Firmly at the forefront of investor-state arbitration in Latin America, Arnold & Porter is best known for advising sovereign states – generally in complex, large-scale and high-value arbitration proceedings – where it’s outstanding (global) track record now reaches to 52 positive results out of 53 final (and potentially final) awards and decisions. This unmatched standing is maintained by a team over 60-strong across offices in Washington DC, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston and London. Clients benefit from the presence of former government officials and an array of practitioners (many of whom are native or fluent Spanish speakers) that handle both common and civil law systems. Key partners in the team include outstanding Washington DC partner Paolo Di Rosa who founded the firm’s practice and led it for 17 years; a native Spanish speaker with strong connections to a range of Latin American sovereign states, he remains primarily focused on Latin America along with Europe and Asia. Frequently working alongside Di Rosa, London based Patricio Grané Labat has a major emphasis on representing Latin American sovereigns; with a sterling record in the region – including cases under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and bilateral investment treaties – 2025 saw him secure a sixth consecutive victory on behalf of Costa Rica. Also a prominent figure in investor-state and commercial arbitrations, New York’s Mélida Hodgson has represented Venezuela, Panama and Peru (among others) in both UNCITRAL treaty arbitrations and ICSID cases. Primarily a transactional specialist, Raul Herrera also participates in international arbitral matters and has a notable record, particularly on behalf of the Dominican Republic in DR-CAFTA cases. Up-and-coming London partner Alvaro Nistal specialises in investor-state and public international law cases involving Latin America.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is recognised for its expertise in representing investors in high-value disputes with Latin American states. The firm’s international dispute resolution group includes practitioners with strong linguistic, cultural and professional ties to the region, including Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina and Peru. Mark Friedman, co-chair of the group, is especially experienced in mining and natural resources arbitrations, notably representing Franco-Nevada Corporation in a dispute against the Republic of Panama. Dietmar Prager, who co-chairs the Latin American focus group, regularly acts in disputes involving infrastructure, mining and energy projects, often alongside Spanish-speaking partner Laura Sinisterra. Ina Popova also features prominently in the team, with experience across a range of high-stakes investor-state and commercial arbitration proceedings. All named lawyers are based in New York.

Global powerhouse Freshfields LLP continues to reap the rewards of its Latin American focus in the international arbitration space. With input from multiple international offices, including New York, Washington DC, London, and Madrid, the firm has been the port of call for a variety of multinational corporations and sovereign states facing high-stakes commercial and investment treaty disputes across the region. The team has been notably active in infrastructure disputes relating to oil and mining issues, as well as representing clients in significant aviation cases. The ‘brilliant’ Nigel Blackaby KC (Washington DC), co-head of the group, is a vastly experienced Latin American-focused practitioner, having acted in over 100 related arbitrations in his career. Blackaby secured significant victories against the sovereign governments of Uruguay, Colombia, and Venezuela during 2024. Noiana Marigo (New York) continues to enhance her strong reputation in the field with some significant commercial and investment arbitrations concerning a range of economic sectors and joins Blackaby and Elliot Friedman (New York) to form a formidable leadership group. Caroline Richard (DC) regularly acts as lead counsel in some significant cases, while Lee Rovinescu  (New York) is experienced in handling examinations of technical witnesses in major hearings. Counsel Natalia Zibibbo and senior associate Hinda Rabkin, both based in New York, and counsel Maria Julia Milesi in DC are other key members of the team.

Energy heavyweight King & Spalding LLP covers the full spectrum of commercial and investment arbitrations out of 18 global offices, with Latin American work contributing a significant chunk of the team’s overall caseload. With specific expertise in energy, construction, and mining, the team has had some notable recent victories against both major corporates and sovereign bodies. The firm has been active in Peru, with 2024 producing some significant victories as well as new mandates for the team. Doak Bishop is recognised as a preeminent lawyer in the field due to his 40 years of experience in both commercial and investment arbitrations.  Harry Burnett, co-head of the Latin America international arbitration practice, is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese and relocated from New York to Miami in 2022. Roberto Aguirre Luzi leads alongside Burnett and Craig Miles and has extensive experience in energy and infrastructure disputes in the region. Miles, who splits his time between Miami and Houston, has secured some significant ICSID awards on behalf of investors against a range of host governments. Recommended lawyer Fernando Rodriguez-Cortina is bilingual and has practised in both the US and Mexico. All lawyers are based in Houston unless otherwise stated.

