Irene Cuellar Araiza
AssociateHer practice has focused on representing sovereign states and investors in multi-million-dollar investment and commercial disputes under the arbitration rules of the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). In addition, she has experience in commercial mediation and advising public and private clients in transnational corporate and financial transactions.
During law school, she served as a research assistant to Dr. Gustavo Fondevila and interned at the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University Law Center. Before joining the firm, she worked at two international law firms where she focused her practice on dispute resolution and corporate and financial law. She also worked at the Mexican Supreme Court of Justice, with a practice focused on constitutional law.
EXPERIENCE
- Representing Goldgroup Resources, Inc. in a pending ICSID arbitration, concerning a series of judicial decisions which stripped claimant of its shares in a gold mining project. Case remains pending, and claimant is seeking approximately US$ 115 million in damages. (Goldgroup Resources, Inc. v. United States of Mexico, ICSID Case No. ARB/23/4)
- Representing a Latin American State in an ICC arbitration concerning a service agreement executed with a Latin American software company for the implementation of a computer system for the issuance of identity cards and electronic passports. (Case confidential)
- Representing one of the world's largest irrigation companies against a Latin American sugar refinery in an ICC arbitration regarding two EPC contracts for the implementation of irrigation systems.
- Representing a leading greenhouse company against an agricultural project development company in an ICC arbitration regarding a distribution contract.
- Represented the Republic of Kazakhstan in an ICSID annulment proceeding. The annulment proceeding was ultimately discontinued following an agreement of the parties. Before discontinuing the proceeding, Kazakhstan succeed in its request for stay of enforcement of the award. (Caratube International Oil Company y Mr. Devincci Salah Hourani v. Republic of Kazakhstan, ICSID Case No. ARB/13/13) (Annulment)).
- Represented the Kingdom of Spain in an UNCITRAL arbitration proceeding obtaining the rejection of the claim for US$ 500 million on the merits of the dispute in the banking sector and the award of expenses and costs in favor of the State for US$ 8 million. (Antonio del Valle Ruiz et al v. Kingdom of Spain, PCA Case No. 2019-17).
- Represented the Republic of Ecuador in an international commercial arbitration, administered by the PCA, resulting in a favorable award reducing Claimant’s claimed damages from US$100 million to US$10.7 million. (Gente Oil Ecuador Pte. LTD v. Republic of Ecuador, PCA Case No. 2018-12)
- Represented an oil services consulting firm against one of the world's largest providers of products, services, and integrated solutions for oil and gas in an ICC arbitration resulting in a favorable award of approximately US$6,000,000.00.
- Represented UpHealth Holdings, Inc. (UpHealth), a global digital health company, in an ICC arbitration resulting in an award with of up to US$110 million in damages (in 2 tranches), and US$5.3 million in attorneys’ fees and other costs.
- English
- Spanish
- Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas, Law Degree (J.D. equivalent)
