Experience

• Clean Tech | Renewable Energy

• • A Japanese manufacturer and seller of semiconductor devices in an ICC arbitration seated in New York and governed by Japanese law concerning a contract to supply liquid crystal displays.
  • Perenco Ecuador in securing an ICSID award against the Republic of Ecuador worth over $390 million plus interest, net of cost recovery and other factors, which is the largest compensation any tribunal has awarded in connection with Ecuador’s Law 42. Ecuador has committed to pay the Award voluntarily, unconditionally and in full.
  • A leading Russian manufacturer of steel pipes to restrain foreign court proceedings threatened in breach of a London-seated arbitration agreement.
  • A satellite capacity provider in LCIA arbitration proceedings and domestic court proceedings brought by another satellite company.
  • A leading infrastructure and engineering contractor in a dispute under a Construction Management Agreement related to a mixed-use development project in a Caspian state.
  • Qatar Airways as claimant in four investment arbitrations against the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt (the “Four States”) seeking at least $5 billion in damages from the Four States’ unlawful measures to close their airspace and airports to Qatar Airways’ aircraft and revoking Qatar Airways’ licences and permits to operate in the Four States.
  • A U.S. investment firm in analyzing an investment in a portfolio of international arbitration claims involving sovereigns.
  • An investment firm in evaluating investments in various commercial arbitration awards and litigation against a foreign sovereign.
  • A leading global engineering and project management company in an UNCITRAL arbitration arising out of the construction of a multibillion dollar LNG plant.
  • A U.S. investor in an oil & gas project, including a refinery, oil fields, and licenses, in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Peru.
  • Claimant MAKAE Europe SARL in a billion-dollar claim against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • Freeport-McMoRan and Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde in an ICSID arbitration against Peru under the U.S.–Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, with claims of approximately $1 billion. The dispute arises out of the Government’s imposition of royalties, taxes, and penalties and interest against its affiliate, which operates one of the world’s most productive copper mines.
  • The Republic of Iraq in successfully defending ICSID claims brought by Itisaluna Iraq LLC and others under the OIC Agreement arising out of a dispute concerning the telecommunications sector. In the jurisdictional stage, we contended that the Parties to the dispute had not consented in writing to submit the dispute to ICSID arbitration. The tribunal dismissed all claims for lack of jurisdiction and awarded close to two-thirds of costs to the Republic.
  • A U.S. energy company and its Central American subsidiary in disputes related to construction of a wind farm in Central America.
  • The Republic of Iraq in a complete dismissal of claims for over $650 million brought by Agility Warehousing Company relating to a telecommunications investment, substantially prevailing on jurisdictional objections and achieving a complete victory for the Republic on the merits with a full award of costs, in the first ICSID arbitration brought against the Republic. For this win, the Debevoise team was recognized as Litigators of the Week by The American Lawyer.
  • A leading investment management firm in potential acquisition and enforcement of claims and an arbitration award against an African nation.
  • A leading steel company in the Americas in a dispute arising from an acquisition and related supply agreements.
  • A Brazilian bank in an ICC arbitration arising out of warranties and indemnities given under a share purchase agreement governed by English law.
  • A leading engineering, construction, and project management company in a potential investment treaty claim in the Middle East.
  • A multinational professional services firm in a Belgian-seated commercial arbitration arising out of a post-M&A dispute.
  • A Japanese pharmaceutical company in winning an ICC arbitration against a U.S.-based pharmaceutical company involving a co-development, licensing and supply agreement.
  • An international oil company regarding a boundary dispute with an African state.
  • Albaniabeg Ambient and Costruzioni in ICSID proceedings against Albania arising out of claimants’ investments in a waste management and renewable energy production plant.
  • Italian shareholders in an ICSID claim against Albania concerning the indirect expropriation, through regulatory and tax measures, of the television company Agonset.
  • Nova Group Investments in an ICSID claim against the Romanian Government under the Netherlands-Romania BIT relating to the expropriation of its Romanian assets.
  • A Japanese conglomerate in a potential investment treaty claim against a South-East Asian State relating to the construction of sugar refineries.
  • General Electric in resolving disputes with multiple customers whose contracts involving sanctioned countries were cancelled when GE acquired a subsidiary. Some of the disputes led to arbitration or domestic litigation, and many others were resolved amicably.
  • A leading telecommunications and digital media company in an LCIA arbitration of a contractual dispute arising out of the purchase of assets in multiple jurisdictions, winning a complete victory on indemnification claims of over €139 million, defeating counterclaims of over €84 million, and obtaining a substantial costs award.
  • A U.S. commodities trading company in an LCIA arbitration and a related litigation in the Dubai International Financial Center Court.
