Ms Catherine Amirfar > Debevoise & Plimpton LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP‘s litigation practice has extensive knowledge in various areas of litigation, with expertise in white-collar matters and regulatory defense, along with commercial litigation and international arbitration. Intellectual property is another mainstay of the practice that has a presence across the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Andrew Ceresney is the head of the team, frequently representing public companies, financial institutions, asset management firms, and accounting firms, bringing experience from his time with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Mary Beth Hogan co-chairs the practice, with a focus on intricate investigations. Also of note is Catherine Amirfar, working on public international law and treaty arbitration, representing clients in federal and state courts, as well as before the ICJ and arbitration tribunals internationally. The experience of Andrew Levine  with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and David O’Neil with FCPA defense and congressional investigations, adds to the capabilities of the team. Bruce Yannett chairs the white-collar and regulatory defense part of the practice, with Ina C. Popova highly active in international litigation and arbitration. All members of the team are based in New York.

Widely considered to rank among the leading arbitration groups worldwide, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s US offering is a key contender for major, headline-grabbing cases across the globe. Equally adept at commercial and investor-state work, the New York-based team is routinely involved in landmark matters—across a comprehensive range of industries—on behalf of both corporate and state clients. Department co-chair Catherine Amirfar brings to bear extensive experience in high-stakes, public international law disputes and successfully represented Italian investors in ICSID proceedings against Albania arising out of the claimants’ investments in a hydroelectric plant and a media company. Fellow co-head Mark W. Friedman additionally co-leads the mining and natural resources practice; he paired up with increasingly prominent arbitration specialist Ina Popova to represent Gramercy Funds Management in a complete win on jurisdiction and merits in an UNCITRAL arbitration against the government of Peru under the US-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA). Other experienced names include Latin America practice co-head Dietmar Prager, who ‘stands out for his decisiveness and sharp intellect’; and Natalie Reid, who co-chairs both the public international law group and the Caribbean practice group. Talented up-and-coming names include next-generation partner Laura Sinisterra. David Rivkin has retired. Floriane Lavaud has left the firm.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP ‘has one of the strongest arbitration teams in the market‘, covering a broad range of investment and commercial disputes involving multiple jurisdictions across Latin America. It has represented clients in some of the largest cases of recent years, securing significant wins involving large awards. The firm is noted for its experience representing investors in high-value cases against Latin American states; it has acted for clients in series of headline cases against the Government of Peru in particular. The practice also has an outstanding record in commercial arbitrations. Clients praise the group’s team work and collaboration, its abilities in the Spanish language, and its expertise in common and civil law. The global international arbitration practice is co-led by Catherine Amirfar and New York and London-based Mark Friedman, the latter having an outstanding record in Latin America investor-state and commercial disputes. Dietmar Prager  is co-head of the Latin America practice group and has represented clients in some of the largest cases involving the region, including recently acting for Freeport-McMoRan and its affiliate Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde in an ICSID arbitration against the Government of Peru. Colombian national and native Spanish speaker Laura Sinisterra is a recently elected partner, having been promoted in 2022, and is dedicated to the Latin America market, including major cases in the mining, financial services and energy sectors. Ina Popova splits her time between New York and Paris, and has a primary focus on international arbitration and public international law cases in Latin America. London partners Samantha Rowe and Patrick Taylor are also active in Latin America cases. Julio Rivera Ríos is an experienced associate and is admitted to practice in both Mexico City and New York. The international arbitration team has a number of other well-regarded associates that are dedicated to the Latin America region. Named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.