WilmerHale

International Arbitration; Latin America; Litigation

Special Counsel

Claudio Salas represents clients in diverse industries in international commercial and investment treaty arbitrations conducted in venues throughout the world under a variety of arbitral rules, including those of the ICC, LCIA, ICDR, ICSID and UNCITRAL. He also represents clients in international litigation in US federal district and appellate courts, and in FCPA and other government investigations. A native Spanish speaker, he frequently handles matters originating in Latin America.

Past Experience

In Latin America, Mr. Salas’s matters have included representing a paper company in an ICC arbitration arising out of a failed M&A transaction in Brazil, representing a Brazilian shareholder in a multi-billion dollar, multi-jurisdictional dispute, representing an oil gas company in an arbitration against an Argentine state-owned company, representing a major airline in connection with an FCPA investigation, advising a leading financial institution regarding potential treaty claims and defenses against enforcement of a foreign judgment in US courts, representing a multinational Bank in FINRA arbitrations in Puerto Rico, and representing a leading pharmaceutical company in an UNCITRAL investment treaty arbitration concerning denial of justice. Outside of Latin America, Mr. Salas’s experience includes representing multinational energy companies in price review disputes, representing a major technology company in an IP arbitration, and representing a major chemical company in a trade secret arbitration.

Prior to joining WilmerHale, Mr. Salas was a member of the team that represented Occidental Petroleum in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Ecuador, which resulted in a $1.77 billion award for Occidental (then the largest award in ICSID history). Other past matters include sovereign debt litigation in the SDNY and Second Circuit Court of Appeals concerning an investment fund's $700 million judgment enforcement action against the government of Argentina, and a representation in connection with the Case Concerning Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) in the International Court of Justice.

Pro Bono

Mr. Salas represents pro bono clients in a variety of matters, including immigration and housing. Prior to joining WilmerHale, Mr. Salas completed a six-month secondment with the Brooklyn District Attorney's office.

Professional Activities

Mr. Salas is a member of the International Bar Association (IBA) and the New York City Bar Association (NYCBA) and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIARB). He also teaches international arbitration at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Memberships: International Bar Association

Bar Admissions: New York

Yale Law School, J.D. (2004)

University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, M.A. (1998)

Middlebury College, B.A. (1995)