  • A group of investment funds, defeating a request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction (and later obtaining complete dismissal of the underlying action) that, if granted, would have restricted our clients’ ability to transfer their investment in a Central Asian oil and gas venture.
  • GlaxoSmithKline in multiple arbitrations arising from joint development agreements, other joint venture agreements, licensing agreements, and other contracts.
  • Overseas Private Investment Corporation in many different political risk insurance coverage arbitrations.
  • Phillip Morris International in disputes arising from intellectual property licensing agreements, in arbitrations arising from distribution contracts and with respect to the enforcement of foreign judgments in the United States.
  • The International Court of Arbitration® of the International Chamber of Commerce as amicus curiae in support of Chevron Corporation’s opposition to the confirmation of an Egyptian arbitral award before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
  • A Cypriot company in a complex commercial arbitration in Stockholm under the SCC Rules, engaging contractual and fiduciary claims under German, Cypriot and Swedish law.
  • A Chinese EPC contractor in an ICC arbitration concerning the construction of a coal-fired power generation facility in Central America, with more than $1 billion at stake.
  • An Asian solar cell manufacturer in a dispute under the LCIA Rules involving claims for breach of contract and under the CISG for over $200 million, leading to a successful settlement.
  • A Swiss company in ad hoc arbitration proceedings relating to payments for a commodities transaction, winning complete dismissal of claims.
  • Investors in a Mexican business in a shareholder dispute involving contractual and fiduciary duty claims under Texas and Mexican law.
  • A major U.S. financial services company in an ICC arbitration seated in Hong Kong, in a dispute worth over $500 million concerning a significant corporate transaction.
  • Defending a hedge fund manager in AAA/ICDR arbitration, in which claimants sought damages related to the operation of a joint venture formed to market hedge funds in Asia. The representation ended in a favorable settlement for our client.
  • An African state defending against damages claims asserted by an Asian investor under an investment treaty.
  • An oil and gas company in its successful protection of its ownership interest in a Latin American oil and gas joint venture.
  • A private equity fund in its successful assertion of put rights to exit a Far Eastern telecommunications company following breaches of its rights under a shareholders’ agreement.
  • A European manufacturer in allegations by a U.S. supplier that its products were defective.
  • A European bank in an ICSID case against the Government of Greece related to Greece’s sovereign bond restructuring.
  • Gramercy Funds Management and Gramercy Peru Holdings in winning a $100 million award in an UNCITRAL arbitration against the Republic of Peru relating to Peru’s agrarian reform bonds, which is the first decision finding Peru liable under the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement and at the time was the largest amount awarded against Peru in any treaty arbitration.
  • Advice on a potential LCIA claim for breach of contract and misrepresentation in relation to a shareholder agreement between two Argentinian entities.
  • An international pharmaceutical company in an ICC emergency arbitration concerning supply obligations.
  • A subsidiary of GOL Airlines in U.S. litigation to enforce a Brazilian arbitral award in a dispute arising from an acquisition.
  • A major infrastructure and engineering company in an ICC arbitration relating to the construction of a fertilizer plant in the USA.
  • A Peruvian power company in a dispute arising out of defects in the generators installed in a new dual-fuel power plant.
  • A South American power company in a dispute arising out of delays and defects in the construction of a hydroelectric power plant in Peru.
  • The Government of Grenada in an ICSID arbitration arising out of reforms to the electricity sector.
  • Bulyanhulu Gold Mine Limited and Pangea Minerals Limited, subsidiaries of Acacia Mining plc, in an arbitration against the United Republic of Tanzania under the UNCITRAL Rules.
  • A European FinTech company in defending claims of over $60 million arising out of a putative software licensing and services agreement.
  • An international oil and gas company in litigation in the Southern District of New York to recognize and enforce an ICSID arbitration award that was rendered in 2012 against a Latin American country.
  • A European durable products manufacturer in alleged patent infringement and breaches of its supply obligations under a supply agreement with two U.S. companies.
  • A multinational EPC power plant contractor consortium relating to responsibility for a collapsing hillside in an Asian project.
  • A Russian natural resources company in asserting claims against a defaulting purchaser.
  • A European media company asserting claims against local business partners who had sold interests in an Eastern European company in violation of shareholder agreements.
  • A European media company defending against claims that it wrongfully terminated a sales contract with a vendor.
  • A U.S. telecommunications company in winning an AAA arbitration against a European telecommunications company relating to an undersea cable in Latin America.
  • Francesco Becchetti and five other Italian investors in ICSID proceedings against Albania arising out of claimants’ investments in a hydroelectric plant and a media company, winning a historic order of provisional measures suspending criminal and extradition proceedings, and resulting in a favorable award.
  • The State of Qatar and Qatari entities and individuals in international claims arising out of the measures imposed by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt against Qatar, including in proceedings before the International Court of Justice against the United Arab Emirates, investment arbitrations and claims in other international tribunals.
