04 May 2026
Clifford Chance strengthens Litigation and Arbitration with J. Laurens Wilkes and Caitlin Gernert in Houston
"Clifford Chance hires J. Laurens Wilkes as partner and Global Head of Infrastructure Disputes and partner Caitlin Gernert in Houston to bolster infrastructure, energy and construction litigation and arbitration."
J. Laurens Wilkes joins Clifford Chance from Winston & Strawn. He brings over 20 years of experience advising US and international clients across the full lifecycle of infrastructure, construction and energy projects. His work spans front-end bid and procurement disputes, risk counseling, breach of contract, administrative actions, products liability, fraud and fiduciary duty, trade secret, restructuring and tort matters in state and federal courts, as well as domestic and international arbitration. He enters the firm as a partner and will serve as Global Head of Infrastructure Disputes.
Caitlin Gernert joins Clifford Chance as a partner in the Houston office. She advises infrastructure, energy and construction companies on a wide range of civil litigation and arbitration matters and will practice in those areas as a member of the firm’s US disputes team.