Following the landmark addition of market leader Jonathan Hamilton in 2024, Paul Hastings LLP has established a preeminent Latin American arbitration practice capable of handling some of the most significant and complex disputes coming out of the region. Hamilton joined the firm, as global co-chair of international arbitration, off the back of 25 years of experience with White & Case LLP where he established his reputation through an impressive body of work which spans multiple jurisdictions and economic sectors. This hire has boosted the firm’s international dispute resolution capabilities, which extend across its Brazil, London, New York and Washington offices, with a strong track record of success in Latin American international commercial arbitrations and investment treaty arbitrations. An example of this is a series of big-ticket disputes related to a toll road concession in Peru on behalf of Rutas de Lima S.A.C. Alongside Hamilton, this case was handled by two additional counsel-level hires from White & Case in Alejandro Martinez de Hoz and Jonathan Ulrich, both of whom have vast arbitration experience, with Martinez de Hoz being qualified in Argentina, Mexico and the US. Of counsel Jaime Crowe adds to the team’s capacity due to his Spanish-speaking capability.

International disputes specialist Three Crowns LLP continues to receive mandates from significant Spanish and Latin American clients, with both sovereigns and multinational corporations calling upon the firm to represent them in investor arbitrations. Due to a strong presence among Spanish-speaking clients, the firm opened a new Madrid office in autumn 2023, headed by Carmen Martinez Lopez, whose expertise spans a variety of industries, including hydrocarbons, electricity, construction, and pharmaceuticals. The new office has resulted in a growing demand from Latin America and has allowed the team to be more responsive to its clients’ needs due to stronger economic and cultural ties. 2024 saw the practice continue to be involved in significant investment treaty arbitrations, such as its representation of the Republic of Chile in an ICSID claim relating to the construction of the Cardones-Polpaico Electricity Transmission line, co-led by Agustin G. Sanz. Beyond investment treaty work, the firm boasts an impressive repertoire of commercial cases in Latin America in significant industries such as aviation and oil and gas. Gaëtan Verhoosel KC, who splits his time between London and Madrid, has been active in representing Sacyr in a treaty claim against the Republic of Panama. Laura França Pereira is a promising, bilingual associate who is qualified to practise in Brazil, New York and Washington DC.

White & Case LLP‘s international arbitration practice has restructured following the departure of long-time practice head Jonathan Hamilton, under a three-pronged leadership group of Abby Cohen Smutny, based in Washington DC, Charles Nairac based in Paris, and Damien Nyer. The team continues to handle complex and significant Latin American disputes across a variety of economic sectors, including aviation, construction, and real estate. Leveraging its broad international network, the firm has conducted a strong volume of work before ICSID, with a notable case against Mexico in the mining sector. Rafael Llano Oddone heads up the Mexican branch of the team and specialises in the energy, construction and infrastructure sectors, regularly serving as lead counsel in both investor and commercial disputes. Silvia Marchili, based in Miami, leads a large portion of the team’s investment arbitrations, such as several cases against Honduras relating to ports and renewable energy projects. The multilingual Ank Santens has acted as lead counsel on various significant ICSID arbitrations, while Estefanía San Juan, based in Miami, brings over a decade of experience in this field. Francisco Jijón is an important team member in Washington DC, and Marièle Coulet-Diaz, based in Mexico City, has recently been promoted to partner. All lawyers operate from New York, unless stated otherwise.

