Justin R. Rassi is an associate in the firm’s International Dispute Resolution Group, resident in New York. He has a broad-gauged practice spanning international arbitration and litigation.
Mr. Rassi has represented clients in disputes concerning investments and activities on every habitable continent. He has particular experience in metals and mining, natural resources, and contract disputes arising out of Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Leveraging a degree in corporate finance, Mr. Rassi regularly advises clients on complex damages issues and works seamlessly with quantum experts.
Mr. Rassi has acted in international commercial and investor-state arbitrations seated around the world, under a wide range of arbitral rules, including the ICC, ICSID, LCIA, PCA, SIAC, and UNCITRAL Rules. Additionally, he has represented clients in ICSID conciliation proceedings, International Court of Justice proceedings, and domestic litigation and appellate proceedings in both the United States and Australia.
Mr. Rassi maintains an active pro bono constitutional and civil rights litigation practice in U.S. courts, with a particular emphasis on LGBTQ+ rights. He has led or worked on matters in Arizona, Colorado, New York, Ohio, and Oregon.
Mr. Rassi is active in professional organizations. He currently serves as a rapporteur to the ICCA-ASIL Task Force on Damages in International Arbitration and as the U.S. member on the Young Singapore International Arbitration Centre (YSIAC) Committee. He regularly guest lectures on damages in international arbitration at the New York University School of Law.
Before joining Debevoise in 2016, Mr. Rassi clerked for the Hon. Justice V.M. Bell AC of the High Court of Australia, practiced in the international arbitration team of a leading international law firm in Australia, and taught tort law at the Australian National University. The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in Australia.
Mr. Rassi received an LL.M. from the New York University School of Law in 2016, specializing in International Business Regulation, Litigation and Arbitration (“IBRLA”), where he held the Arthur T. Vanderbilt scholarship. Graduating at the top of his specialization, Mr. Rassi received the IBRLA Award for academic merit. Mr. Rassi received an LL.B. with First Class Honors and a B.Com degree in finance from the University of New South Wales in 2012, where he was an editor of the University of New South Wales Law Journal.
Mr. Rassi is admitted as an Attorney and Counselor-at-Law in the State of New York and as a Lawyer of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Mr. Rassi may also appear before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, the High Court of Australia, and all courts exercising federal jurisdiction in Australia.