Michelle Grando > White & Case LLP > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

White & Case LLP‘s giant Latin America team incorporates a leading international arbitration group. The team’s cases span the entire region with a fine presence in both investor-state and commercial arbitration. The department has achieved further prominence in critical minerals disputes, including those involving Chile, Bolivia and Mexico. It has also made considerable headway in ESG-related cases and disputes linked to political disruption, and remains especially active in energy cases. The firm continues to represent a number of large multinationals in cases against Latin American states. Mexico City’s Rafael Liano Oddone is at the forefront of energy, construction, and infrastructure cases arising out of the policy shift in Mexico in recent years, and is further noted for investor-state cases against a range of Latin American countries. Miami and Houston-based Silvia Marchili handles energy, natural resources, and infrastructure cases, making a further impression in critical minerals disputes. Ecuadorian native Francisco Jijón has handled a series of major ICSID and UNCITRAL arbitrations in recent times. New York-based Ank Santens is active in Latin America-related ICSID arbitrations. Miami’s Estefanía San Juan was made partner in January 2023 and Mexico City-based Marièle Coulet-Diaz was promoted to the partnership in January 2024. Brazilian native Michelle Grando impresses at counsel level. However, in a notable departure, long-standing practice head Jonathan Hamilton has left the firm – along with counsels Alejandro Martínez de Hoz and Jonathan Ulrich. Named individuals are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.