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

The ‘dream team‘ at King & Spalding LLP can turn its hand to complex arbitrations in any industry sector, with its deep bench and extensive national–and international–network positioning it as a dominant player in large-scale investment cases. It particularly stands out for its pioneering experience in the energy and natural resources spheres, with one oil and gas major highlighting it as ‘simply the best international arbitration practice in the market‘. Demonstrating its commitment to further growth in 2022, the department hired highly regarded commercial and investment arbitration specialist Samaa Haridi, who joined in New York from Hogan Lovells US LLP. Additionally, the firm’s launch of a Miami office saw several geographical relocations within the arbitration group as key partners moved to tap the Latin America market from the new Florida platform. Houston-based department co-head Doak Bishop is widely regarded as an authority in disputes involving the construction, environmental, foreign investment, and energy and natural resources, areas. Fellow co-head Edward Kehoe, based in New York, is also a leading light. Kehoe and Bishop recently teamed up with Craig Miles, who splits his practice between Miami and Houston, and Houston-based Wade Coriell, to represent Chevron in an investment treaty arbitration against the Republic of Ecuador, arising out of a $9.5bn Ecuadorian court judgment against Chevron for alleged environmental harm. The group also includes senior specialists Harry Burnett, who recently moved to Miami to support his thriving Latin America practice, and Chicago-based Javier Rubinstein. In Atlanta, Elizabeth Silbert is a talented next-generation partner. Viren Mascarenhas recently left the firm.

King & Spalding LLP is a global leader in international arbitration with its Latin America-focused teams primarily located in the key strategic centres of New York, Miami and Houston – the practice having outgrown its original hydrocarbons focus in the latter office. The group has an outstanding record in investment and commercial arbitration, along with arbitration-related litigation before the courts. It has represented clients in some of the biggest, longest running and highest profile cases to involve parties from Latin America. This includes its ongoing pre-eminence in energy sector cases. Clients include some of the largest multinationals and investors with interests in Latin America, and the practice continues to represent Chevron in the long-running investment treaty arbitration against the Republic of Ecuador (seated in the Hague), concerning alleged environmental harm caused by historical oilfield operations. Made up of ‘world-class lawyers’, the practice group includes Argentine-born Roberto Aguirre Luzi, who has an exclusive focus Latin America disputes and co-heads the Latin America international arbitration group. Houston and Miami-based Craig Miles and senior arbitration specialist Doak Bishop, who are also both widely acclaimed for their Latin America arbitration expertise; as is Wade Coriell, who divides his time between Houston and Singapore and was recently appointed as the new global head of international arbitration. The immensely experienced Harry Burnett relocated to the firm’s new Miami office in mid-2022; a trilingual practitioner (English, Spanish & Portuguese), he is a ‘true Latin  American specialist’ and widely recognised as a leader in Latin America-related mandates. New York’s Edward Kehoe is another key practitioner, along with newly promoted partner Fernando Rodriguez-Cortina and Chicago-based Javier Rubinstein. New York and Washington DC-based Érica Franzetti and New York’s Samaa Haridi (‘an extremely hard-working and sharp lawyer’) also impress. All named individuals are based in Houston unless stated otherwise.

King & Spalding LLP has a substantial Latin America-focused team in Houston, with a primary emphasis on international arbitration, investigations and project development. It also continues to advise on large-scale offshore oil and gas projects and remains at the forefront of Latin America LNG projects through David Lang. The firm is increasingly relevant with regard to renewables’ matters and is leading the field in hydrogen projects. Scott Greer provides further construction and project development expertise. Brandt Liebe is a key figure in white collar crime and government investigations involving Latin America, including matters in the healthcare industry. In international arbitration, the firm is awash with senior talent in Houston; it is the only leading firm in international arbitration to have started the practice in Houston. The arbitration team includes Argentina native Roberto Aguirre Luzi, who is 100% focused on Latin America disputes and co-heads the Latin America international arbitration group.  Senior arbitration specialists Craig Miles and Doak Bishop also have a strong record in Latin America, as does new global head of international arbitration Wade Coriell, who divides his time between Houston and Singapore.