Ina C. Popova

Partner

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New York

Tel: +1 212 909 6754

Overview

Ina C. Popova is a partner in the firm’s International Dispute Resolution Group and Special Situations team, and her practice focuses on international ... Read Full Biography

Experience

Investment Arbitration and Public International Law
- Barrick Gold Corporation and its subsidiaries in a dispute with the Republic of Mali relating to one of the largest gold mining complexes in the world.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Republic of Iraq against claims brought by Orange S.A. in an ICSID arbitration under the France-Iraq BIT arising out of a dispute concerning the telecommunications sector.
- Discovery, Inc. in a dispute against the Republic of Poland arising under the Poland-U.S. bilateral investment treaty.
- An investment manager in acquiring and settling on favorable terms a series of investment arbitration awards.
- 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 publicly listed mining company in socio-environmental matters relating to a mine in Latin America.
- Pueblo Viejo Dominicana, a joint venture between Barrick Gold and Goldcorp, in a dispute with the Dominican Republic regarding the Pueblo Viejo gold, silver and copper mine, which is reported to be the largest foreign investment in the Dominican Republic.
- The UK Government as amicus curiae in litigation relating to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations before U.S. federal and state courts and the United States Supreme Court.
- 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.
Commercial Arbitration and Litigation
- 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 European FinTech company in defending claims of over $60 million arising out of a putative software licensing and services agreement.
- 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 leading steel company in the Americas in a dispute arising from an acquisition and related supply agreements.
- 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.
- 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 European equipment manufacturer in an SCC arbitration arising out of the termination of a supply contract requiring performance in a country subject to trade restrictions, including emergency relief.
- A publicly listed sporting goods company in a dispute arising out of a distribution agreement, winning dismissal of all claims for over €30 million in addition to an award of attorney’s fees.
- 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 major publicly listed mining company in designing an industry-wide alternative dispute resolution protocol for government disputes in Africa.
- An investment firm in evaluating investments in various commercial arbitration awards and litigation against a foreign sovereign.

Education

Harvard Law School, 2007, LL.M.
Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas, 2006, Maîtrise en droit
University of Cambridge, 2006, B.A.