Covington & Burling LLP continues to represent clients in significant investor treaty and commercial arbitrations arising out of a range of key economic sectors in Latin America, including manufacturing, healthcare, biotechnology and oil and gas. A NAFTA arbitration in which the firm represents Vulcan Materials Company in disputes with Mexico has been a notable recent case, where Miguel López Forastier has led a team predominantly operating out of Washington DC. New York-based Nicole Duclos, chair of the firm's Latin America initiative, is trained in both Chile and US and speaks fluent Spanish, enabling her to give detailed and tailored counsel to Latin American clients. Clovis Treviño is an important member of the team, having been promoted to partner in October 2023, and contributing to significant investor arbitration cases. José Arvelo supports the partners in the team from a counsel level, while associate Ricardo Chirinos has successfully represented clients in arbitral proceedings conducted in both English and Spanish. Roy Goldsman and Amanda Tuninetti are other key lawyers. All practitioners are based in Washington DC or New York.

Foley Hoag LLP is well-regarded for its consistent representation of Latin American sovereigns in complex and significant investment arbitrations and state-to-state disputes. The team, whose client list includes Chile, Uruguay and Peru, represents clients in various economic sectors, including oil and gas, energy, construction and infrastructure. The team boasts a diverse bench of lawyers, with more than half fluent in Spanish or Portuguese, alongside specialists trained across multiple Latin American jurisdictions. Kenneth Figueroa chairs the practice and focuses on investor-state and construction arbitrations. In 2024, he led teams representing Honduras in six international arbitrations and was supported by associate Andrés Esteban. Tafadzwa Pasipanodya, despite predominantly focusing on African clients, has assisted Uruguay, El Salvador and Venezuela in arbitration claims relating to the mining sector. Ofilio Mayorga co-leads a team that represents the Dominican Republic and Peru in various arbitrations. Gisela Paris has recently been promoted to the partnership and is an important member of the team. All named individuals are based in Washington DC.

Hogan Lovells US LLP has a history of representing Latin American states and investors in significant and complex arbitrations. The team also has strong capabilities in commercial arbitration proceedings. The multilingual and multicultural team boasts arbitration specialists such as Richard Lorenzo and Daniel González, both based in Miami, who have deep knowledge of the Latin American market. Oliver Armas, New York-based, is head of the wider international arbitration practice group. Counsel Juliana de Valdenebro Garrido in Miami is another key member.

Latham & Watkins regularly acts on the state side of investment disputes arising out of Latin America, successfully representing Colombia in multiple cases. Beyond Latin American sovereigns, the team’s client list also features leading multinational corporations, global private equity companies, financial institutions and central banks. The Latin American team consists of many lawyers who have cultural and linguistic backgrounds in the region. Paris-based Fernando Mantilla-Serrano, co-chair of the firm’s international arbitration practice, is a prominent name in the market with expertise across a variety of sectors, including natural resources, energy and oil and gas. John Pierce provides support from New York, while recently promoted partner Santiago Bejarano represents domestic and multinational corporations in commercial disputes in both Spanish and English. From London, Samuel Pape, fluent in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese, has co-led on some significant victories on behalf of the Republic of Colombia. Associate Nicolas Esguerra has made vital contributions to some of the team’s most significant matters.

Reed Smith LLP‘s multi-qualified team continues to demonstrate strong capabilities in managing complex Latin American investor-state arbitrations in English, Spanish or Portuguese. The team regularly addresses politically sensitive claims, enforces arbitration agreements and provides strategic advice to multinational corporations on disputes with sovereign bodies. The firm leverages intricate sector knowledge to address disputes in the energy and infrastructure industries. Industry legend José Astigarraga leads the team alongside Francisco Rodriguez. Houston-based Francisco Rivero advises clients on large-scale disputes pertaining to commodities, construction, energy and renewables. Gilberto Guerrero-Rocca and Ana Ulseth support Astigarraga and Rodriguez in Miami. Arturo Muñoz Holguin, who advises clients in both Spanish and English, and Colombian qualified Daniel Avila boost a strong team in Houston.

