Mr Paolo Di Rosa > Arnold & Porter > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

Arnold & Porter’s premier sovereign state offering is reflected in its arbitration practice, where it is a popular choice to represent sovereign clients as respondents in investor-state disputes. The team’s strength in this sphere is evidenced by an impressive winning streak that has seen it secure 45 consecutive positive results in final awards or decisions for sovereign states in investment arbitrations. It also continues to make strides on the commercial arbitration front, with growing expertise in technology and life sciences proceedings. Among its recent commercial cases, San Francisco-based global department co-chair Maria Chedid acted alongside the firm’s Shanghai office to represent POSCO Energy in an ICC arbitration, seated in Singapore, initiated by FuelCell Energy. Washington DC-based Paolo Di Rosa co-heads the global international arbitration group and is a go-to specialist in representing states in complex investment treaty arbitrations. Di Rosa recently successfully defended South Korea against a $4.7bn claim in an ICSID arbitration. Other key contacts include New York’s Mélida Hodgson, who handles investor-state and commercial arbitration cases, and DC-based Whitney Debevoise, whose arbitration practice has a significant financial dimension.

Arnold & Porter fields a multi-disciplinary team handling matters on behalf of sovereign states and companies involving foreign parties including personal jurisdiction of US courts and claims regarding ATS, ATA and FSIA statutes. The firm also has specific experience defending companies receiving federal funds in False Claims Act investigations and subsequent litigation. The firm’s anti-corruption team features prominently, defending clients in government investigations and enforcement under the FCPA and other anti-bribery regulations across different jurisdictions. Experienced arbitrators, Mélida Hodgson, based in New York, and Thomas Kruse, in Houston are key contributors to the firm’s established international arbitration capacity. New York’s Marcus Asner concentrates his practice on investigations, often relating to the FCPA, obtaining a declination from the DOJ on behalf of Samsung Heavy Industries in this area. Soo-Mi Rhee, based across Washington DC and Seoul, shares this concentration, focusing on criminal and regulatory investigations, often regarding the FCPA, and anti-corruption, compliance, export controls and sanctions. Co-chair of the practice Paolo Di Rosa, based in Washington DC, focuses on representing sovereign states as well as private companies, particularly relating to Latin America. Also in DC is co-chair Kenneth Chernof. James Herschlein and Maria Chedid also co-chair the practice, based in New York and San Francisco respectively, with Chedid a specialist in international arbitration.

Undoubtedly the “go-to” firm for State-side representations in the wake of an peerless track record of 48 (out of 49) positive outcomes, Arnold & Porter counts some 14 Latin American states among its clients; this perhaps unfairly overshadows its fine credentials as regards representing Latin American corporates in ICC arbitrations. The firm’s sizeable arbitral group houses practitioners with government experience, who are members of ICSID’s panel of arbitrators and/or have the linguistic and bicultural expertise to allow the team to conduct proceedings in Spanish. 30-year arbitral veteran Paolo Di Rosa founded the firm’s international arbitration practice (which he subsequently led for 15 years) and has an exceptional record of success as a counsel; fully bilingual (Spanish/English) he has represented a dozen Latin American states in public international law matters and/or international litigation and arbitration. London partner Patricio Grané Labat is another deeply experienced figure in investor-state arbitration, including cases under the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), but also handles international commercial arbitration, public international law, and international trade matters. A January 2022 lateral hire, New York partner Mélida Hodgson impresses in both international commercial cases and investor-state arbitrations (particularly on behalf of Venezuela); she has a notable focus on the infrastructure construction, mining, transportation and energy sectors. The experienced and versatile Whitney Debevoise provides further senior level gravitas and Latin America experience in the arbitral sphere. Emerging talent Mallory Silberman has represented the governments of Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Panama, Peru and Venezuela, as well as representing investors in investor-State disputes against Argentina. Trilingual (English, French & Spanish) counsel Álvaro Nistal is also highly active in Latin America as part of his broader, global practice.