René Irra > Cuatrecasas > Mexico City, Mexico > Lawyer Profile
Cuatrecasas Offices
AV. PASEO DE LA REFORMA 483, PISO 50
COL. CUAUHTÉMOC, ALCALDÍA CUAUHTÉMOC
06500 CIUDAD DE MÉXICO
Mexico
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René Irra
Position
Partner
Career
René Irra is an expert in court proceedings and international arbitrations carried out under institutional and ad hoc rules, acting as lawyer, arbitrator and expert in Mexican law in proceedings outside of Mexico. His expertise also covers sectors such as M&A, foreign investment, international trade, investor-state dispute settlement, energy (electricity, oil and gas), construction and infrastructures, real estate, logistics, transport, port activities, health, sports, and leisure and entertainment.
He is deputy chair of the Mexican Society of Construction Law.
Previously, he was regional coordinator for Latin America in the International Chamber of Commerce’s Young Arbitrators Forum (ICC YAF) and chair of the ICC’s Young Arbitrators Committee in Mexico.
He is a guest lecturer of foreign investment and investment arbitration at Université Panthéon-Assas Paris II, in the dual degree master with Universidad de Monterrey. He regularly gives seminars as part of the Diploma in Business Arbitration, the Diploma in Letters of Credit and Financing and the Diploma in International Business, organized by the International Chamber of Commerce of Mexico.
He lectured on arbitration and international law in the postgraduate course in law at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
He has written articles on arbitration and international trade published in Costa Rica, El Salvador, France, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, and Spain.
He regularly participates as a panelist at international arbitration conferences.
Lawyer Rankings
Mexico > Dispute resolution: litigation
(Firms to watch)René Irra heads the practice at Cuatrecasas‘ Mexican office, which maintains a solid level of litigious activity – particularly in the construction, infrastructure and energy sectors.
Mexico > Dispute resolution: arbitration
The Mexican office of Spanish full-service player Cuatrecasas is increasingly recognised among market onlookers for its activity in the arbitration segment in Mexico thanks to a small, but sturdy international arbitration practice that is backed by the firm’s wider presence in the region. The group led by René Irra is especially active in arbitrations related to the energy and infrastructure sectors, representing both domestic and international clients. Senior associate Miguel Ángel Ortiz, whose arbitration experience has been nurtured by his previous positions as director general for contentious matters at the National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH), and at PEMEX, where he was head of legal for arbitral matters, is also noted. Since publication, Ortiz has been raised to the partnership – effective as of April 2023.
Latin America: International firms > International arbitration
The Cuatrecasas Latin America international arbitration practice has benefitted from the Iberian firm’s investment in its Latin America network, with new office openings in Colombia and Chile in 2020 adding to the firm’s existing presence in Mexico and Peru. The practice handles commercial and investment arbitrations and has focused primarily on disputes in the infrastructure and energy sectors, which account for the bulk of the the portfolio. Peru has been a particularly busy jurisdiction, with the team advising on various Peruvian construction and transport disputes. Santiago-based Cristián Conejero
, a specialist in international arbitration, litigation and alternative dispute resolution, co-leads the practice with Madrid-based Alfonso Iglesia, a 25-year veteran of both local and international arbitration. Fellow specialist Alberto Fortún (also in Madrid), and Mexican law expert René Irra in Mexico City are additional key names. Lima-based partner Domingo Rivarola, who specialises in commercial dispute resolution; and Madrid-based Manuel Franco, who was raised to the partnership in April 2021, round out the senior team, which was further strengthened with the hire of partner Alberto Zuleta from Holland & Knight in November 2021.