Edward Schorr > Baker Botts L.L.P. > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

Baker Botts L.L.P. has a rich background in Latin America international arbitration. With a strong background in public international law cases, the firm has also built out a thriving commercial arbitration practice. The firm is noted for its ongoing representation of a sovereign state in Latin America as well as a number of state-owned enterprises. It has also built a foreign investor client base, along with further oil and gas businesses in Brazil. Much of the practice centres on oil and gas, power, electricity generation and renewables, along with some political risk matters for US property developers. Alejandro Escobar leads the firm’s public international law practice from London, where he has a lengthy track record in sovereign cases. Houston’s Edward Schorr is also noted for cases related to Brazil, while New York partner Andrew Behrman provides further senior firepower. London senior associate Ernesto Féliz De Jesús is a public international law specialist with a focus on Latin America. The practice was further strengthened with the hires of former Sidley Austin LLP international arbitration partner Jennifer Haworth McCandless and managing associate, María Carolina Durán (as special counsel) to the firm’s Washington DC office in August 2023.

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.