Doak Bishop > King & Spalding LLP > Houston, United States > Lawyer Profile

A ‘market-leading international arbitration practice’, King & Spalding LLP impresses sources with its strong capability in both investor-state and commercial cases. Arguably best known for its dominant position in energy and natural resources disputes, it also demonstrates adept handling of matters in the manufacturing, construction, transport and telecoms spheres, among others. New York managing partner Edward Kehoe and Houston-based Doak Bishop are widely considered references in the market and they continue to represent Chevron in a high-profile investment treaty arbitration against the Republic of Ecuador, seated in The Hague, arising out of a $9.5bn Ecuadorian court judgment against Chevron for alleged environmental harm caused by historical oilfield operations. Houston-based Wade Coriell and Atlanta-based Elizabeth Silbert—who were recently appointed global head and deputy head of international arbitration respectively—are also co-leading the Chevron file. Other senior names include New York-based Samaa Haridi, who is an experienced counsel and arbitrator; Harry Burnett, who sits in Miami and focuses on Latin America-related work; Craig Miles, who splits his time between Houston and Miami and specializes in energy and infrastructure disputes; and Chicago’s Javier Rubinstein, who offers experience in English and Spanish-domiciled work. Aloysius Llamzon, based in Washington DC, is a key up-and-coming name.

King & Spalding LLP has a tremendous international arbitration heritage and it has continued to develop its emphasis on Latin America, landing many of the big engagements that are connected to the region. As part of this concerted focus, the firm has expanded its nascent office in Miami and grown its contingent of Spanish and Portuguese speakers, including practitioners from Argentina, Brazil and Peru, among other jurisdictions. The practice remains noted for its expertise in investor-state cases, especially in the mining, energy and infrastructure sectors; and has acted in numerous cases involving Mexico, Peru, Chile, Venezuela and other key economies, including leading a high proportion of investor-state cases against Peru in recent years. The group has also developed a strong record in M&A-related disputes, particularly in Brazil, and is experiencing particular growth in commercial arbitration. Among its heralded group of international arbitration specialists, Doak Bishop is a pre-eminent practitioner, with more than 40 years’ experience, including headline and bulge-bracket cases in Latin America such as Chevron’s landmark investment treaty arbitration against the Republic of Ecuador. Miami based Harry Burnett is co-head of the Latin America arbitration practice and is similarly highly reputed in investment treaty and commercial arbitrations. Roberto Aguirre Luzi also co-heads the team and remains at the forefront of energy and infrastructure disputes. Craig Miles is the final co-head of the group; he divides his time between Houston and Miami and has an outstanding record in bilateral investment treaty (BIT) disputes in the oil and gas, mining and infrastructure sectors. Fernando Rodriguez-Cortina is a Mexican national with experience of cases across the region, including Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. All named individuals are based in Houston unless stated otherwise.

King & Spalding LLP‘s commitment to Latin America has grown enormously in recent years and is evident in the number of Houston-based practitioners that have a focus on the region. From construction and project development to white-collar crime and investigations, and international arbitration, Latin America is very much central to the Houston office’s practice. Indeed, the firm’s Latin America international arbitration work stands far ahead of all competitors in Houston, operating at the forefront of commercial and investment treaty arbitration; the team features a number of Latin American natives and senior practitioners who are fluent in Spanish and/or Portuguese. Partners Doak Bishop, who is co-head of the international arbitration practice group, along with Roberto Aguirre Luzi and Craig Miles, the co-heads of Latin America international arbitration, are all seasoned practitioners that have specialised in the region for years; Miles now splits his time between Houston and the firm’s nascent Miami office. Fernando Rodriguez-Cortina is an emerging talent in international arbitration, especially in Mexico cases, and has also been active on other recent matters involving Colombia, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Scott Greer leads the global construction and energy transactional practice; he has an established record in Latin America matters, especially in oil and gas, LNG, petrochemicals, power and mining. David Lang is another key figure in LNG projects, while Brandt Liebe provides further senior expertise in white-collar defence, investigations and compliance matters.