INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION

raditionally, Latin American countries embraced policies favoring the resolution of disputes through litigation in national courts rather than arbitration. The growth of international business transactions has changed that. Today, arbitration is spreading rapidly as a means of dispute resolution in the region.

INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION EXPERIENCE

ARBITRATION - EXPERIENCE Our team is fully familiar with international arbitration. We have experience in arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Interamerican Commercial Arbitration Commission (IACAC), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

LEADERS IN THE FIELD Our lawyers are leaders in the practice of arbitration. José Astigarraga was one of the eight Americans first appointed by the U.S. Government to advise the NAFTA Commission on the resolution of private international commercial disputes. In the course of the ongoing negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas, the Organization of American States asked him to speak to the government negotiators about international arbitration and dispute resolution. He serves on the London Court of International Arbitration. The UK-based Chambers USA Guide to America's Leading Business Lawyers reported that his peers view him "as the [United States'] leading Spanish-speaking [international] arbitration practitioner." Similarly, Ed Davis has chaired The Florida Bar's International Arbitration and Litigation Committee.

DRAFTING COUNSEL Having litigated problems caused by poorly drafted clauses, our lawyers counsel clients on the drafting of suitable arbitration clauses for their business transactions. We have lectured extensively to corporate counsel groups on drafting and strategy considerations with respect to arbitral clauses.

EXPERIENCE AS ARBITRATORS When serving as counsel in arbitration, we bring to the table our perspective as arbitrators as well as advocates. For example, José Astigarraga has served as chair, co-arbitrator or sole arbitrator in international disputes. That understanding of the arbitral process "from the inside" is useful when presenting a case as an advocate. José is a trained arbitrator who is on the rosters of multiple arbitral institutions, including the American Arbitration Association panel for international disputes, the Commercial Arbitration and Mediation Center of the Americas, the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and the Centro de Arbitraje de México.

ARBITRATION LITIGATION - EXPERIENCE Arbitration often spawns litigation. At times, litigation is necessary to compel arbitration. At other times, a party will sue in court seeking to circumvent the arbitral agreement. An award, too, can generate litigation such as a suit to vacate the award. Our lawyers have litigated all such cases.