Squire Patton Boggs‘s Latin American arbitration practice has extensive experience in defending states in complex investment arbitrations, as well as multinationals in significant international commercial matters. The team continued to grow in 2024, with the hire of three new associates in Paris, Washington DC and Illinois, respectively. These new additions strengthen a team already deeply connected to Latin America culturally and linguistically, reinforcing the firm’s reputation as a preferred choice for international arbitration clients from countries like Peru. The international arbitration practice is co-led by Miami-based Raúl Mañón and Paris-based Jose Feris, who have both played key roles in high-stakes arbitrations spanning multiple economic sectors. Rodman Bundy, based in Singapore, solely focuses his practice on representing sovereign governments, often in Latin American border and maritime disputes.

Wordstone Dispute Resolution AARPI, set up in January 2024, is a boutique law firm that specialises in international arbitration, operating out of Paris and with a presence in Bogota and London. The firm was created by three former Dechert employees, Eduardo Silva Romero, José Manuel García Represa and Catalina Echeverri Gallego, and has been active on both sides of ICSID disputes as well as commercial arbitration matters, typically representing Latin American states, including Argentina, Ecuador and Colombia. The practice operates across multiple economic sectors, frequently advising clients in energy, oil and gas, and mining, as highlighted by its representation of The Republic of Colombia in a mining port operation investment claim. Silva-Romero, former co-chair of Dechert’s international arbitration practice, has over 25 years of experience acting in investment and commercial arbitrations with a focus on states and state-owned entities. Partner and co-founder Garcia Represa is dual-qualified in New York and Madrid, while Echeverri Gallego and Audrey Caminades, previously associates at Dechert, have taken on partner-level roles here. Ruxandra Irina Esanu stands out at the associate level. Javier Echeverri Díaz left the firm in August 2025.

Baker Botts L.L.P. continues to increase its market presence in the Latin American international arbitration space, following a spree of hires from Sidley Austin LLP in 2023. The team acts for clients involved in both commercial and investor-state disputes. With expertise in construction, mining and infrastructure, the team is notably conducting a significant volume of work for the Republic of Peru, across both investor-state and state-state disputes related to mining and construction agreements. Alejandro Escobar, a partner in the firm’s London office, specialises in international arbitrations and public international law. Qualified in both the UK and Chile and a native speaker, Escobar is capable of leading on high-end international arbitration matters. Highly rated international arbitration practitioner Jennifer Haworth McCandless, based in Washington DC, regularly represents sovereign clients in proceedings before ICSID and in WTO disputes. Special counsel María Carolina Durán and senior associate Ernesto Féliz De Jesús regularly contribute to the team’s Latin American work.

International disputes boutique Chaffetz Lindsey LLP, solely based in New York, maintains a strong presence in the Latin American arbitration market. With some strategic, Latam-focused hires in recent years, the team’s capabilities have been boosted due to a bench that boasts multiple Spanish and Portuguese speakers and attorneys who have qualified in relevant jurisdictions. The hire of Caline Mouawad and promotion of Matilde Flores to counsel are exemplary of the firm’s dedication to building its practice. The team is capable of handling disputes in English, Spanish, French and has native Portuguese speakers who can support its Brazil practice. James Hosking, co-founder of the firm, has 25 years of significant focus on Latin America. Aníbal Sabater is renowned for his expertise in Latin American disputes and is particularly experienced in cases involving energy, construction and financial transactions. Gretta Walters and Agustina Alfaro are important members of the team.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton continues to secure victories in complex commercial and investment treaty arbitrations. The firm boasts a prominent group of lawyers who are proficient in Spanish and Portuguese, allowing them to handle a range of arbitrations. The team is capable of acting as counsel to both investors and states in investment treaty proceedings in matters relating to energy, oil and gas. Ari MacKinnon, co-head of the firm's international arbitration practice, has successfully represented Pluspetrol Peru Corporation and others against a Peruvian buyer of gas in winning an award valued at over $130m in an ICC arbitration. Jeffrey Rosenthal focuses on general commercial arbitrations and has represented both foreign and domestic entities before a range of arbitral bodies. Carmine Boccuzzi has successfully represented the Republic of Argentina in multiple lawsuits across various US jurisdictions, while Katie Gonzalez, who was raised to the partnership in October 2025, has experience counselling both sovereign and private clients. Elisa Zavala is a key associate in the team. All named lawyers are based in New York.

