Paul Hastings LLP made a marquee hire in the Latin America international arbitration field in 2024 with the incorporation of of pre-eminent figure, Jonathan Hamilton (‘a global leader and true pioneer in the field of international arbitration’), and a select team from White & Case LLP. An acknowledged ‘thought-leader’ in the arbitral field, Hamilton arrives at the firm as global co-chair of the international arbitration team and brings decades of experience in Latin America cases – especially big ticket investment and commercial arbitrations; this includes acting for Rutas de Lima (majority shareholder Brookfield Infrastructure) in a $2bn+ commercial arbitration under UNCITRAL rules relating to a toll toad concession against the Municipality of Lima. The new team brings extensive expertise in large-scale infrastructure disputes, investor-state cases and arbitrations linked to mega energy projects. Of counsel Jonathan Ulrich also brings high-level expertise in arbitration-associated enforcement litigation, while fellow of counsel Jaime Crowe is noted for investment disputes before ICSID and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). International counsel Alejandro Martinez de Hoz is common and civil law trained, having previously practised in Argentina and Mexico. At associate level, upcoming intermediate Hernan Chiriboga – a June 2024 hire from Clifford Chance – is also noted. All named individuals are based in Washington DC.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Jonathan Hamilton is a global leader and true pioneer in the field of international arbitration. With an exceptional track record of delivering outstanding results for his clients, Jonathan has firmly established himself as one of the most respected professionals in the industry. Having worked with numerous firms over the years, and having had the privilege of collaborating closely with Jonathan, I can attest to his unrivaled expertise, deep insight, and strategic excellence.'
- 'Jonathan’s recent move to Paul Hastings represents a groundbreaking shift in the international arbitration market. The combination of his top-tier talent in arbitration with the firm’s renowned investigations and transactional practices creates a powerhouse of legal services that is truly transformative. This merger of expertise positions the firm as a leader in the global dispute resolution landscape, offering a comprehensive approach that will undoubtedly set new standards in the industry.'
- 'This move stands as one of the boldest and most significant developments in international arbitration in recent years. Jonathan’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to client success will continue to drive innovation and excellence in this field, and his clients will undoubtedly benefit from this strategic alignment.'
- ‘I have worked with Jonathan Hamilton for decades on “bet the company” arbitrations, and continue to work with him currently as he is one the most sought-after International Arbitration lawyers. I have seen him perform at several hearings, including one last year in the Hague: his hearing work is the best I’ve seen in the field. On multiple occasions he and his team have outperformed other very experienced International Arbitration teams.’
- ‘Jonathan’truly belongs in the very top tier of individual rankings. I have also seen Paul Hastings in action first hand and the firm is clearly - by both size and quality - in the elite of the field in the USA and Latin America.’
- 'I also want to mention some of the other key members of the practice: Alejandro Martínez de Hoz, Jonathan Ulrich, and Jaime Crowe. They are the key members of the powerhouse team that went over to Paul Hastings with Jonathan. Alejandro and Jaime excel at damages issues in particular - and all excel at hearings, both with cross and with fact/expert witness preparation.'
- ‘Jonathan is regarded as a pioneer of the Latin American market, a global thought leader and a guru in the arbitration world. Although he is a very busy man, he still makes time to focus on his work as a professor and a diversity champion.’
- 'If you have an arbitration matter in LATAM, then you should go with Jonathan Hamilton, hands down. I cannot recommend him enough. He's strategic, client focused, and no one knows the region better than he does. I've been working with him for over a decade on some of the toughest matters we face, and he has always guided me impeccably and always with a great result. His cross quesstioning of government officials and others in Spanish makes for great trial results. I can recommend nobody more.'
Work highlights
- Successfully advised the client in 'bet-the-asset' ICC arbitration relation to the Rutas de Lima toll road project, in a case centred on the validity of a long-term concession contract valued at in excess of $2bn.
- Successfully established jurisdiction in an ICSID arbitration related to an investment in Guatemala.
- Secured a victory on behalf of the ad hoc board of Venezuealn state-owned oil company. PDVSA, in connection with a bond offering of nearly $2bn.
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Jonathan Hamilton