  • A consortium of international EPC contractors in pre-arbitral proceedings over a delay and disruption to construction of an airport in the Middle East.
  • An engineering and commissioning contractor in a multibillion dollar ICC arbitration seated in Singapore concerning the disputed termination of an EPC subcontract to build and commission a combined-cycle power plant at an Australian LNG facility.
  • NLMK in its successful defence in the English High Court against an application to enforce a Russian arbitral award that had been set aside by the Russian courts.
  • A U.S.-based natural resources company in an ICC arbitration against an African State-owned entity relating to the sale of shares in a holding company with significant assets in an African country.
  • Helios Investment Partners and its investment vehicle Samba Luxco Sarl in the settlement of claims made in an ICC Arbitration regarding Samba's stake in Africatel BV. The settlement involved reducing Samba’s stake in Africatel BV from 25% to 14%, and the transfer from Africatel BV to Samba of a 34% stake in Mobile Telecommunications Limited, the Namibian telecoms operator.
  • The Republic of Korea in ICSID arbitration filed by IPICI and Hanocal.
  • Human Dignity Trust in a joint intervention on behalf of the Human Dignity Trust, International Committee of Jurists and Commonwealth Lawyers Association, which saw a law in Belize that disproportionately affects gay men ruled unconstitutional. London co-managing partner Lord Goldsmith KC also acted as lead advocate before the Supreme Court of Belize in the course of the proceedings.
  • BTL Employees' Trust, a shareholder in Belize Telemedia Limited, concerning the re-nationalisation without compensation of BTL, and the amendment of the Belize Constitution to enshrine the nationalisations and to curtail the courts’ power to protect fundamental rights, including the right to property.
  • Occidental Petroleum Company and Occidental Exploration and Production Company (“Occidental”) in an ICSID arbitration, winning one of the largest ever BIT awards, $1.1 billion ($1.4 billion including interest). The filing of the claim was made two days after Ecuador terminated all of Occidental’s exploration and production rights and seized all of its assets in the country. Ecuador and Occidental have arranged for payment of this award.
  • Mobile TeleSystems in its investor-state arbitration against Uzbekistan brought under the Additional Facility of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), including successfully defending an Article 45(6) application.
  • Occidental Exploration and Petroleum Company against the Republic of Ecuador in an ad hoc arbitration brought under the provisions of the U.S. - Ecuador Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) using UNCITRAL Rules, involving a dispute over Ecuador's refusal to refund value-added tax (VAT) paid by Occidental on its Ecuadorian investments. The Tribunal issued a unanimous decision awarding Occidental approximately $130 million. The award has been fully paid.
  • A major automotive corporation as claimant in consolidated ICC London arbitration proceedings against Volkswagen in respect of a dispute involving a multibillion euro cross-shareholding and arising out of a commercial alliance formalised in December 2009.
  • Norilsk Nickel and Interros International Investments in a dispute with United Company Rusal, including LCIA arbitration proceedings and related court litigation in the United States, England, Russia, Switzerland, St. Kitts & Nevis and The Netherlands.
  • Tethyan Copper Company, a joint venture of Antofagasta Minerals and Barrick Gold, in its US$6 billion arbitration win against the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which is the second-largest ICSID award ever rendered.
  • Perenco in claiming more than $1 billion in damages in an ICSID arbitration for an illegal expropriation by Ecuador and in defending against environmental counterclaims by Ecuador.
  • ExxonMobil and Murphy Oil in a NAFTA claim against the Government of Canada arising from requirements imposed by the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Tribunal handed down its Decision on Liability and on Principles of Quantum ruling in favor of our clients that Newfoundland’s regulations violated NAFTA.
  • A major London-based mining company and its African subsidiary, one of the largest mining and metals companies in Africa, in four parallel LCIA arbitrations relating to a $500 million dispute with a major contractor over short delivery and other alleged breaches of a contract for mining services at an open cast copper mine in Southern Africa.
  • British Caribbean Bank Ltd, in successfully defending anti-arbitration injunction proceedings brought by the Government of Belize to avoid arbitration under a BIT in the courts of Belize and the Caribbean Court of Justice (before which Debevoise is believed to have been the first non-Caribbean firm to argue a case).
  • An Asian government in an inter-state treaty dispute in an ad hoc international arbitration under the auspices of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
  • Ust-Kamenogorsk Hydropower Plant, a subsidiary of Samruk Energy, as advocates to the appellant in the UK Supreme Court on a landmark arbitration appeal to determine whether the English Court has jurisdiction to grant an anti-suit injunction in circumstances where no arbitration is intended or in prospect.
