Julio Rivera Rios

Associate

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New York

Tel: +1 212 909 6605

Overview

Julio Rivera Rios is a member of the International Dispute Resolution Group, where he focuses on international commercial and investment arbitration. Mr. ... Read Full Biography

Experience

- 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 largest amount awarded against Peru in any treaty arbitration and the first decision finding Peru liable under the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement.
- Freeport-McMoRan and Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde in an ICSID arbitration brought against the Government of Peru under the United States–Peru Free Trade Agreement, with claims in excess of US$1 billion. The dispute arises out of the Government’s assessment of royalties, taxes, penalties and interest against Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde—one of the world’s most productive copper mines.
- An international construction company in an LCIA arbitration related to the engineering, procurement and construction of a liquefied natural gas plant worth $9 billion.
- A major construction company in an LCIA arbitration proceeding regarding disagreements arising from the construction of a 240MW hydroelectric power plant.
- An Indian conglomerate in an ICC arbitration related to a shareholder dispute arising out of a mining project worth over US$800 million.
- A Mexican State-owned enterprise on potential Chapter 11 NAFTA claims related to the lease of oil production platforms.
- A public Mexican company in restructuring their investment in order to gain access to treaty protections.
- A multinational investment bank in connection with FCPA investigations conducted by Mexican authorities and potential investigation by the DOJ.

Education

Harvard Law School, 2017, LL.M.
Escuela Libre de Derecho, 2014, Law Degree

Languages

Spanish

Julio Rivera Rios is a member of the International Dispute Resolution Group, where he focuses on international commercial and investment arbitration.Mr. Rivera Rios has represented private clients and States across multiple jurisdictions in arbitrations governed by various substantive laws and conducted under the rules of the ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC and LCIA. He has recently represented clients in disputes concerning the impositions of tax measures, breach of mining investment agreements and nonpayment of sovereign debt. Select representations include Freeport-McMoRan in an ICSID arbitration brought against the Government of Peru with claims in excess of US$1 billion; a leading global engineering and project management company in an UNCITRAL arbitration arising out of the construction of a multibillion dollar LNG plant; and Gramercy in an UNCITRAL arbitration against the Government of Peru related to Agrarian Reform Bonds.Mr. Rivera Rios is a member of the International Bar Association’s under-40 arbitration sub-committee. Who’s Who Legal (2022 and 2023) recognized him as a Future Leader in international arbitration and included him in its list of Most Highly Regarded, where he earns praise as a “talented and excellent advocate.” Mr. Rivera Rios’s publications include “Reparation,” Jus Mundi Wiki Notes; “Reclamo de daños bajo el T-MEC” [Claiming damages under the USMCA], with Dietmar W. Prager and Ina C. Popova, Reforma; “Empresas, ejecutivos y leyes anticorrupción” [Companies, executives, and anti-corruption laws], with Daniel Aun, Reforma; and “Aligning Judicial Accountability in Mexico with International Standards,” Harvard International Law Journal.Prior to joining Debevoise in 2018, Mr. Rivera Rios practiced with a litigation boutique in Mexico City, and an international law firm in New York. Mr. Rivera Rios was also a visiting attorney at an international Japanese law firm in Tokyo.Mr. Rivera Rios holds an LL.M. from Harvard Law School, where he was feature editor and writer of the Harvard International Law Journal and the recipient of a full scholarship granted by the Mexican Government in recognition of his professional and academic merits. He graduated summa cum laude from the Escuela Libre de Derecho in Mexico City, where he was feature editor and writer of the Escuela Libre de Derecho Law Review.Mr. Rivera Rios is admitted to practice law in New York and Mexico. He is fluent in English and Spanish.