culminated his service in the Chilean Government as Chile's ambassador to the WTO from 2000 to 2005.
"Alejandro's substantial WTO expertise, his unique experience in the global trading system and the broad scope of his knowledge of trade and investment issues further strengths our international trade team," said Daniel Crosby, managing partner of King & Spalding's Geneva office. "His background complements our global practice, expanding the resources we offer our clients around the world."
Jara said, "I am extremely pleased to join an international trade firm as well-respected as King & Spalding. I am excited to work with the trade team's talented lawyers and look forward solving trade and investment issues for the firm's clients."
King & Spalding's WTO and international trade practice is one of the largest and most sophisticated in the world. With more than 40 lawyers and trade professionals, including economists, foreign legal consultants and accountants, the group represents public- and private-sector clients in a wide range of matters affecting the cross-border movement of goods, services and investment. The firm's trade group includes former senior government officials and former officials from the WTO Secretariat and the WTO Appellate Body. The group represents WTO member countries in dispute settlement proceedings, including as lead counsel in oral arguments before WTO dispute settlement panels and the Appellate Body.
About King & Spalding
Celebrating more than 125 years of service, King & Spalding is an international law firm that represents a broad array of clients, including half of the Fortune Global 100, with 800 lawyers in 17 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm has handled matters in over 160 countries on six continents and is consistently recognized for the results it obtains, uncompromising commitment to quality and dedication to understanding the business and culture of its clients. More information is available at www.kslaw.com.