Kate Brown de Vejar

She/her/hersPartner

Global Co-Chair of International Arbitration

Outstanding … our firm finds that her focus, insight and strategic direction are best in class. Every interaction is the very definition of professionalism.

— Legal 500 Latin America testimonial

Emailkate.browndevejar@dlapiper.com

Call+52 55 52611886

Mexico City

About

Areas of FocusLitigation, Arbitration and Investigations International Arbitration Construction and Engineering

Bar admissionsAustraliaNew York

Mrs. Brown de Vejar “is celebrated as ‘smart and strategic’ by observers who cite her impeccable track record in disputes across the mining, oil and gas, and construction sectors.”

— Who’s Who Legal

One client in an investment treaty case says the firm is "outstanding" and has "run rings around the other side's counsel."

Brown de Vejar is a "super star… probably the best lawyer in this category globally." In the case at hand, she "literally trounced her opposite number".."

— Global Arbitration Review, 2024

EXPERIENCE

Lead counsel representing a US telehealth group in a Chicago-seated US$150 million ICC arbitration against its Indian subsidiary, arising out of a share purchase agreement governed by Indian law.
Lead counsel representing a US energy giant in a US$36 million, Spanish language, Mexican law ICC arbitration, seated in New York, arising out of a combined cycle power plant.
Led the team representing the same US energy giant in (i) a US$70 million, English language, New York law ICC arbitration claim, which ended in an amicable settlement in September 2022, and (ii) a US$30 million, Spanish language, Mexican law LCIA arbitration claim against the principal contractor in a dispute arising out of the electromechanical works on a hydroelectric project.
Lead counsel in a US$120 million legacy NAFTA claim by GoldGroup Resources against Mexico in connection with an investment in a gold mine in Sonora.
Led the team which achieved a total victory for the Republic of Lithuania in a US$300 million case brought in relation to the bankruptcy of Bankas Snoras (Fund for Protection of Investor's Rights in Foreign States v. Republic of Lithuania, UNCITRAL Case). The case was dismissed on jurisdictional grounds and Lithuania also recovered 100% of its legal costs.
Two investors in an UNCITRAL (ICSID) BIT against an Asian State in connection with their investments in the renewable energy sector.
Led the team representing an upstream and renewable energy sector client in an English-language US$100 million ICC arbitration arising out of a methanol plant project. The arbitration, seated in New York, with New York law and Delaware law applicable. The matter ended in a settlement in April 2021.
Secured a total victory for a retail sector client in a Spanish-language, Mexico City-seated ICC arbitration arising out of a long-term contract for the supply of hydroelectricity governed by Mexican law.
Represented a global leader in digital transformation in connection with a New York-seated ICDR arbitration arising out of a software development and ancillary agreements. The parties reached an amicable settlement in mid-2022.
Lead counsel representing a US-based sports data software company in its English language, Tokyo-seated ICDR arbitration with a foreign licensee. The matter ended in April 2022 with a favorable settlement.
Led the team that achieved a major victory for their Big Four tech sector client in an English language, San Francisco-seated ICC arbitration arising out of breach of a Delaware law confidentiality agreement.
**One of the lead counsel in a Geneva-seated multi-billion dollar ICC arbitration for Turkmengas, Turkmenistan's State-owned gas entity, against the National Iranian Gas Company. The arbitration resulted in a resounding victory for Turkmengas, with NIGC found liable to pay in excess of US$2 billion.
*One of the lead counsel that secured a comprehensive victory for Turkmenistan in a US$570 million ICSID arbitration - all claims against Turkmenistan were dismissed and the claimant was ordered to pay US$1.7 million in costs. The case (Içkale Insaat Limited Sirketi v. Turkmenistan, ICSID Case No. ARB/10/24) involved 13 different civil engineering EPC contracts for facilities ranging from hotels and schools, to a man-made canal. The same team went on to defeat the claimant's request for a supplementary decision and rectification of the award in mid-2017.
**One of the lead counsel that secured a total victory for Turkmenistan in a US$450 million ICSID arbitration involving claims arising out of 31 distinct EPC contracts for the construction of a range of facilities, including an industrial steel mill, a water treatment plant and a recycling plant (Muhammet Çap & Sehil Inşaat Endustri ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti. v. Turkmenistan, ICSID Case No. ARB/12/6).
*Member of the team which secured a comprehensive victory for the owner of a utility plant in an ICC arbitration seated in New York, with New York law the applicable substantive law. The arbitral tribunal rejected the main contractor's claim for payment, and awarded the plant owner millions on its counterclaims, as well as costs.

** denotes matters worked on at a prior firm, which concluded after Ms. Brown de Vejar left the firm.
* denotes matters worked on at a prior firm, in which Ms. Brown de Vejar was involved until conclusion.

Education

LL.M., Harvard Law School, 2005
Australian Federation of University Women Fellowship 2004–2005, International Finance

LL.B., University of Queensland, first class honors
University Medal for Law

B.A., University of Queensland, French

Awards

Publications

Seminars

Panelist, "A Review of Arbitrability. Trends in Comparative Law," International Arbitration Seminar: Current Issues and Future Challenges, November 16, 2023 organized by Facultad de Derecho de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile joining Nueva York University and Siences Po (París).
Speaker, "Colloquium of Arbitration," Barra Mexicana de Abogados, October 24, 2023
Speaker, "Main dispute settlement mechanisms of the USMCA," Anade Colegio de Abogados, October 9, 2023
Speaker, ROAP Workshop on Cross Examination in International Arbitration, Online Workshop, November 14, 2022
Speaker, "Future of Mining in Mexico (Opportunities and Challenges)," Congreso Internacional Minero in Expo Forum Hermosillo, Mexico, October 18-21, 2022
Speaker, "The USMCA Energy Chapter: In the eye of the storm … drawing near an unprecedented trilateral litigation scenario. Who wins and why?" ANZMEX Energy Debate Series, Mexico City, October 14, 2022
Speaker, "Expert Evidence in international Arbitration," V Arbitration Congress of CBMA - Brazilian Center of Mediation and Arbitration, Rio de Janeiro, August 12, 2022
Panelist, "Exploring the UNCITRAL-ICSID Code of Conduct for Adjudicators," NYIAC Annual Grand Central Forum, New York, July 13, 2022
Presenter, JAMS and CONEXIG hybrid seminar titled Disruption, "Delay and Dilemma: Resolving Cross-Border Construction and Energy Disputes in Latin America," December 15, 2021
Virtual Presenter, "LatAm Mining Disputes,” Australian Center for International Commercial Arbitration, 2021
IA Investment Arbitration Webinar in Peru, November 24, 2021
Virtual Presenter, Legal 500 Webinar, "What do in-house counsel expect from external firms during the arbitral process?" September 28, 2021
Speaker, ITA Panel, "Commercial Arbitrations relating to regulatory changes," September 8, 2021
Speaker, Young ITA Roundtable – "Debate: should "double hatting" be permitted in investor state dispute settlement?" June 17, 2021
Panelist, ANZMEX, "The Mexican Energy Sector: Part 2 – A Pre-Electoral Discussion" May 27, 2021
Speaker, International Arbitration Roundtable, "Key Challenges Post-Pandemic" May 22, 2021
Speaker, ABA ASIL International Arbitration Skills Masterclass, May 5, 2021
Panelist, GAR Interactive - Women in Arbitration, February 2, 2021