Providing ‘world class service’ Reed Smith LLP’s leading international arbitration practice is co-led by specialist Francisco Rivero, who also heads up the firm-wide Latin America group from the Houston office; while Francisco Rodriguez and José Astigarraga (’incomparable’, ‘a brilliant professional with impressive experience’) lead the Latin America arbitration team. Astigarraga was previously head of the global arbitration group (until January 2022), and Rodriguez joined the firm from Akerman LLP in May 2022. (The firm also hired Gilberto Guerrero-Rocca – who has extensive experience in the arbitral matters in the Lat Am region – as a consultant the same month). The group features a large number of Latin America international arbitration experts, many of which are dual-qualified in the US and in a Latin American state. The group is particularly recognised for disputes in the energy and infrastructure sectors, along with construction and engineering, and petrochemicals. It is also noted for investor-state disputes, counts mining is another growth area, and has enjoyed a steady pipeline of high-value commercial cases – especially in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Brazil. Qualified in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, DC and Virginia, foreign legal consultant Felipe Berer has twenty years’ experience and is particularly active with a range of Brazilian clients. Additional experienced practitioners of note include both Edward Mullins and Sandra Millor – the latter an additional May 2022 recruit from Akerman LLP. Counsel Eduardo De la Peña Bernal is ’exceptional’, and ‘has an endless capacity for work’. All named individuals are based in Miami unless stated otherwise. Former partner Cristina Cárdenas left the firm in late-2023.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The Reed Smith practice team provides a world-class service. Their human talent is formidable and they are made up of highly committed people. The costs/hour of their most experienced lawyers are very competitive and lower than other lawyers of the same level in firms of equal standing.’
‘Reed Smith has a group of high-quality attorneys who are highly committed, extremely versatile, and with a superior ability to implement a brilliant litigation strategy. Their experience and prestige is preceded by the great work they do and their expertise in arbitration matters. It is worth highlighting José Astigarraga, who is a brilliant professional with impressive experience, which is evidenced by his efficiency in overcoming procedural challenges and in implementing a correct litigation strategy. His leadership and human quality are recognized. Similarly, Eduardo De la Peña-Bernal is exceptional and has an endless capacity for work. His dedication and focus to work tirelessly until results are achieved is commendable. Both are very well in tune with the legal, cultural and practical reality in Latin America.’