Clifford Chance represents global clients in Latin American-focused disputes from a range of offices across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. The team, which has notably boosted its client base in recent years, is handling a growing volume of investor-state arbitrations as well as commercial post-M&A and construction disputes in the mining, oil and gas and airport sectors. Led by the experienced José García Cueto (Washington DC), the practice frequently represents investors in ICSID arbitrations, with recent opponents including Peru, Mexico, and Honduras. Fernando Irurzun and Ignacio Diaz handle commercial arbitration matters from Madrid. Anthony Candido, based in New York, has extensive experience representing financial institutions and multinational corporations in commercial arbitrations relating to Latin America and is often supported by associate Pablo Mori. Litigation counsel Marie-Isabelle Delleur provides support from São Paulo, with a deep knowledge of the Latin American market and proficiency in Portuguese, Spanish, English and French. Julio Olórtegui has specialist insight into Peruvian legal matters.

Hispanophone specialist law firm Cuatrecasas leverages its strong connections to Latin America to provide comprehensive counsel to clients in both commercial and investor arbitrations. The team has a track record of providing favourable outcomes for multinational clients in the construction, energy and infrastructure sectors. Notably, it has recently represented clients in a series of construction and infrastructure disputes against the Republic of Peru. Cristián Conejero, based in Santiago, has represented Concesionaria Angostura Siguas in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Peru concerning the latter’s breach of the Majes Siguas II Project concession contract. Alfonso Iglesia, who heads up the international arbitration group from Madrid, has acted for multinationals in disputes relating to the implementation of construction projects in various Latin American countries. René Irra, based in Mexico City, is an expert in Mexican law. Manuel Franco focuses his practice on engineering and construction project arbitrations. Alberto Zuleta has recently joined the firm in Bogotá. Domingo Rivarola based in Lima, Lucía Montes and Juan Manuel Rey (Santiago) are other key individuals. All named lawyers are based in Madrid unless otherwise stated.

Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP is renowned for its comprehensive sovereign practice, often representing states and state-owned companies in high-profile investment treaty disputes. The team employs a unique policy of only representing sovereign clients in investor-state disputes, which has positioned it to gain a strong market share in this area. The client list includes Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia. Beyond this type of work, the practice is capable of handling significant commercial arbitrations relating to energy, construction and infrastructure issues. New York-based George Kahale III, head of the international arbitration practice, regularly acts as lead counsel to Venezuela, including in the high-profile ExxonMobil vs Venezuela arbitration. Claudia Frutos-Peterson, managing partner in Washington DC, focuses her practice on advising Latin American sovereigns and is regularly supported by Fernando Tupa, who splits his time between New York and Buenos Aires. Elisa Botero, fluent in Spanish and English, is based in Bogotá, while Ricardo Mier y Teran contributes from Mexico City.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP‘s international arbitration practice regularly advises Latin American clients on each stage of the dispute resolution process, with the capacity to handle complex commercial and investor treaty arbitrations. This is demonstrated through the firm’s successful representation of Crystallex, which had its gold mine expropriated by the Venezuelan government, in the global enforcement of its $1.4bn ICSID Additional Facility arbitration award. Rahim Moloo, practice co-chair, was lead counsel on this case and was supported by Lindsey Schmidt and Jason Myatt. Moloo regularly works with Charline Yim, who has extensive experience representing clients in investment treaty matters. Robert Weigel and Anne Champion are integral parts of the practice.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer‘s team handles complex legal disputes arising out of international commerce and investment in the Latin American region. Christian Leathley, who splits his time between London and New York, leads the Latin American practice and represents clients across various industry sectors with a focus on energy, infrastructure and mining. Christian is fluent in both Spanish and English, allowing him to advocate before tribunals in various jurisdictions. Thierry Tomasi leads a prominent Brazil-focused practice from the firm’s Paris office, where he counsels blue-chip clients with a focus on energy, construction and aviation. Tomasi is capable of conducting arbitral proceedings in Portuguese. Senior associate Daniela Páez is part of a group handling a series of arbitrations arising out of Mexico, while Benjamin Guthrie (also a senior associate) is a Spanish speaker and contributes to arbitrations under ICSID and ICC. Lucila Marchini is another key senior associate. All lawyers are based in New York, unless stated otherwise.

