Pedro is a senior associate in our international arbitration group.
He has extensive experience in commercial and investment treaty arbitrations in English and Spanish conducted under the auspices of ICSID and other major arbitration rules. His practice covers a range of industries including hydrocarbons, renewable energy, mining, food and agriculture, telecommunications, shipping, airport services, and financial services.
Pedro also has an active pro bono practice, having worked on issues related to immigration, gun control, criminal justice reform, and public international law.
He is member of the Campaign for Greener Arbitrations’ Latin America Subcommittee.
Pedro received his JD from Yale Law School and his BA magna cum laude from the University of Southern California. He is a native Spanish and English speaker, is conversational in French, and is admitted to practice law in the State of New York and the District of Columbia.
- Grupo Agroinsumos in obtaining a US$2.8 billion ICSID award against Venezuela under the Venezuela-Spain BIT, resulting from the expropriation of its investment in the most important agribusiness company in the country, and subsequently securing the complete dismissal of Venezuela's application for annulment of the award.
- An American multinational corporation in the annulment phase of an ICSID arbitration under the Netherlands-Venezuela BIT arising out of one of the largest expropriations in history. In 2013, Venezuela was found to have breached the BIT, and in 2019, a damages award of over US$8 billion was issued.
- BBVA, the leading Spain-based global financial services company, in an ICSID Additional Facility arbitration against Bolivia under the Spain-Bolivia BIT, culminating in a US$100 million award for our client. The dispute arose out of government measures nationalizing the pension fund administration service provided by BBVA’s Bolivian subsidiary.
- ADP International and VINCI Airports in their ICSID claim against Chile relating to the government's refusal during and after the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure the viability of the concession for the expansion and operation of the Santiago Airport.
- Dick Abanto Ishivata, a Peruvian national, in a claim brought under the Peru-Venezuela BIT and the ICSID Additional Facility Rules against the Republic of Venezuela related to the expropriation of his investments in the telecommunication sector.
- América Móvil in an ICSID Additional Facility arbitration against Colombia under the Mexico-Colombia FTA, arising from measures taken against its subsidiary, Comcel, the largest telecommunications provider in the country.
- An international energy company in relation to a potential investment claim against Mexico for measures affecting its investments in renewable energy generation plants.
- An international energy company in an LCIA arbitration against a state-owned energy company arising out of gas purchase and supply obligations that were disrupted by a winter storm.
- Smurfit Holdings B.V. in ICSID annulment proceedings commenced by Venezuela after Freshfields secured an award of approximately US$470 million in damages.
- South32 SA Investments Limited in ICSID annulment proceedings commenced by Colombia after Freshfields secured a precedent-setting ICSID award which granted South32's request for indemnities valued at over US$277.4 million and ordered Colombia to pay historical damages and costs.
- IC Power Ltd and Kenon Holdings Ltd in ICSID annulment proceedings commenced by Peru after Freshfields secured the largest ever investment arbitration award against Peru.
- An international shipping company in a AAA arbitration addressing whether claims for corporate waste, breach of fiduciary duty, and minority-shareholder oppression filed in national courts are arbitrable under certain shareholders’ agreements.
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