Mr Alejandro A. Escobar > Baker Botts (UK) LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Baker Botts L.L.P. cemented its position in the international arbitration field by hiring Jennifer Haworth McCandless and special counsel María Carolina Durán, ‘two of the best lawyers in the field‘, along with a broader Washington DC-based team from Sidley Austin LLP in 2023. Featuring a number of native and fluent Spanish speakers, the new group brings further credibility – particularly as regards investor-state arbitration; current mandates include the ongoing representation of the Republic of Peru in a series of ICSID and other arbitrations; the team has also acted for a number of other Latin American states. Beyond sovereign governments, the firm represents a range of investors and Latin American corporates. The practice continues to be recognised for energy and infrastructure disputes, with further growth in technology, mining, ESG and energy transition cases. The wider Latin America-focused department is largely spread across  the firm’s Washington DC, New York and London offices, the latter housing key partner Alejandro Escobar (‘an outstanding lawyer who works to the highest standards‘) is located. London senior associate Ernesto Féliz De Jesús (‘critical thinking and assertiveness in understanding aspects of technical complexity‘) specialises in Latin America cases, including public international law matters, and commercial and construction arbitration.

Baker Botts (UK) LLP‘s ‘strong and well-integrated’ London team regularly acts in high-stakes investor-state disputes involving the telecoms, energy, mining and construction sectors; and it is particularly active in relation to the Middle East and Latin America. Johannes Koepp specialises in commercial and investor-state arbitrations; Alejandro Escobar represents governments, businesses and public entities in disputes over projects, concessions, investment contracts and investment protection treaties; and Dorine Farah is ‘a superb advocate’. The practice further comprises recently-promoted international disputes expert David Turner; and Latin American disputes practitioner Ernesto Féliz De Jesús, who ‘has extensive knowledge of international law’.

Acting under the rules of all the major arbitral institutions, Baker Botts (UK) LLP‘s ‘international arbitration team in London provides fantastic advice and support’. The team has notable strength in matters concerning the UK, US, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. It also houses sector experts in energy, natural resources, construction, finance, technology, and defence. Johannes Koepp specialises in international arbitration, both commercial and investor-state. The ‘exceptional’ Alejandro Escobar is an expert in public international law and arbitration, and Dorine Farah‘s caseload includes investment-treaty arbitrations. Promoted to partner in March 2024, David Turner is an experienced international disputes practitioner.