Newmans Row

International Arbitrator and Mediator

Multi-lingual International Arbitrator and Mediator

Miguel is a leading international arbitrator specialising in commercial and investment arbitration, with extensive experience in handling domestic and international disputes involving a wide range of subjects, industries and jurisdictions, both civil and common law. He is a permanent member of the commercial law section of the Spanish Law Commission and co-author of a Kluwer publication on the European insolvency regulation and the relevant law and practice.

He was a partner in the Spanish law firm Uría Menéndez until 2020 before establishing Virgós Arbitration to serve as an independent arbitrator. For the last 33 years, he has also been a professor at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. As a multilingual arbitrator he accepts appointments across Europe, Latin American, Middle East, Asia-Pacific and the USA he is familiar with Latin American business practices and legal cultures, having participated in arbitrations involving Argentine, Cuban, Guatemalan, Mexican, Panamanian, Peruvian and Venezuelan law and parties from across the Americas.

Miguel has acted as counsel or arbitrator in high-profile domestic and international arbitrations under the auspices of the major arbitral institutions, including the ICC, ICSID, LCIA, PCA, SIAC or Swiss Chambers, as well as in ad hoc arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Rules. His experience includes arbitrations with seat in Geneva, Havana, London, New York, Madrid, Mexico City, Miami, Paris, Singapore, Washington D.C. and Zurich. Most recently appointed by the Claimants in Arguello v Republic of Honduras (ICSID Case No. ARB/23/17).

Miguel has a strong comparative law background, having studied law in Spain, Italy and the USA and is familiar with Latin American business practices and legal cultures, having participated in arbitrations involving Argentine, Cuban, Guatemalan, Mexican, Panamanian, Peruvian and Venezuelan law and parties from across the Americas. Globally recognised by leading directors for energy and arbitration.

As an expert, he has represented the Kingdom of Spain in the negotiation of international treaties and European legislation. He is on the European Union (EU) list of individuals qualified to be eligible for appointment as arbitratos for trade and investment agreements with third countries.

Miguel is also a Professor of Private International Law at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and a permanent member of the Commercial Law Section of the Spanish Law Commission (Comisión General de Codificación) and co-author of The European Insolvency Regulation: Law and Practice published by Kluwer.

Virgós studied law at the University of Oviedo in Spain and undertook a PhD at the University of Bologna in Italy and LLM at Columbia University in New York, meaning he has a strong comparative law background.

Speaks fluent Spanish, Italian and English and reads French, German and Portuguese proficiently

American Arbitration Association (AAA), Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), International Chamber of Commerce International Court of Arbitration (ICC), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), Asociación Latinoamericana de Arbitraje (ALARB), Asociación de Profesores de Derecho Internacional y Relaciones Internacionales (AEPDIRI), Association Suisse de l’Arbitrage (ASA), Club Español e Iberoamericano del Arbitraje (CEIA, International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), International Law Association (ILA)