Gustavo Laborde
Laborde Law, Founding Partner
Gustavo.Laborde@laborde-law.com​
Thought Leader - Global Elite (2023)
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Among the 15 "Most Highly Regarded Partners" International Arbitration Partners in Europe & the Middle East Area
- Who's Who Legal
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Gustavo has over 15 years of professional experience practicing international arbitration at leading law firms in New York, Geneva, and Paris. All these firms are ranked as Band 1 or Band 2 in international arbitration by Chambers and Partners. Two of these firms are consistently ranked as top-30 GAR firms, and one was a top-3 GAR firm when he worked there. He served as tribunal assistant for the three of only a handful of arbitrators listed by Chambers and Partners as "star individuals" in Switzerland and France.
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Currently he works closely with an English QC from one of the most preeminent sets of barristers' chambers worldwide. In 2021, Gustavo and this QC co-taught a summer course at the Hague Academy of International Law.
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Whether as party representative, arbitrator, or tribunal secretary or assistant, throughout his career Gustavo has been involved in more than 40 international arbitrations in a wide spectrum of jurisdictions and industries.
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He has also offered arbitration-related advice; actively participated in high-level negotiations with an arbitration component; and litigated before New York courts on a range of issues, often with an international component.
Expertise
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With the laws of England, France, Latin American and Middle Eastern countries;
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With arbitrations seated in France and England;
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With parties from Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe;
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In terms of industry sector: energy (oil & mining), banking & finance, entertainment & media, professional services, property & real estate, and retail & consumer products.
Significant representations
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Counsel to an Eastern European State in an UNCITRAL investment arbitration relating to the movie industry based on the United States-Romania BIT and the Turkey-Romania BIT. Seat of arbitration: Paris, France. Applicable law: BITs and Romanian law. Amount in dispute: In excess of USD 2 billion. PCA Case No. 2020/53.
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Counsel to an Eastern European State in an UNCITRAL investment arbitration relating to the movie industry based on the Canada-Romania BIT and the Turkey-Romania BIT. Seat of arbitration: Paris, France. Applicable law: BITs and Romanian law. Amount in dispute: In excess of USD 2 billion. PCA Case No. 2020/54.
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Counsel to El Salvador in an ICSID investment arbitration relating to a claim for denial of justice brought by HSBC UK on the basis of the El Salvador-United Kingdom BIT. Seat of arbitration: TBD. Applicable law: BIT and the ICSID Convention. Amount in dispute: USD 50 million. ICSID Case No. ARB/21/46.
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Counsel to a Tanzanian company in an UNCITRAL investment arbitration against an Eastern African State relating to biofuels. Amount in dispute: EUR 50 million. Sector: Renewable energies. Applicable law: BIT and Tanzanian law. Seat: Stockholm.​
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Sole international arbitrator appointed by an arbitral institution in relation to a commercial dispute in the Middle East involving a state-owned entity. Applicable law: UAE law. Seat of the arbitration: Dubai.​
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Tribunal assistant in investment dispute from Middle Eastern parties into a major South Asian State. Amount in dispute: in excess of EUR 400 million. Sector: Iron production sector. Seat of arbitration: London, United Kingdom. ​
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Tribunal assistant in commercial dispute over TV rights, royalties and agency issues. Amount in dispute: USD 1.5 billion. Applicable law: French law. Seat: Paris, France.
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Representing the Republic of Venezuela in an ICSID investment arbitration brought by Dutch investors. Amount in dispute: over USD 1 billion. Applicable law: BIT and Venezuelan law.
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Representing American multinational companies in ICC arbitrations arising from major commercial ventures in Mexico and Turkey.
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Representing an international banking syndicate in the negotiation of a USD 4 billion loan to a major Central Asian State.
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​Representing Croatia in an ICSID investment arbitration brought by an Austrian investor.
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Serving as tribunal assistant to world leading arbitrators in high-profile arbitrations under various rules, including ICSID, ICC, UNCITRAL, NAFTA, LCIA, SCC, and the Swiss rules.
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Representing bondholders before New York courts following the default of a sovereign State.
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Representing pro bono clients in immigration and real estate proceedings, and also victims of a health-care fraud.​
​He received his legal training in the United States, Switzerland, and Argentina.
Bar Admissions
New York; Paris; Buenos Aires
Education
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Columbia Law School, New York, United States (J.D. and LL.M.)
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Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva, Switzerland (MIDS)
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Universidad Di Tella, Buenos Aires, Argentina (LL.B.)
Languages
English, Spanish, French, and Italian (fluent); German and Russian (intermediate); Portuguese (beginner)