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP continues to handle a large volume of international arbitrations, maintaining its strength in post-M&A disputes and multijurisdictional, Latin American cases. In addition to handling a growing range of commercial disputes arising out of Argentina, Brazil, and Peru, the team has served as lead counsel in investment arbitrations against Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). David Orta, who leads the team, represents both governments and investors in international arbitration matters spanning energy, oil and gas and infrastructure. Daniel Salinas-Serrano has co-led various arbitrations over his career and is a relied-upon member of the team. Dawn Yamane Hewett, who has 15 years of experience handling investment treaty and commercial arbitrations, is fluent in English, Japanese, Spanish and Portuguese. Lucas Loviscek and Julianne Jaquith are also key members of the team. All named lawyers are based either part or full-time in Washington DC.

Sidley Austin LLP represents Latin American clients in both commercial and investor-state arbitration across a wide range of industries, including construction, energy and mining. New York-based Simon Navarro, fluent in both English and Spanish, has become the firm’s point of contact for Latin American arbitrations and is currently counselling clients in disputes arising out of Mexico, Honduras, Colombia and Peru, among others. Tai-Heng Cheng, based in Singapore, leads the firm’s international arbitration practice and has handled proceedings in Latin American jurisdictions such as Chile and Brazil. New York-based Martin Jackson, also fluent in Spanish, has become a useful resource for Latin American clients in US matters, with particular experience in bet-the-company arbitration cases.

Leveraging expertise from New York, Houston, and London, the Vinson & Elkins LLP international arbitration team maintains a strong Latin American presence. Such presence, combined with its leading role in the energy and construction sectors, has positioned it to serve as lead counsel in major Latin American arbitrations. The most notable example is a series of technical construction disputes relating to the Panama Canal expansion project. The arbitrations, which have a cumulative value of around $5bn, are led by Jim Loftis and Nick Henchie. Peter Danysh joins Loftis in Houston, while Henchie is supported by a broad London team. José Sanchez and Camilo Cardozo, who are particularly recognised for their expertise in complex energy infrastructure cases, lead a New York-based arbitration practice with a proven record in commercial disputes across key Latin American jurisdictions. Additionally, the pair have experience handling complex investor-state disputes. Louise Woods, based in London, continues to handle upstream oil and gas disputes across Latin America.

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP has experienced a year of growth after a spree of hires from A&O Shearman in 2024, which has boosted its Latin America arbitration capabilities. Supporting the pre-existing practice head Diego Durán de la Vega, Gaela Gehring Flores joined the team as arbitration co-chair alongside two associates, Brian Vaca and Michael Rodríguez Martínez. Leveraging over 25 years of experience, Gehring Flores has been notably active in representing sovereigns, including Peru and Panama, across a variety of sectors, such as energy and mining. Durán de la Vega focuses on international commercial disputes, with experience in renewable energy, oil and engineering and construction.

Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP has long provided a comprehensive service to clients operating in Latin America, with a strong international arbitration practice at the heart of it. With a deep bench across various US offices, as well as a solid regional presence in São Paulo and Mexico City, the firm is well equipped to handle noteworthy commercial and investment treaty arbitrations. Matthew Kirtland, head of the Washington DC international arbitration practice, represents corporate and individual clients in cross-border litigation. Houston-based Kevin O’Gorman, named global co-head of the firm’s international arbitration team in 2025, has particular experience in energy project disputes, as well as those involving sovereigns. Denton Nichols is also an important contact based in Houston, while senior counsel Courtney Hikawa is based in DC.

