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James H Boykin

Founding Partner & Co-Head of Arbitration

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Overview

Education

  • William & Mary Law School, J.D., 2004
  • University of Virginia, B.A., 1997

James H. Boykin is a Partner in the Washington, DC, office of Hexagon and Co-Chair of the firm’s international commercial arbitration and investor-state arbitration practice groups. 

James’ practice focuses on international arbitration and international litigation. Over the past two decades, James has successfully represented numerous investors in investment treaty arbitrations in proceedings conducted under the ICSID, UNCITRAL, and SCC Rules. He also frequently represents clients in international and domestic commercial arbitrations under all major rule-sets (e.g., ICDR, ICC, LCIA).  

James has developed deep expertise with the enforcement of arbitral awards in the United States. He is regularly retained to coordinate global enforcement efforts on behalf of award creditors.     

A leader in is field, James has been recognized by all leading legal directories, including Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, Best Lawyers, and Lexology. In 2026, Lexology named him a “Thought Leader” (Lexology Arbitration 2026).

Prior to founding Hexagon Advocates, James practiced at leading international law firm Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, where he was an equity partner and Global Co-Head of International Arbitration.  

He is a member of the Expedited Commercial Panel of the American Arbitration Association and serves on the Arbitration Council of the German Arbitration Institute (DIS).

Representative Cases

  • Counsel to a U.S. investor in ICSID arbitration proceedings against the Republic of Turkey
  • Counsel to a U.S. investor in ICSID arbitration proceedings against the Republic of Armenia
  • Counsel to Ukrainian bank in UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings against the Russian Federation concerning breaches of international law following the annexation of Crimea
  • Counsel to Ukrainian investors in the aviation, energy, and real estate sectors in UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings against the Russian Federation concerning breaches of international law following the annexation of Crimea
  • Defense of U.K. national and related family office against RICO claims in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • Counsel to Turkish investor in arbitration proceedings against the Republic of Kazakhstan under the ICSID Convention
  • Counsel to Canada in international arbitration proceedings initiated by the United States under the Softwood Lumber Agreement
  • Counsel to leading information services provider in claims against formerly related companies in arbitration proceedings in New York under ICDR International Rules
  • Defense of French industrial engineering conglomerate in arbitration proceedings in New York under ICDR International Rules
  • Counsel to U.K. investor in a claim of expropriation against foreign sovereign in arbitration proceedings before the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce
  • Advise investment funds on structuring investments to obtain protections available under bilateral investment treaties
  • Represent consumers in arbitration proceedings against debt settlement companies and car title lenders

Honors & Distinctions

Honors & Distinctions
  • Recognized as a leading practitioner in Who's Who Legal Thought Leaders: USA (2023)
  • Recognized by Chambers USA: International Arbitration: Counsel (2023-2024)
  • Recognized by The Legal 500 United States, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration (2018-2024)
  • Recognized in The International Who's Who of Arbitration Lawyers (2015–2018, 2022)
  • 2012–2020, 2023 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, sponsored by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia
  • Distinguished Service Award, American Arbitration Association, November 2010
  • Best Pro Bono Achievement, Virginia Legal Aid Society, November 2009

Leadership Positions

Leadership Positions
  • Member, German Arbitration Institute (DIS) Arbitration Council (2022-present)
  • International Arbitration Editorial Advisory Board for Law360 (2018) 
  • Board of Directors of the American Branch of the International Law Association (2016-present)
  • Adjunct Professor, American University, Washington College of Law (2008–present)
  • Adjunct Professor, College of William & Mary, School of Law (2014–2015)
  • Member, American Arbitration Association, Expedited Commercial Panel
  • Member (ex officio), Global Advisory Board of ICDR Young & International (2010–2013)
  • International Bar Association, Mediation Committee Officer (Secretary and Website Coordinator) (2006–2011)
  • Member, Executive Board of ICDR Young & International (2007–2010)
  • Deutsch-Amerikanische Juristen-Vereinigung (German–American Lawyers‘ Association)

Prior Affiliations

  • Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP (Washington)

Bar and Court Admissions

  • District of Columbia, 2005
  • Virginia, 2004

Languages

  • German

Publications

  • Quoted, “Arbitrator’s Guilty Verdict Puts UK Funder’s Investment at Risk,” Bloomberg Law, January 8, 2024
  • “Outlook for Investment Treaty Arbitration,” Corporate Disputes Magazine, Jul. - Sep. 2021 Issue
  • "Advocacy Against an Absent Adversary," co-authored with John M. Townsend, The Global Arbitration Review: The Guide to Advocacy, Fourth Edition, October 2019
  • "Discovery in Aid of International Arbitration: California Dreaming?,” Zeitschrift fur Deutsches und Amerikanisches Recht, Abschiedsheft, June 2018
  • Commentary on Seagate v. Western Digital Corp., Revista Brasileira de Arbitragem No. 49, March 2016
  • “Protection of Communications with Company Lawyers: The Last Gap in the Common Law–Civil Law Divide in Arbitration," co-authored with John M. Townsend, Festschrift for Siegfried H. Elsing on His 65th Birthday, 2015
  • "Fruits of the Poisonous Tree: The Admissibility of Unlawfully Obtained Evidence in International Arbitration," co-authored with M. Havalic, TDM, October 2014
  • “Judicial Review of Arbitral Awards in the United States: The Uncertain Future of ‘Manifest Disregard of the Law,’” co-authored with Jan K. Dunin-Wasowicz, Arbitration e-Review 16-17(1-2), 2014
  • Quoted in “BG v. Argentina Appeal to Go Ahead,” Global Arbitration Review, June 10, 2013
  • “To Enforce or Not to Enforce: Two Recent Illustrations of Problems Enforcing International Arbitration Awards Against Foreign Sovereigns in U.S. Courts,” co-authored with Jan K. Dunin-Wasowicz, New York Dispute Resolution Lawyer, Spring 2012
  • “Confidentiality Under the EU Mediation Directive Compared to the U.S. Uniform Mediation Act and U.S. State Laws – A Critical Assessment,” co-authored with Gerhard Wegen, Ingrid Naumann and Molly Gaston, IBA Mediation Committee Newsletter, September 2008
  • “Legal Privilege – The Debate,” IBA In-House Perspective 2, no. 1, 2006 and IBA Litigation Committee Newsletter, April 2006