Education
JD, Rutgers University School of Law (with honors)
BA, Drew University
Bar Qualifications
New York
New Jersey
Academic Appointments
Lecturer on Law
Harvard Law School
(International Commercial Arbitration) (2008-2025)
Adjunct Faculty
University of Miami School of Law
(Dispute Resolution, Technology, and the Digital Economy) (2019-present)
Publication
Third-Party Litigation Funding in Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts (Thompson Reuters 2000-2022)
Profile and Expertise :
Mark Beckett brings over thirty years of experience as counsel and arbitrator in more than 150 commercial and treaty-based disputes worldwide. Formerly the head of international arbitration and litigation at leading global firms Latham & Watkins and Cooley, he has acted in a wide range of matters spanning investor–state arbitrations, international commercial disputes, and arbitrations involving state-owned entities. Mark is particularly adept at representing investors in treaty arbitrations concerning breaches of fair and equitable treatment, expropriation, and full protection and security obligations.
Known for combining world-class arbitration expertise with robust litigation experience, Mark has successfully handled complex commercial disputes, consumer actions, and enforcement proceedings in both state and federal courts. His practice extends across industries, including energy, infrastructure, intellectual property, technology, digital assets, and cross-border commercial agreements, under all major arbitration rules and in multiple jurisdictions. He is recognized for his creative legal strategies, persuasive advocacy, and innovative use of technology to achieve results in high-stakes disputes.
Beyond practice, Mark has been deeply engaged in advancing the field of dispute resolution. He served as the U.S. member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, lectured on law at Harvard Law School for over 17 years, and taught dispute resolution and law & technology as an adjunct professor at the University of Miami. He is also a published authority on third-party funding in the United States.
Clients turn to Mark for his unparalleled combination of experience, strategic insight, and uncompromising advocacy—qualities that reflect both his distinguished career and DTL’s reputation as a boutique firm delivering world-class capabilities.
Representative Case Experience:
Representing an investor in a treaty arbitration against a Middle Eastern country for breach of fair and equitable treatment and effective means standards.
Representing an investor in a treaty arbitration against a Latin American state involving breaches of fair and equitable treatment and the expropriation of a fertilizer plant and the related offtake agreement.
Representing an investor in a dispute with a North African state in separate proceedings under both an infrastructure contract and an investment treaty.
Representative Directory Quotes:
“His leadership definitely provided the guidance needed for our case and he is an extremely intelligent and brilliant lawyer. He is very thorough, detailed and as inquisitive as you want your lawyers to be”
“a brilliant, brilliant lawyer;”
a “very good advocate with a really good turn of phrase.”