The international arbitration practice at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP handles Latin American disputes arising out of a variety of industries, including energy, oil and gas and aerospace, with a notably strong presence in Brazil. The team is led by New York/São Paulo-based Julie Bédard, head of the Americas, who is renowned for handling bet-the-company arbitrations. Bédard is fluent in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish and has represented clients before a variety of bodies, including ICSID. Timothy Nelson, based in New York, has vast experience representing clients in disputes involving contracts, international trusts and corporate law. Jennifer Permesly, a Spanish speaker, focuses much of her practice on Latin American jurisdictions, with significant experience in the construction, mining and energy sectors and claims often involving sovereigns or state-owned entities. Amanda Raymond Kalantirsky in New York stands out at the associate level for her involvement in arbitrations conducted under ICC, ICDR, LCIA and other rules.

UK-based disputes boutique Stewarts Law LLP boasts an international arbitration team with strong connections to regional Latin American law firms, allowing it to provide a seamless service to clients. The practice has expanded considerably since 2022, boosted by Alejandro Garcia's arrival, who leads the investment treaty arbitration sector of the practice and has successfully represented claimants in two high-profile cases against Mexico. The team is currently acting for the Chinese conglomerate Joyvio (owned by investment company Legend Holdings) and its Chilean subsidiaries. Associate Rafaella Salerno and Daniel Wilmot regularly support Garcia on Latin America matters. Sherina Petit is the firm’s global head of international arbitration.

Prominent Ibero-American firm Uría Menéndez boasts a strong arbitration team out of its Madrid office, which leverages support from Lima, Santiago, Lisbon and Barcelona to provide comprehensive services to domestic and international corporates, as well as sovereigns, operating in the Latin American market. The Madrid hub of the practice has a strong bench of experts, including Gabriel Bottini, who often sits as an arbitrator, Álvaro López de Argumedo and Heidi López Castro. Lopez de Argumedo has considerable experience in enforcement matters. López Castro is fluent in Spanish, English and French. José Miguel Fatás is an important part of the Madrid team, while Alexandre Mota Pinto supports from Lisbon. Sebastián Basombrio, based in Lima, and Manuela Cross in Santiago provide critical, region-specific insights from the firm’s sister offices.

LATAM dispute resolution boutique Adell & Merizalde offers a cross-jurisdiction ‘one firm approach’ from its three offices in Bogotá, Santo Domingo, and Panama. The team boasts a client roster of private companies and sovereigns, to which it provides advice on commercial and investment matters. Notably, it served as lead counsel to the Republic of Costa Rica in an ICSID arbitration relating to the expropriation of certain properties stemming from the construction of a large hydroelectric plant. Stephan Adell, based in Santo Domingo, is a dual Bolivian-French national and is experienced in handling energy and construction disputes. Juan Felipe Merizalde in Bogotá has extensive experience acting as both counsel and arbitrator in significant disputes. Both partners dedicate 100% of their time to international arbitration. Associates Francisco Batlle, based in Santo Domingo, and Nicolás Córdoba, based in Bogota, support the practice heads.

Akerman LLP‘s international arbitration practice is particularly focused on Latin America through its Miami office. The firm specialises in commercial arbitration, acting for US and Latin American businesses, private equity investors and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Luis Pérez, chair of the Latin America and Caribbean practice and co-managing partner of the Miami office, has extensive experience in commercial arbitrations related to the region.

B. Cremades & Asociados is a specialist arbitration practice operating exclusively out of Madrid, with a strong focus on Spanish and Latin American disputes. The team is experienced in handling commercial arbitrations in a wide variety of sectors, such as energy, oil, gas and construction, in addition to acting as lead counsel in investor-state disputes against Latin American sovereigns, including Venezuela and Honduras. Founding partner Bernardo Cremades has vast experience acting as both counsel and arbitrator in various Latin American matters. Bernardo M. Cremades Jr., who co-manages the firm, is a multi-qualified (Madrid, New York and the District of Columbia) partner and focuses his practice on both investment treaty and commercial arbitrations. Ángel Tejada and José López Useros are very experienced members of the team, while Patrick T. Byrne continues to grow his practice.