Languages

Bulgarian
French
Italian
Portuguese
Spanish

Ina C. Popova is a partner in the firm’s International Dispute Resolution Group and Special Situations team, and her practice focuses on international arbitration, international litigation and public international law. Ms. Popova is admitted to practice in Paris and New York.Ms. Popova is recognized within the legal community as one of the top international lawyers of her generation. She sits as arbitrator and serves as counsel in a broad range of international matters, and is a former Member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration (2018-2024). Ms. Popova speaks French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Bulgarian.Over the course of her career, Ms. Popova has represented individuals, corporations and states in disputes under the rules of all of the major arbitral institutions, as well as several regional institutions. She advises parties in international litigations involving proceedings in foreign and domestic courts and has represented parties before the federal and state courts in the United States, including the United States Supreme Court. Ms. Popova also advises investment firms and asset managers in evaluating investments in international claims or arbitration awards.Ms. Popova draws praise in the leading industry publications as “one of the most impressive lawyers of her generation,” “a brilliant legal and strategic mind,” “supremely talented,” and “an excellent cross-examiner.” Clients and peers note that she “is a true legal star,” “is a zealous advocate who is very sharp, quick and thorough,” “effectively combines huge intellect with commercial pragmatism,” “brings a world-class degree of academic rigor to legal argument,” “has exceptional persuasion skills in several languages,” “has real intellectual firepower,” is “a very passionate orator,” is “very bright, impressively efficient and extremely well liked in the community,” and that “her demeanor in an arbitration is phenomenal.” According to one client, “there is more talent in her little finger than in some entire law firms.” Another declares that “she has all the arbitration skills a client could wish for.” Ms. Popova is recognized as a “Global Elite Thought Leader” by Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration (2024), a distinction for those regarded as the very best by peers and clients and awarded to the top 2% of practitioners worldwide. In 2023 she was also recognized by Global Arbitration Review (GAR) as one of “45 Under 45” leading practitioners of international arbitration, drawn from a list of nearly 600 candidates worldwide. She has also been named a “Litigator of the Week” by The American Lawyer, an award which recognizes achievements in “the nation’s most complex high-profile cases” which impact “the biggest breakthrough decisions in America’s courtrooms.” Ms. Popova is ranked in Chambers Global, Chambers USA, Chambers Latin America, The Legal 500 US, The Legal 500 Latin America, Benchmark Litigation, and as a “Top 100 Female Lawyer” in Latin America by Latinvex. She has won accolades from the New York Law Journal, Law360, the American Bar Association, and Euromoney.In addition to her work as counsel, Ms. Popova is active in a variety of leadership positions and committees, including as a delegate to the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, a member of the Court of the Casablanca International Mediation and Arbitration Center (CIMAC), Chair of the Corporate Counsel Task Force of the Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center (SVAMC), and a member of the IBA International Commercial Arbitration Case Law Subcommittee. She also served on the ICCA Task Force on Standards of Practice and the IBA Working Group on the UNIDROIT Principles, and has been Co-Chair of the American Society of International Law (ASIL)’s Annual Meeting and Midyear Meeting. She has taught law at the Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) and is a Fellow of the Société de Législation Comparée. She speaks and writes regularly on arbitration-related issues. Ms. Popova also maintains an active pro bono practice. She was recognized by the New York State Bar Association’s “The Good We Do” campaign for her pro bono representation of a family facing eviction, and by Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) as an Attorney of the Year for her work with refugee and immigrant children who were separated from a parent at the U.S.-Mexico border. In addition to graduate degrees from Harvard Law School and from the University of Cambridge, Ms. Popova received her B.A. (Hons.)