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Freshfields strengthens its Madrid arbitration team
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP (‘Freshfields’) has announced the appointment of Spanish international arbitration specialist Lluís Paradell to its Madrid practice, strengthening the firm’s international arbitration capabilities in Spain.Lluís’s practice focuses on investor-State and commercial arbitration. He represented Repsol in its arbitration under the Spain/Argentina bilateral investment treaty concerning the expropriation of Repsol’s Argentine affiliate YPF. Lluís has also acted for Naturgy, Aguas de Barcelona and Abertis in arbitrations against the Argentine government. He is currently representing various Spanish investors in their respective claims against Venezuela and Bolivia. His cases cover a broad variety of economic sectors, including hydrocarbons, banking and financial services, water, electricity, telecommunications, food distribution and mining. Lluís has also acted for States in investor-State arbitrations, most recently for Guatemala. His commercial arbitration practice includes mostly post M&A disputes under oil and gas contracts including gas-price reviews.
“Lluís’s strong expertise and reputation in disputes under contract or investment treaties with a focus on Latin America consolidates our offering in the region to domestic and international clients,” says Rafael Murillo, head of the disputes and arbitration practice in Spain. “Lluís is clearly a star of the international arbitration arena and our reinforced team will ensure we are a step ahead in meeting the demands of our international clients.”
Nigel Blackaby, co-head of Freshfields’ international arbitration group, said “Lluís and I have worked together in arbitration for over 20 years and his deep technical knowledge and effective advocacy have helped enormously in developing our arbitration practice in Spain and the Americas. We are delighted that he will now bring all his expertise to Spain”.
Earlier this year, Freshfields’ Madrid office recruited Australian barrister Katherine del Mar, an arbitration and public international law expert fluent in Spanish, and Laura Lozano, who previously worked in international arbitration at an international firm in London. Together with Rafael Murillo and Lluís, the arbitration team also includes counsel Natalia Gómez, senior associate José Luis Prieto and associate Patricia Beltrán. The team works seamlessly with an international arbitration group of 160 dedicated lawyers across the firm’s network.
“Freshfields’ international arbitration practice is recognised as best in class, both in Spain and around the world,” says Lluís. “With over 20 years’ experience in high value disputes in Latin America, I hope to build deeper relationships with our Spanish clients, many of whom have invested in the region. I look forward to contributing to the strength of the practice in Spain and the firm’s overall offering.”
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About Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
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