Ms María Carolina Durán > Baker Botts L.L.P. > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

Primarily recognized for its strength in energy—primarily oil and gas—disputes, Baker Botts L.L.P.’s international arbitration group additionally shines in IP, construction, joint venture and general contractual cases. The firm’s continued investment in diversifying its practice was recently evidenced by the hire of two lawyers into its Washington DC office: seasoned investor-state specialist Jennifer Haworth McCandless and special counsel María Carolina Durán both joined from Sidley Austin LLP. The national department includes key names such as Houston-based senior counsel Michael Goldberg, who is a disputes veteran, and New York-based global practice co-head Andrew Behrman, who plays a lead role in many of the department’s most high-profile cases. Also recommended are New York-based special counsel Edward Schorr, who is sought after for energy disputes; and energy and TMT-focused Vern Cassin, whose practice is split between New York and Washington DC.

Baker Botts L.L.P. cemented its position in the international arbitration field by hiring Jennifer Haworth McCandless and special counsel María Carolina Durán, ‘two of the best lawyers in the field‘, along with a broader Washington DC-based team from Sidley Austin LLP in 2023. Featuring a number of native and fluent Spanish speakers, the new group brings further credibility – particularly as regards investor-state arbitration; current mandates include the ongoing representation of the Republic of Peru in a series of ICSID and other arbitrations; the team has also acted for a number of other Latin American states. Beyond sovereign governments, the firm represents a range of investors and Latin American corporates. The practice continues to be recognised for energy and infrastructure disputes, with further growth in technology, mining, ESG and energy transition cases. The wider Latin America-focused department is largely spread across  the firm’s Washington DC, New York and London offices, the latter housing key partner Alejandro Escobar (‘an outstanding lawyer who works to the highest standards‘) is located. London senior associate Ernesto Féliz De Jesús (‘critical thinking and assertiveness in understanding aspects of technical complexity‘) specialises in Latin America cases, including public international law matters, and commercial and construction arbitration.