Squire Patton Boggs is regularly entrusted by state entities to assist with major investment disputes (particularly ISCID ones). The Paris-based team, which often combines forces with the firm’s US and other international offices, is a popular choice for Latin American states for large construction, mining and oil and gas investment disputes. The team also handles strategic cases pertaining to Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, dealing with oil and gas investments notably, but also extending to construction, real estate, media and manufacturing investment issues. Additionally, the team also handles some commercial arbitration work and also acts for companies. The Paris team is headed by Carole Sportes and includes the highly regarded José Ricardo Feris and John Adam, Sabrina AïnouzJérôme Lehucher and Rostislav Pekař (who divides his time between Prague and Paris).

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Great team members capacity and case strategy.’
  • ‘José Ricardo Feris: great communication skills, team leader, great work organization skills and strategic thinker. John Adam: ability to overcome every obstacle with extraordinary strategy, determination and intelligence. A real team leader.’
  • ‘The team is staffed with some of the most experienced practitioners in the field. They have an impressive track record.’
  • ‘José Ricardo Ferris and John Adam have extensive experience which allows them to prioritize only the most important aspects of any dispute they work on. They highly value their client's time and money. ’
  • ‘José Ricardo Feris and John Adam’s tandem is a strong core of the Paris team, serving Latin America, Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East investment and commercial cases. The best of their generation based in Paris. ’
  • ‘José Ricardo Feris and John Adam work in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French, with areas of expertise in construction, post M&A and energy. They provide the highest quality of work and are sensitive to clients' costs concerns.’

Key clients

  • Republic of Peru
  • Federal Republic of Nigeria
  • Republic of Costa Rica
  • Republic of Ecuador
  • Turkmenistan
  • Republic of Croatia
  • Slovak Republic
  • Romania
  • Rand Investments, Inc
  • Government of Panamá
  • Republic of Latvia
  • Dominican Republic

Work highlights

  • Obtained a total victory for Costa Rica in an ICSID arbitration brought by a Spanish investor in the food industry.
  • Representing the Republic of Peru in a series of three arbitrations relating to the construction of line 2 of the Lima metro, with claims totaling around $2bn.
  • Representing Panama in the Cobre Panama mine dispute.

Lawyers

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Leading partners
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Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Carole Sportes

Other key lawyers

José Ricardo Feris, John Adam, Sabrina Aïnouz, Jérôme Lehucher, Rostislav Pekar