Arnold & Porter’s public international law offering stands out for its strength in advising sovereign states on a range of contentious mandates, particularly investment treaty arbitrations, with a notable focus on arbitrations in Latin America. ICSID arbitration is another significant pillar of work for the group. Practice co-heads Patricio Grané Labat, described as ‘fiercely committed with a razor-sharp intellect’, and David Reed take point on investor-state arbitration and international investment treaty arbitrations, respectively. Also in the core team is Álvaro Nistal, who was elevated to the partnership in January 2025 and is praised by clients for his ’commercial acumen and a tenacious work ethic’; Nistal acts for sovereign states and international organisations on a broad range of contentious PIL matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Arnold & Porter has exceptional success rates when it comes to defending States' interests in ISDS disputes.’
‘Alvaro Nistal is a stellar lawyer with great depth of knowledge and expertise in ISDS and PIL more broadly. He is very responsive and professional, always striving to provide the best defence to his clients. Roberto Lupini is also a rising star in the field.’
‘We highly recommend Patricio Grané Labat and Julia Calderón Carcedo. Both very experienced, smart, streetwise when necessary, and able to think on their feet. Approachable.’
‘Patricio and Alvaro are two partners who are outright stars in the investor-State arbitration field, and deservedly so. They are brilliant lawyers and tacticians and also incredibly easy to work with.'
‘Alvaro Nistal is an up-and-coming superstar in the public international law scene. He has an academic and pure PIL background, combined with commercial acumen and a tenacious work ethic.'
- 'Patricio Grane Labat is a client's dream and an opponent's nightmare - he is fiercely committed with a razor-sharp intellect.'
Work highlights
Represented Peru against a USD 150 million claim brought under the United States-Peru Free Trade Agreement by American metals company, Kaloti, in relation to seizures of gold shipments due to money-laundering and illegal mining concerns.
Representing El Salvador in an arbitration brought by a Guatemalan telecoms company under two different treaties: the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, and the Agreement on Investment and Trade in Services between the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Representing ILGA-Europe in a number of proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights concerning the protections of the LGBTQ+ community.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Álvaro Nistal
Practice head
Patricio Grané Labat; David Reed
Other key lawyers
Álvaro Nistal; Roberto Lupini; Julia Calderón Carcedo