(Cantab.) with First Class Honours in Law (Double Maîtrise) from the University of Cambridge, Trinity College, and her Maîtrise en droit comparé, mention droits anglais et français with high honors from the Université de Paris II Panthéon-Assas. She is a Senior Scholar of Trinity College and was a Hollond Fund Scholar at Harvard Law School.Ms. Popova is a member of the bar in Paris and in New York and is admitted to appear before the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Ina C. Popova es socio en el Grupo de Resolución de Controversias Internacionales del despacho. Concentra su práctica en arbitraje internacional, litigio internacional, y derecho internacional público. La Sra. Popova ha sido admitida a ejercer en París y Nueva York. La Sra. Popova es reconocida por la comunidad jurídica como uno de los mejores abogados internacionales de su generación. Se desempeña como árbitro y asesora en una amplia variedad de asuntos internacionales y es Miembro de la Corte Internacional de Arbitraje de la CCI desde 2018. La Sra. Popova habla francés, español, italiano, portugués y búlgaro. A lo largo de su carrera, la Sra. Popova ha representado a individuos, empresas y Estados en litigios bajo las normas de todas las principales instituciones arbitrales, así como de varias instituciones regionales. Asesora a las partes en litigios internacionales que implican procedimientos en tribunales extranjeros y nacionales y ha representado a las partes ante los tribunales federales y estatales en los Estados Unidos, incluyendo la Corte Suprema de los Estados Unidos. La Sra. Popova también asesora a empresas de inversión y gestores de activos en la evaluación de inversiones en reclamaciones internacionales o laudos arbitrales.La Sra. Popova recibe elogios en las principales publicaciones del sector como "un talento supremo", "una excelente interrogadora", "una de las abogadas más impresionantes de su generación" y "una mente jurídica y estratégica brillante". Clientes y colegas señalan que "es una abogada muy intelectual y perspicaz, rápida y minuciosa", "combina eficazmente un enorme intelecto con el pragmatismo comercial", "aporta un grado de rigor académico de primera clase a la argumentación jurídica", "tiene una excepcional capacidad de persuasión en varios idiomas", "tiene un verdadero poder intelectual", es "una oradora muy apasionada", es "muy brillante, impresionantemente eficiente y extremadamente apreciada en la comunidad", y que "su comportamiento en un arbitraje es fenomenal". Otra declara que "tiene todas las habilidades de arbitraje que un cliente podría desear". La Sra. Popova ha sido reconocida como "Global Elite Thought Leader" por Who's Who Legal: Arbitration, una distinción para quienes son considerados los mejores por sus colegas y clientes y que se concede al 2% de los mejores profesionales del mundo. En 2023 también fue reconocida por Global Arbitration Review (GAR) como una de las "45 Under 45" profesionales líderes del arbitraje internacional, seleccionada de una lista de casi 600 candidatos de todo el mundo. También ha sido nombrada "Litigator of the Week" por The American Lawyer, un premio que reconoce los logros en "los casos de alto perfil más complejos de la nación" que repercuten en "las decisiones más importantes de los tribunales de Estados Unidos". La Sra. Popova está recomendad en Chambers Global, Chambers USA, Chambers Latina America, The Legal 500 US, The Legal 500 Latin America, Benchmark Litigation, y como "Top 100 Female Lawyer" en América Latina por Latinvex. Ha recibido elogios del New York Law Journal, Law360, la American Bar Association y Euromoney. Además de su trabajo como abogada, la Sra. Popova participa activamente en diversos cargos de liderazgo y comités, también como miembro del Tribunal del Centro Internacional de Mediación y Arbitraje de Casablanca (CIMAC), como Presidente del Grupo de Trabajo del Consejo Corporativo del Centro de Arbitraje y Mediación de Silicon Valley (SVAMC) y como miembro del Subcomité de Jurisprudencia en Arbitraje Comercial Internacional. También ha participado en el Grupo de Trabajo del ICCA sobre Normas de Práctica Profesional y en el Grupo de Trabajo sobre los Principios de UNIDROIT de la International Bar Association (IBA) y ha actuado como Copresidente de la Reunión Anual y de la Reunión de Medio Año de la Sociedad Americana de Derecho Internacional (ASIL). Ha enseñado derecho en el Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) y es miembro de la Société de Législation Comparée. Da conferencias y publica regularmente sobre asuntos relacionados con el arbitraje. La Sra. Popova también consulta pro bono. Fue reconocida por la campaña "The Good We Do" de la Asociación de Abogados del Estado de Nueva York por su representación pro bono de una familia siendo desalojada y por Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) como Abogada del Año por su trabajo con niños refugiados e inmigrantes que fueron separados de un padre en la frontera entre los Estados Unidos y México. Además de títulos de postgrado de Harvard Law School y de la Universidad de Cambridge, la Sra. Popova recibió su B.A. (Hons)(Cantab) con Honores de Primera Clase en Derecho (Double Maitrîse) de la Universidad de Cambridge, Trinity College, y su Maîtrise en droit comparé, mention droits anglais et français, magna cum laude, de la Universidad de París II Panthéon-Assas. La Sra. Popova es miembro de los colegios de abogados de París y de Nueva York y está habilitada a comparecer ante los tribunales federales de los distritos sur y este de Nueva York (United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York).Ina C. Popova est associée du cabinet et travaille au sein du Groupe de Résolution des Litiges Internationaux et de l’équipe chargée des Situations Spéciales et sa pratique intervient principalement dans des procédures d’arbitrage international, de contentieux international ainsi que dans des affaires de droit international public. Mme Popova est inscrite aux Barreaux de Paris et de New York.Mme Popova est