Biography
I have over 35 years of dispute resolution experience having held global leadership positions in leading firms from four major jurisdictions; UK, US (Illinois and Texas) and Spain. I have handled hundreds of cases as counsel, arbitrator, adjudicator, mediator, conciliator and expert determiner in more than 70 jurisdictions with a combined total in dispute of over US$ 10 billion.
I am a solicitor-advocate with full rights of audience before all civil courts in England & Wales, a CEDR accredited commercial and Investor-State mediator, a Civil Mediation Council Fellow, a former ICSID conciliator appointed by the President of the World Bank Group (2018-2024) and a panel member of a number of leading invitation-only arbitration and mediation panels, including the European Union and the United Nations.
I have conducted and advised on over 100 international commercial and investment arbitrations under all the major international arbitration rules before the leading international arbitration institutions as well as “pure” ad hoc and UNCITRAL arbitration. I have also conducted and advised on over 50 mediations and other alternative dispute resolution processes.
As counsel I have represented sovereign governments, multi-national corporations and high net worth individuals in often high value and complex cases involving commercial contracts – sale of goods & services, franchising, licensing & distribuition agreements, partnerships and shareholders in a number of sectors and industries, including banking and finance; commodities; construction and engineering; energy & natural resources (oil & gas, renewables, power generation and mining); food and beverage and hospitality; information, communication and technology (“ICT”); insurance; professional services; transportation (automobile, aviation and shipping) and travel.
I have written extensively and I present regularly on international arbitration and ADR at major international conferences, symposia and seminars and prominent universities around the world. I am the founding Contributing Editor of “Global Legal Insights to International Arbitration”, Global Legal Group, which is now in its 11th edition covering 67 jurisdictions.
I have been actively involved in arbitral and mediation institutions and prestigious international arbitration and ADR associations and committees. I am a past Co-Chair of the IBA Mediation Committee.
I am a native English speaker, fluent in Spanish with a good working knowledge of French and a basic understanding of Portuguese.