James Loftis > Vinson & Elkins RLLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Vinson & Elkins LLP’s group is widely acknowledged for its ability to bring together ‘expertise in international arbitration and upstream oil and gas contracts’. Indeed, the team utilizes the wider firm’s dominant oil and gas practice to specialize in energy-related disputes, where it acts for both energy companies and sovereign states in commercial and investor-state cases. The group also garners a significant volume of construction and project-related work. From bases in Houston and Dubai, James Loftis steers the international dispute resolution department and focuses on energy, construction and infrastructure disputes. Key names in New York include Camilo Cardozo, who serves as head of international disputes for the Americas, and José Sanchez.

Vinson & Elkins LLP has longstanding connections to Latin America through its Houston office. It has a history of working on upstream oil-and-gas transactions and projects in Mexico, which has broadened out into a region-wide practice that covers LNG, transport infrastructure and digital infrastructure, among other areas. The Houston office is a growing force in Latin America-focused international arbitration, notably with the elevation of key figure Peter Danysh to the partnership in January 2024. Counsel Timothy Tyler is another senior name with a background in Latin America disputes. Both frequently work alongside international arbitration colleagues in New York and London, with Danysh being part of the team that represented Panama Canal Authority in a series of ICC arbitrations against Grupo Unidos por el Canal, a consortium of European and Panamanian companies hired to design and build the third set of locks as part of the Panama Canal expansion project. James Loftis is global head of international disputes and also has a background in Latin America-related international arbitration. Alan Alexander is a partner in the energy transactions and projects team, with a notable background in Latin America oil and gas, power, clean energy and renewables deals.