BakerHostetler, among various commercial arbitration matters, has been notably active in representing sovereign nations in investor-state arbitration. The team, split between Houston, New York and Washington DC, consists of attorneys with Spanish and Portuguese language skills and cultural connections to Latin America. Analía González leads the team’s Latin America litigation practice from Washington DC and is the go-to counsel for the Republic of Nicaragua in a series of arbitrations. Carlos Ramos-Mrosovsky is currently representing the Republic of Guatemala in all phases of confirmation proceedings of multiple arbitration awards. Sashe D. Dimitroff is the global head of the firm’s international arbitration practice, while Marco Molina oversees the international commercial arbitration team. Nahila Cortés is an important member of the team.

International arbitration boutique Dechamps International Law represents corporations, individuals, states and state entities in investment treaty and commercial disputes. The firm is currently counselling clients in multiple investment arbitrations, with opponents including Colombia, Uruguay and Venezuela. London-based Jean Paul Dechamps (founding partner) leverages his extensive experience in major arbitration teams of global law firms to provide professional counsel to his clients. Dechamps speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese fluently. Gustavo Topalian, noted for his broad experience in arbitrations relating to the mining, energy and infrastructure sectors, oversees the firm’s Buenos Aires office, while Juan Pomés is the managing partner of the firm’s Montevideo office. Counsel Pablo Jaroslavsky excels in commercial and investment treaty disputes, with a special emphasis on the telecoms, energy and natural resources sectors.

Greenberg Traurig LLP has built a longstanding presence in Latin America, extending its expertise to both investor-state and commercial arbitration, as well as Section 1782 proceedings and enforcement matters. Washington DC-based Daniel Pulecio-Boek brings deep Latin America experience and a strong track record in international arbitration and white-collar crime, complemented by Miami partner Joseph Mamounas, a senior dispute resolution lawyer with significant experience in Latin American commercial arbitrations.

Leveraging its network of global offices, Holland & Knight LLP  has an increasing presence in Latin American arbitration markets. With a bench of lawyers that boast various linguistic and cultural ties to the regions, the team has a growing client list in Colombia and Mexico. In Bogotá, Jose Vicente Zapata and Juan Casallas Romero are key contacts. Zapata has significant experience in critical environmental liability cases and co-chairs the firm’s Venezuela focus team. Luis Rubio Barnetche is a skilled attorney based in the firm’s Mexico City office and has deep insight into dispute resolution proceedings relating to NAFTA. José Antonio Vázquez Cobo has been an important recent addition to the bench in Mexico City. Adolfo Jimenez leads the firm’s international arbitration team and has extensive experience representing clients in arbitrations in both English and Spanish before a variety of arbitration centres. Katharine Menéndez de La Cuesta supports Jimenez in Miami.

Linklaters LLP has developed a strong presence in Latin American disputes, handling matters across multiple jurisdictions in the region. The commercial arbitration team is anchored by Washington DC-based Christian Albanesi, who excels in investor-state arbitrations and construction and infrastructure disputes. London-based Matthew Weiniger brings substantial global standing and regularly spearheads Latin America-focused matters. The senior leadership team is further strengthened by Adam Lurie and Roland Ziadé in Paris.

Winston & Strawn LLP continues to increase its presence in Latin American arbitration markets. The firm demonstrates particular expertise in energy-related disputes, exemplified by its representation of a Canadian mining company in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Panama. This matter adds to a substantial portfolio of work involving Panamanian industries, complementing the team's broader experience across other jurisdictions, including Mexico. Michael Stepek (London), chair of the international arbitration practice, focuses on disputes involving the control of entities and FDI. Chicago-based Ricardo Ugarte, fluent in both Spanish and English, has served as lead counsel on numerous international commercial arbitrations and possesses deep expertise in Panama-related matters. New York-based Marcelo Blackburn also brings Spanish-language capabilities, while Matthew Bate in London contributes to the firm's most significant infrastructure, energy, and mining disputes.