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Elena Rizzo

Elena Rizzo

Associate
New York
About

Elena Rizzo focuses her practice on international investment and commercial arbitration. She has represented international companies, sovereign states, and state-owned entities in connection with cases under the leading institutional and ad hoc arbitration rules, including those of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Her experience includes advising clients in the construction, logistics, oil and gas, renewable energy, pharmaceutical, and software sectors. In 2024, Elena has been nominated a "Rising ADR Star" by the CPR Institute.

Elena is dedicated to pro bono work. Notable pro bono representations include briefing and arguing appeals setting important precedent for custody and visitation requirements in New York, taking contested custody and divorce cases to trial, and obtaining Special Immigrant Juvenile Status for immigrant minors. Her devoted pro bono representation of multiple clients has been recognized by Sanctuary for Families in 2023, with the "Above and Beyond" award.

Elena is an active member of the New York arbitration community. Among her affiliations, she is a member of CPR Y-ADR Steering Committee.

Areas of FocusLitigation Arbitration and Investigations
Bar admissionsNew York

EXPERIENCE

  • Representing US energy giant in a Spanish language, Mexican law ICC arbitration, seated in New York, arising out of a combined cycle power plant.
  • Representing software company in ICDR arbitration arising out of the creation and implementation of an online learning managing platform system.
  • Representing international hotel company in ICDR arbitration arising out of multiple contracts with franchisees.
  • Representing pharmaceutical company in connection with multilateral investment treaty claims.
  • Representing manufacturer of irrigation systems in ICC arbitration arising out of EPC contracts.
  • Represented software company in ICC arbitration arising out of contract for resale of software and related services.
  • Represented minority shareholder in ICDR arbitration seeking dissolution of healthcare service company.
  • Advised cryptocurrency exchange platform on drafting of arbitration clauses.
  • Represented two investors in connection with their BIT claim arising out of investments in the renewable energy sector.
  • Represented a state-owned company against contractor in an ICC arbitration arising out of an EPIC contract for the construction of a gas facility.*
  • Represented a state-owned company against joint venture partner in multiple ICC arbitrations arising out of a shareholders' agreement.*
  • Advised a sovereign state in connection with claims by another sovereign state arising out of international treaty.*
  • Represented a state-owned company against joint venture company in multiple ICC arbitrations arising out of a crude oil supply agreement.*
  • Represented a commercial entity against a Fortune 500 company in an AAA-ICDR arbitration arising out of a shareholders' agreement relating to management disputes, handling, and export of grain.*
  • Represented a Latin American agro-industrial group in a Section 1782 proceeding seeking discovery for use in foreign proceedings.*

*Denotes matters on which Elena worked on at prior firm.

Languages
  • Italian
  • Spanish
  • French
Education

  • LL.M., International Business and Trade Law, Fordham University School of Law 2015
    magna cum laude
    Edward and Elizabeth Hawk Prize
    Robert Shuman Prize

  • Law degree, International Law, LUISS Guido Carli University 2015
    cum laude

  • Exchange program, Singapore Management University 2012

Awards

The Legal 500 United States

  • Recommended, International Arbitration (2024)

Publications

  • D.C. Circuit finds that foreign court's order setting aside award has no bearing on district court's jurisdiction, ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin, by Charlene C. Sun, Elena Rizzo, Sept. 2022

Seminars

  • Speaker, The Swords and Shields of Arbitrating IP Disputes in California and Beyond, California Arbitration Week (March 14, 2024)
  • Speaker, The GAR Live Debate on Blockchain Arbitration, Gar Live: Technology Disputes 2024 (March 13, 2024)
  • Moderator, The Freedom of Neutral and Parties to Innovate the ADR Process, CPR Annual Meeting (March 7, 2024)
  • Speaker, International Perspectives on Dispute Prevention through Escalation Clauses, CPR Global Conference (December 7, 2023)

My latest insights

Publication

Supreme Court unanimously decides that federal courts must stay, and not dismiss, cases...

24 May 2024 .5 minute read

Publication

CFTC establishes Environmental Fraud Task Force and solicits tips on potential fraud and...

11 July 2023 .2 minute read

Connect

Phone

+1 212 335 4854
(Work, New York)
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