Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP is renowned for its comprehensive sovereign practice, often representing states and state-owned companies in high-profile investment treaty disputes. The team employs a unique policy of only representing sovereign clients in investor-state disputes, which has positioned it to gain a strong market share in this area. The client list includes Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia. Beyond this type of work, the practice is capable of handling significant commercial arbitrations relating to energy, construction and infrastructure issues. New York-based George Kahale III, head of the international arbitration practice, regularly acts as lead counsel to Venezuela, including in the high-profile ExxonMobil vs Venezuela arbitration. Claudia Frutos-Peterson, managing partner in Washington DC, focuses her practice on advising Latin American sovereigns and is regularly supported by Fernando Tupa, who splits his time between New York and Buenos Aires. Elisa Botero, fluent in Spanish and English, is based in Bogotá, while Ricardo Mier y Teran contributes from Mexico City.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘I would like to recognise Claudia Frutos-Peterson and Fernando Tupa for their outstanding work in the negotiations of an ICSID award settlement. Their strategic approach, technical expertise, and skill in handling complex disputes distinguish them. Their combination of rigour and pragmatism positions them among the most effective teams in international arbitration.’
‘What distinguishes the firm's lawyers is their combination of technical rigour, strategic vision, and practical approach to resolving complex disputes. They stand out from their competitors due to their ability to balance high-level legal analysis with effective, results-oriented solutions, ensuring a tailored approach to each case.
'Their outstanding qualities include tactical agility, analytical depth, and negotiation excellence. Claudia Frutos-Peterson, in particular, stands out for her leadership and expertise in international arbitration, combining legal precision with a remarkable ability to structure solid agreements.'
‘What I can say about Curtis, especially Claudia Frutos and the rest of her team, is that they are highly professional in every sense. They have a sense of urgency and a response capacity that is admirable. Additionally, their recommendations are very direct but well-founded, which allows the client to make their decision-making process much simpler and faster.’
Key clients
- Dominican Republic
- Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
- Republic of Ecuador
- Republic of Colombia
- Argentine Republic
- State of Kuwait
- Republic of Cyprus
Work highlights
Represented Dominican Republic in Michael Anthony Lee-Chin v. The Dominican Republic (UNCITRAL treaty-based arbitration administered by ICSID).
Represented Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; in ConocoPhillips Petrozuata B.V., et al v. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (ICSID Case No. ARB/07/30).
Represented the Republic of Ecuador in an international commercial arbitration brought by a Singaporean company under the arbitration clause of an oil services contract with the Ministry of Petroleum.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
George Kahale III
Other key lawyers
Claudia Frutos-Peterson; Fernando Tupa; Elisa Botero; Ricardo Mier y Teran