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Nicole Duclos
Nicole Duclos
Partner
New York +1 212 841 1135 nduclos@cov.com Download V-card
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Clients and peers describe Nicole Duclos as “one of the best prepared international arbitration lawyers one is likely to meet.” She represents clients in international commercial and investment arbitration, as well as transnational litigation. In Latin America, Ms. Duclos is “an established favourite with clients and local co-counsel alike,” who describe her as “simply the best: meticulous, on top of everything, and with great knowledge of arbitration proceedings as well as the idiosyncrasies of Latin America.”*

Commercial Arbitration

  • A South Korean engineering and construction company in a dispute with its Brazilian joint venture partner in the construction of a major infrastructure project in South America.
  • The Chilean subsidiary of a Canadian mining company in a UNCITRAL arbitration commenced by an EPC contractor in connection with the construction of a transmission line and substations in support of a major mining project in South America.
  • The Peruvian subsidiary of a Chinese mining company in an ICC arbitration against a Chinese supplier of equipment for a copper project in Peru.
  • The Chilean and Argentine subsidiaries of a Canadian mining company in a dispute arising from EPC and EPCM contracts for the construction of a mining project in South America.
  • A Brazilian energy company in an ICC arbitration commenced by the supplier of major equipment for the construction of a biomass-to-ethanol plant in Brazil.
  • A Singapore-based utilities company in a UNCITRAL arbitration concerning the cancellation of a long-term concession for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of a drinking water plant in Central America.
  • The Brazilian subsidiary of an European engineering company in a ICC arbitration arising from EPC and EPCM contracts for the expansion of a paper mill plant in Brazil.
  • A UK utilities company in a dispute against a Central American state agency arising from a turn-key contract for the design and construction of a drinking water plant.
  • Two Brazilian corporations involved in the construction and operation of thermoelectric power plants in Brazil in an ICC arbitration commenced by a multinational equipment manufacturer under an equipment supply contract.
  • Two Brazilian companies in their capacity as joint venture partners and EPC contractors in a dispute arising from the supply of defective equipment for the construction of a major thermoelectric project in Brazil.
  • A Belgian company and its Panamanian subsidiary in an ICC arbitration against a Colombian joint venture in connection with dredging works for the expansion of the Panama Canal.
  • A leading Brazilian food company in a dispute against a French fund arising from two contracts for the sale and purchase of carbon emissions.
  • A subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase in an ICC arbitration against the Republic of Uruguay arising from the capitalization of a commercial bank in Uruguay.
  • A Chilean gas distributor in an AAA arbitration against Chilean and Argentinean owners and operators of a natural gas pipeline concerning a price adjustment for gas transportation.
  • A Mexican telecommunications company in an AAA arbitration brought by a U.S. telecommunications company concerning a post-closing price adjustment dispute.

Investment Arbitration

  • State and multilateral agencies in a dispute against Ecuador arising from the indirect expropriation of the collateral securing the financing of the construction of the new international airport in Quito.
  • A South American State in an ICSID arbitration commenced by a Chinese investor under the relevant bilateral investment treaty.
  • A Bolivian natural gas company, owned and controlled by Dutch shareholders, in an ad hoc arbitration against the Republic of Bolivia under the Netherlands-Bolivia bilateral investment treaty.
  • A Canadian electricity company in a dispute against a Caribbean State for the expropriation of an electricity transmission business.

Domestic and International Litigation

  • An international financial institution in the challenge of a Section 1782 application made by a Chinese shipping company in the SDNY.
  • A subsidiary of a major financial institution in proceedings before the SDNY, as well as before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, for the enforcement of an arbitral award rendered against a South American State in an ICC arbitration.
  • A global private equity fund in connection with labor, civil, and bankruptcy proceedings arising from two failed equity investment in Brazil.
  • A South Korean conglomerate in connection with bankruptcy proceedings affecting a major mining investment in Brazil.
  • A South Korean automobile manufacturer in connection with bankruptcy proceedings affecting its Chilean and Peruvian distributors.
  • A U.S. financial institution in civil, administrative, and criminal proceedings arising from an equity investment in a commercial bank in Argentina.
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Memberships and Affiliations

  • Member, IBA Arbitration Guidelines and Rules Subcommittee's Steering Group, IBA Arbitration Committee 
  • New York State Bar Association (International Section)
  • American Bar Association (Section of International Law)
  • International Bar Association
  • ALARB

Previous Experience

  • Senior Associate in the international arbitration group of a major international law firm.
  • Associate in the litigation department of a major New York law firm.
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  • Chambers Latin America (2017): “Nicole Duclos is singled out for praise by market commentators for her work in international arbitrations in the region. They comment that ‘she is a very good lawyer.’"
  • Latinvex, “Latin America’s Top 100 Lawyers” (2017): “The Legal Corporate Compliance & M&A Head at a major Brazilian energy company praises Duclos’ extensive arbitration experience. ‘She is … very candid, accessible, ready to provide the best advice always bearing in mind our business needs.’ The legal head of an Asian mining company praises Duclos and her team for being ‘proficient, highly skilled and experienced, as well as deeply committed on providing an extraordinary class legal service, always available to the client’.”
  • Chambers Latin America (2016): “The ‘very client-oriented’ Nicole Duclos attracts positive feedback from interviewees, who praise her "organisational skills, ability to co-ordinate a team, and intelligence.’" 
  • Latinvex, "Latin America’s Top 100 Female Lawyers: Arbitration & Litigation" (2016) 
  • Legal 500 Latin America (2016): “The firm’s New York and London offices are also integral to the firm’s Latin America arbitration practice, with key figures in the former including ‘brilliant strategist’ Nicole Duclos.” 
  • Latinvex, "Latin America’s Top 50 Female Lawyers" (2015)
  • Minority Corporate Counsel Association, "Rising Star" (2015) 
  • Super Lawyers (New York Metro) (2016)
  • Chambers Global 2014: Nicole is “highly regarded by market sources, one of whom observed that ‘she combines complete grasp of the facts with an impressive attention to the smallest details. Her contribution to our case was decisive.’”
  • Legal 500 US, Energy - Litigation (2016) 
  • Legal 500 Latin America 2013: Nicole “is ‘an established favourite’ with clients and local co-counsel alike; ‘she’s simply the best: meticulous, on top of everything, and with great knowledge of arbitration proceedings as well as the idiosyncrasies of Latin America.”’
  • Legal 500 US 2013: “Nicole Duclos is ‘one of the best prepared international arbitration lawyers one is likely to meet,’ and ‘exceptionally intelligent, she is exhaustive, absolutely indefatigable, and leaves no stone unturned’.”
  • Chambers 2013 (International Arbitration: Latin America-wide): Ms. Duclos “impresses sources: ‘She's very sharp – definitely one to watch’."
  • Legal 500 US 2012: Ms. Duclos is a “first-class lawyer” who “has made a huge difference, she brings the team real local knowledge and her handling of cases is brilliant.”
  • Chambers 2012 (International Arbitration: Latin America-wide): Ms. Duclos "has advised clients in arbitrations involving an array of Latin American states. 'She's very commercially aware, astute and able to carry the torch,' say sources, 'a star of the future with the world at her feet'."

Practices

Industries

Education

Harvard Law School, LL.M.

  • Landon H. Gammon Fellowship for academic excellence

Universidad de Valparaíso, LL.B.

  • Valedictorian

Bar Admissions

  • Chile
  • New York

Languages

  • Spanish
  • Portuguese