considérée au sein de la communauté juridique comme l’un des meilleurs avocats internationaux de sa génération. Elle siège comme arbitre et intervient comme conseil dans un grand nombre d’affaires internationales, et est membre de la Cour Internationale d'Arbitrage de la Chambre de Commerce Internationale (ICC) depuis 2018. Mme Popova parle couramment le français, l’espagnol, l’italien, le portugais et le bulgare.Au cours de sa carrière, Mme Popova a représenté des personnes, des sociétés et des États dans le cadre de procédures d’arbitrage sous les auspices des principales institutions arbitrales et de plusieurs institutions régionales. Elle conseille des parties dans le cadre de contentieux internationaux impliquant des procédures judiciaires devant des tribunaux étrangers et nationaux et a représenté des parties devant des tribunaux fédéraux et d’État aux États-Unis, y compris devant la Cour suprême des États-Unis. Mme Popova conseille également des sociétés d’investissement et des gestionnaires d’actifs sur l’évaluation d’investissements dans des réclamations ou des sentences arbitrales internationales.Les publications les plus prestigieuses de l’industrie font l’éloge de Mme Popova, qui y est décrite comme extrêmement talentueuse”, “une excellente contre-interrogatrice”, “une des avocates les plus impressionnante de sa génération” ayant un “esprit juridique et stratégique brillant”. Ses clients et ses pairs la décrivent comme “une véritable star du droit”. “une avocate zélée, très vive d’esprit, rapide et rigoureuse” qui “combine un énorme intellect avec un pragmatisme commercial”, “apporte une rigueur académique de classe mondiale à l’argumentation juridique”, “a des capacités de persuasion dans plusieurs langues”, “une réelle puissance de feu intellectuelle”, est “une oratrice passionnée”, “très brillante, remarquablement efficace et extrêmement appréciée au sein de la communauté” et remarquent que “son comportement dans un arbitrage est phénoménal”. Selon un client, “il y a plus de talent dans son petit doigt que dans certains cabinets d'avocats entiers”. Un autre déclare qu’elle “a toutes les compétences en arbitrage qu’un client pourrait souhaiter”.Mme Popova est reconnue comme “Global Elite Thought Leader” par Who’s Who Legal : Arbitrage, une distinction pour ceux considérés comme les meilleurs par leurs paires et leurs clients et renommés dans le top 2% des praticiens dans le monde. En 2023 elle était également reconnue par Global Arbitration Review (GAR) comme l’une des “45 Under 45” des praticiens de premier plan en arbitrage international, sélectionnée sur une liste de près de 600 candidats venus du monde entier. Elle a également été nommée “Litigator of the Week” par The American Lawyer, une récompense qui reconnaît des accomplissements dans les “cas les plus complexes et prestigieux de la nation” qui ont un impact sur “les plus grandes décisions innovantes dans les salles d'audience américaines”. Mme Popova est recommandée par Chambers Global, Chambers USA, Chambers Latin America, The Legal 500 US, The Legal 500 Latin America, Benchmark Litigation et en tant que “Top 100 Female Lawyer” en Amérique latine par Latinvex. Elle a été récompensée par le New York Law Journal, Law360, the American Bar Association, et Euromoney.En plus de son travail en tant que conseil, Mme Popova est active dans différents hauts postes et comités, notamment à la Cour du Centre international de médiation et d’arbitrage de Casablanca (CIMAC), comme Présidente de la cellule de conseil du Centre d’arbitrage et de médiation de la Silicon Valley (SVAMC), et comme membre de l’IBA International Commercial Arbitration Case Law Subcommittee. Elle a également siégé dans le Task Force sur les standards de pratique de l’ICCA et le Working Group du IBA sur les Principes UNIDROIT, et a été Co-Présidente de la réunion annuelle et semestrielle de la Société américaine de droit international (ASIL), Elle a enseigné le droit à l'Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) et elle est membre de la Société de Législation Comparée. Elle donne régulièrement des conférences et publie des articles sur différents enjeux relatifs à l’arbitrage.Mme Popova maintient également une pratique active de pro bono Elle a été mentionnée et saluée dans le cadre de la campagne “The Good We Do” organisée par l’Association du Barreau de l’État de New York, en raison de la qualité de son travail de bénévole au service d’une famille visée par un arrêté d’expulsion et par Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) en raison de ses travaux avec des enfants réfugiés et immigrés qui ont été séparés d’un parent à la frontière entre les Etats Unis et le Mexique. En plus de ses diplômes d’études supérieures de la Harvard Law School et de l’Université de Cambridge, Mme Popova est diplômée de l’Université de Cambridge, Trinity College (B.A. (Hons) (Double Maîtrise)) avec first class honours (mention très bien). Elle est aussi titulaire d’une maîtrise en droit comparé, mention droits anglais et français, de l'Université de Paris II Panthéon-Assas. Elle est Senior Scholar au Trinity College, et lauréate de la bourse Hollond Fund de la Harvard Law School.Mme Popova est membre des Barreaux de Paris et de New York, et est habilitée à comparaître devant les cours fédérales pour les Districts Sud et Est de New York.