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    Global Problem Solving from Covington: Deal with Complex Problems Anywhere in the World

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Miguel López Forastier

Partner

Washington +1 202 662 5185

English
  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    Miguel López Forastier co-chairs Covington’s Global Problem Solving practice and International Arbitration and Disputes practice. He has successfully represented a wide range of clients, including those in the oil and gas, mining, biotech, pharmaceutical, communications, financial services, and food industries in both investor-State and commercial arbitrations. Recognized by Chambers Global, Chambers Latin America, and Legal 500 as a leading international arbitration lawyer, Miguel’s work is praised by clients for his “thorough analysis, insightful advocacy, and consistently reliable judgment.” Both civil-law and common-law trained, Miguel handles contentious work in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

    Miguel is a frequent lecturer on arbitration and international law issues at conferences and universities around the globe. He also sits as arbitrator.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • Fábrica de Vidrio Los Andes, C.A. and Owens-Illinois de Venezuela, C.A. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (ICSID Case No. ARB(AF)/22/3).
    • Legacy Vulcan v. United Mexican States (ICSID Case No. ARB/19/1).
    • Barrick Exploraciones Argentina, S.A. et al. v. Fluor Techint SRL et al. (ICDR Case 01-16-0003-4099).
    • Tracon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in litigation and ICC arbitration proceedings against I-Mab under two different collaboration and clinical trial agreements.
    • Valores Mundiales, S.L. y Consorcio Andino S.L. c. República Bolivariana de Venezuela (Caso CIADI No. ARB/13/11).
    • Successfully defended Eli Lilly & Company against a $1.8 billion trade secrets claim filed by a French biotech company under a license and collaboration agreement.
    • CIE Angola v. Sonangol P&P (ICC Case No. 22782).
    • Cobalt International Energy Angola Ltd. v Sonangol E.P. (ICC Case No. 22781/TO).
    • Korea National Oil Corporation at al. v. Offshore Exploration and Production, LLC (ICDR Case No. 01-18-0004-6501).
    • Tidewater Inc. et al. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (ICSID Case No. ARB/10/5).
    • Mobil Corporation et al. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (ICSID Case No. ARB/07/27).
    • Mobil Cerro Negro v. Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. et al. (ICC Case No. 15415/JRF).
    • Emmis International Holding BV et al. v. Republic of Hungary (ICSID Case No. ARB/12/2).
    • Accession Mezzanine Capital L.P et al. v. Republic of Hungary (ICSID Case No. ARB/12/3).
    • Newmont USA Limited et al. v. the Republic of Uzbekistan (ICSID Case No. ARB/06/20).

    • Newmont (Uzbekistan) Limited v. the Republic of Uzbekistan et al. (arbitration under the Rules of the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce).
    • MTD Equity Sdn. Bhd. et al. v. Republic of Chile (ICSID Case No. ARB/01/7).
    • LG&E Energy Corp. et al. v. Argentine Republic (ICSID Case No. ARB/02/1).
    • Representation of a U.S. financial institution in respect of potential claims against the Argentine Republic under the US-Argentina Bilateral Investment Treaty.
    • Representation of an Argentine company in respect of potential claims against the Republic of Ecuador under the Argentina-Ecuador Bilateral Investment Treaty.
    • Representation of a Canadian mining company and its South American subsidiaries in connection with a tax claim and potential bilateral investment treaty claims against the Republic of Peru.
    • Representation of the Business Software Alliance and Microsoft Corporation in anti-piracy enforcement and policy activities in Latin America.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • The George Washington University, 1997
        • LL.M. in Patents and Intellectual Property Law
    • Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Abogado, 1994
    Bar Admissions
    • Argentina
    • District of Columbia
    • New York
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
    Judicial Clerkship
    • Cámara Nacional de Apelaciones en lo Comercial de Buenos Aires, Argentina (Commercial Court of Appeals of Buenos Aires)
    Languages
    • Spanish
    • Portuguese
    Accolades
    • Global Arbitration Review and Who’s Who Legal, "Global Leaders" 
    • Latinvex, “Latin America’s Top 100 Lawyers”
    • Global Arbitration Review and Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration, “Leading lawyers worldwide in the field of arbitration"
    • Who's Who Legal, Future Leaders of International Arbitration
    • Chambers Global, Arbitration (2014-2025) and Public International Law 
    • Chambers Latin America, International Arbitration  
    • Chambers USA, International Arbitration  
    • Legal 500 US, Litigation: International Arbitration and Energy: Litigation
    • Legal 500 Latin America, International Arbitration (2014-2021, 2024) 
    • Washington DC Super Lawyers, International    
    Memberships and Affiliations
    • Professorial Lecturer in Law (Arbitration), George Washington University Law School (2009-2010)

    Areas of Expertise

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Global Problem Solving from Covington: Deal with Complex Problems Anywhere in the World

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