  • The Attorney-General of St. Kitts and Nevis in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (St. Kitts and Nevis) and Court of Appeal in constitutional proceedings brought against the Government by Members of Parliament seeking to carry a motion of no confidence in the Government.
  • NML Capital Limited in a request by Argentina to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for provisional measures against Ghana arising from the arrest in Ghana of an Argentine frigate on NML’s application.
  • Petrolera Ameriven (a joint venture owned by PdVSA of Venezuela, Phillips Conoco and Chevron Texaco) in five ICC arbitrations involving a petrochemical “upgrader” facility in Venezuela, with over $900 million at stake.
  • Hyundai Heavy Industries in an ICC arbitration involving disputes between the shareholders of Hyundai Oilbank Ltd. (HDO), South Korea’s fourth largest oil refining and marketing company, winning the largest ICC award issued at the time and Global Arbitration Review’s "Arbitration Win of the Year" (2010).
  • A Hong Kong-based oil and gas exploration company in a dispute arising out of a Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) to develop and explore an Indonesian oil and gas block. The matter was resolved before commencement of ICC arbitration provided for in the JOA.
  • Two investment funds in a series of disputes relating to an investment in a restructured Brazilian consumer products business. The representation included victory in an ICC arbitration seated in Saõ Paulo and coordination of litigation proceedings in Brazil and elsewhere.
  • A tire manufacturing company in winning an ICDR arbitration involving a $20 million dispute over a contract to provide tires for a mining equipment manufacturer.
  • A large Russian investment company in its defence of an LCIA arbitration claim brought by a Russian individual, relating to a corporate dispute with respect to a manufacturing group.
  • An aluminum manufacturer in an ICC arbitration claim for breach of an alleged alumina sale and purchase contract.
  • Holcim and its subsidiaries, Holderfin B.V. and Caricement B.V., against Venezuela in proceedings before ICSID under the Switzerland-Venezuela BIT and the Netherlands-Venezuela BIT, asserting claims that Venezuela’s nationalization of Holcim Venezuela constituted unlawful expropriation and discrimination. After Holcim filed its statement of claim, the parties agreed on a settlement providing for compensation of $650 million.
  • A consumer products company in an ad hoc arbitration in Paris involving a dispute between joint venture partners about the existence of an obligation to contribute individually acquired products to the joint venture for marketing.
  • Oy Metsä-Botnia in its $1.3 billion greenfield investment in the Orion pulp mill project in Uruguay and the Case Concerning Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) in the International Court of Justice, which concerns that project. Argentina commenced proceedings against Uruguay in the ICJ pursuant to a bilateral treaty concerning the River Uruguay, which forms a shared border between the two countries, claiming that Uruguay had violated the treaty by allowing construction of the mill.
  • Korea Asset Management Corporation, an organ of the Korean government, in a derivative action originally brought in New York state court. After removing the case to the Southern District of New York, Debevoise successfully moved for dismissal under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). The plaintiff thereafter appealed to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals where oral argument took place in June 2006. In July 2006, the Court affirmed the lower court's FSIA dismissal by summary order.
  • Verizon Communications and its subsidiary in the sale of shares in Compañía Anónima Nacional Teléfonos de Venezuela (“CANTV”), the largest telephone company in Venezuela, to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela after the Government announced that it intended to assume control of CANTV.
  • EM Limited in obtaining payment in full of an $849 million judgment against the Republic of Argentina arising from Argentina’s default on its sovereign debt, recognized as the 2016 Global Dispute of the Year by The American Lawyer.
  • Autopista Concesionada de Venezuela, C.A. (“Aucoven”) in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Venezuela, where the tribunal issued a final award finding liability and damages against Venezuela involving claims arising from the breach of a concession agreement for a toll road in Venezuela.
  • A series of court actions on behalf of General Electric Company (GE) against Deutz AG for breach of contract arising from an agreement to design and develop a new generation of locomotive engines. GE filed a complaint in the Western District of Pennsylvania alleging over $80 million in damages from Deutz's breach of certain financial obligations. Debevoise's representation involved a series of favorable decisions obtained in four different fora, applying the law of four different legal systems, including a unanimous jury verdict in the District Court, reversal of an ex parte injunction obtained by Deutz from the High Court of Justice in London, a unanimous final award following a two-day ICC arbitration in London and an affirmance by the Third Circuit of the District Court's jurisdictional and new trial rulings.
  • A German accounting firm in a fraud action in New York State Court alleging negligent misrepresentation and RICO violations relating to its audit of another German company. We were able to win complete dismissal, on the grounds of forum non conveniens.
  • The lead claimant in Reineccius, First Eagle, and Mathieu v. Bank for International Settlements, in which a five-member tribunal constituted under the 1930 Hague Agreement awarded private shareholders some US$500 million.